Three years ago Peter Drew embarked on a journey that took him from the United States to Jamaica and Columbia.

Along the way he learned about maritime history, oceanography and navigation using a radar and compass as well as basic boat mechanics.

And he even went swimming with a school of dolphins, a whale and her calf 100 miles off the Bahamas.

Today Mr. Drew, 23, an environmental officer with the Bermuda National Trust, looks back on his six weeks aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer as a watershed in his life.

Mr. Drew heard of the Sea Education Association -- the organisation that runs the programme -- while he was reading for his environmental studies degree at Hobart College in Geneva, New York.

Soon afterward James Humphrey Jr., an alumnus and board member for the Sea Education Association Incorporated, interviewed Mr. Drew in Bermuda and introduced him to the programme.

For the first six weeks of the three-month programme which began on December 29, 1992 at the Woods Hole Campus in Massachusetts, he worked in the classroom and learned about the history, law and literature of the sea, nautical science and ship design.

He also learned about the construction and principles of diesel engines.

From the classroom he set out with 35 classmates on the SSV Corwith Cramer that left Miami and traveled through the windward pass to Jamaica's Port Antonio.

"The stop off in Jamaica was interesting for me,'' he said. "It was the first time I had ever been. We stopped off in Port Antonio. Not far away from where we landed was the place they filmed the movie Cocktail. Port Antonio far outweighs any place in Bermuda. It's absolutely beautiful. The most beautiful place I have seen so far.'' After two days relaxation they sailed to Honduras and settled in the waters off Columbia where they conducted experiments on material taken from the bottom of the ocean and tested the oxygen level of water at different depths.

Each student took a turn being Junior Science Watch Officer which meant that he/she set the class routine, guided and steered the boat and directed the experiments.

"While we were about 100 miles south east of the Bahamas they let us do a swim call which means that we can swim in the ocean because it's safe.

"We ended up swimming and a whole pile of dolphins came around and were very interested in the boat because they are such inquisitive animals.

"Then a mother whale and her calf ended up coming up to us. I had a mask on and I watched the whales swim beneath us look up and dive straight down.

"The whole experience on the boat is an exercise in hardship. It helps to teach self discipline, self-control and an acceptance of difficult situations.

Ultimately you learn a lot about yourself through the other people, the experiments in the ocean and sailing.

"It is an experience unto itself. How many people have ever been on a square rigged vessel and then sailed for six weeks? You learn about science navigation and yourself through the hardships.

"You shower in salt water, you get awakened up early and there is no personal space. I'm in the Bermuda Regiment now and I can honestly say that my six weeks on board the SSV Corwith Cramer was harder than my time at boot camp!'' Mr. Rafe Parker, president of the Sea Educational Association Inc., who came to Bermuda to recruit more Bermudians to the programme, said that his organisation offers a challenging and enriching academic programme in ocean education.

In the 24 years of since the programme began in 1971, six Bermudians have passed through it.

Mr. Parker said the aim of the instruction is to give participants a deeper understanding of the resources and environment of the world generally.

To be accepted a student must be at least 18 years old and have completed one science course that involves laboratory work.

"They must also have a high degree of commitment to the programme and a B average academic standing.

"There is a high student to teacher ratio in the classroom,'' he added.

"During the classroom phase it's three to one but at sea it improves to two to one.

"We also want to bring in a higher cross section of students from our society, especially from under-represented groups. There are a number of scholarships from the National Science Foundation located in Washington, but we provide financial aid for 30 percent of students in the programme. Tuition runs around $10,000 for the entire three months.

"We see ourselves as a liberal arts programme which brings together many disciplines through the medium of the oceans.'' SEA ADVENTURE -- Mr. Rafe Parker president, of the Sea Educational Association Inc. located in Massachusetts, arrived in Bermuda last week to recruit college-aged Bermudian students with an interest in science.