volcano near the Caribbean tourist island of Grenada could erupt by 2005.

It is feared that the Grenada volcano nicknamed Kick em Jenny, which sits just 13km off the coast, would send a deadly tidal wave into Grenada and other Caribbean islands like St Vincent and St Lucia -- inflicting serious damage.

The potential cost of Caribbean volcanoes for insurers was brought to the fore in 1997 when the Chances Peak volcano in the British overseas territory of Montserrat began a series of critical eruptions. That volcano is still causing trouble. Just last week it vented a mix of hot rock, ash and gas that spewed about half a kilometre down the mountainside, creating an ash cloud more than 500 metres high.

Scientists at the Trinidad-based Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies who have been monitoring the Grenada volcano 150 metres below the surface of the Caribbean Sea have already detected various minor tremors.

It is understood fisherman tagged the underwater volcano Kick em Jenny after witnessing the surface turbulence resulting from its sporadic mini-eruptions sending boats flying as if they had been kicked.

The head of the University's Seismic Research Unit, Dr. John Shepherd, said the eruptions had been "growing more violent''.

English-born Dr. Shepherd said the volcano's releases could break the surface of the water between 2005 and 2010, creating a tidal wave that would be a "major hazard'' to assets in many of the Caribbean territories.

He said such a destructive tsunami could even travel hundreds of kilometres across the Caribbean -- reaching as far north as the US Virgin Islands.

His team has placed instruments close to the volcano's site to help them predict when and if the big eruption will occur.