Director of the Bermuda Exploration Underwater Institute (BUEI) Ralph Richardson told Rotarians this week how membership had more than doubled in the past two years - sealing the facility's role in the future of the Island.

Addressing members of Hamilton Rotary Club, he said the centre had begun to pick up impressive momentum after suffering an uncertain start when it first opened in the summer of 1997. He said in the last two years, membership had gone from almost 500 to more than 1,000, but said that figure also represented families, so the true number of members was more like 3,000.

And Mr. Richardson said during the same period, the corporate membership had tripled, from 12 to 36.

Mr. Richardson said the success was down to greater community involvement, improved displays, interesting lecture series', and enhanced programmes for children.

He said the marine facility, which cost $20 million to put together, was ambitious but it came together with enthusiasm and commitment. However, when the showcase opened, he said the response from the public was less than favourable.

He said: "The general public response to BUEI during the first few months of operation was not what was expected. It was for this reason that, in 1998, just months after opening, research specialist Walton Brown was hired to produce a report on public opinion.

"The subsequent report revealed that BUEI had not met expectations among the locals who had visited. The most significant being that the exhibits were not as interesting as people were led to believe.

"Many in the public saw BUEI as a private club and felt excluded from its programmes. Even our summer camps were considered by many to be exclusive and out of reach to the average citizens."

But Mr. Richardson said after a 15-month project costing an additional $1.5 million, during which time BUEI closed for a short time, the facility opened for a second time with new exhibits and a new direction.

He said with a new emphasis on the community and a commitment to advancing understanding, appreciation and knowledge of all that existed beneath the ocean, he believed BUEI had set out on a new road.

He added: "In June of 2000, we included Captain Bill Pinkney in our list of speakers for our lecture series. Captain Pinkney was the first African American to sail solo around the world and the first black speaker of our series.

"We subsequently have continued to diversify our lecturers and topics. This approach has been extremely successful in encouraging new people to our lectures. Many of them, we know, would not have attended otherwise.

"We have seen a more diverse membership over the past few months. In fact, BUEI's membership has more than doubled in the past two years and represents a much wider cross section of the community.

"Our members are also using the facility more, especially on weekends when members frequently bring family and friends to tour the exhibits."

And he said in a bid to develop new educational programmes and to reach new groups of people, BUEI approached the Department of Youth and Sport and suggested a joint venture with their after-school programme.

Now, every day, he said dozens of children visited the marine centre, and many took part in a specially designed diving experience for children aged between eight and 12, organised by Acting Governor Tim Gurney and Dr. Annie Glasspoole.

Mr. Richardson added: "This programme has given many young Bermudians who may have never had the opportunity to experience scuba diving, the chance to do so.

"Many (parents) have now requested that we set up a weekend diving club so that their young ones can someday become certified."

And he said BUEI had also been working with the Department of Education and the private school system to develop programmes to augment science classes at the primary and middle level.

The director concluded: "In a few weeks, BUEI will announce plans for our fifth anniversary celebrations in May.

"We have survived the past five years, despite the difficult beginning. We consider BEUI as a gift to Bermuda. We feel the community should embrace that gift and take advantage of every opportunity that is made available."