Earthwatch duo from Massachusetts.

Anthropology professors Richard Gould and Donna Souza, who are also part of the Earthwatch programme, will be flying in from Brown University on July 15 to research the underwater ruins.

According to Clifford Smith, director of conservation and underwater archaeology at the Maritime Museum, the two researchers are specifically interested in one particular vessel, the North Carolina , which sank off Bermuda's shores in 1880.

The wreck is located nearly four miles off the south west corner of Bermuda and Mr. Smith said the researchers hope to trace the history and make-up of the vessel.

Mr. Smith said the researchers were on a fact-finding mission to find out not only why the North Carolina sank, but why other wrecks around the Island sank.

"We want to understand the structural components of the wrecks,'' he said, "and under the silt is the best area for preservation.'' Mr. Smith noted that the underwater exploration would also serve to preserve Bermuda's wreckage history.