degrees -- rarely makes a big splash with many locals.

But for others it presents an ideal time to take to the water and dive in for the sake of fitness and fun.

Make no mistake, this is not another day at the beach, strolling on mounds of pink sand or diving from the rocks...and the water temperature is always a perfect 78 degrees.

Welcome to the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association's "adult training and learning swim'' programme.

The venue is the BASA pool at Saltus Grammar School where, during an average lunch hour, there can be seen a multitude of limbs whirling about as participants make their rounds, usually end-to-end with dizzying frequency.

And who is the instigator of this latest craze? Meet Kris Cash, BASA's first full-time administrator-coach and someone used to cooler climes having been born and raised in Canada.

Cash is the daughter of Nancy Jackshaw, a swimming coach for the Regional Waterloo Swim Club and, in fact, lettered in the sport herself at Waterloo University just west of Toronto.

Her move to this windswept Island paradise came as a result of a relationship with one of Bermuda's 1992 Olympians, Mike Cash, who she met at university and married last September.

Armed with a degree in kinesiology -- the study of body movements -- she has begun to make her own move in the local arena with the BASA pool programme.

BASA public relations officer Colleen Nelson explained the main reason for starting the sessions: "We wanted to try to encourage and bring swimming more to the public,'' said Nelson. "People are becoming more fitness aware and we have a lot of triathletes and others coming here to improve their swimming.'' Government allowed BASA to take over their swimming programme at White's Island and also awarded the organisation a grant which opened the door for Cash.

In addition to adults, there are several other projects planned for the Island's youth.

"A lot of the adult programmes were in progress prior to May of last year, which is when I officially took over operations here,'' explained Cash. "And what had happened in the past was that people would rent the pool and then they'd talk to others and have them come down and swim.

"But then you had to know the right person, so it was difficult for people to get in.

"Part of my job is to make sure it's easier for people to get in and use the pool, as well as finding out what's available in terms of the different programmes they can try.'' Nevertheless, there is a price to be paid in catering to the various schedules of interested parties. A typical day for Cash might start at 6 a.m. and not end until late in the evening.

In between there are the administrative duties ranging from scheduling times to updating various progress reports.

So what has the response been? "Everything has been very positive,'' said Cash, a fine swimmer in her own right, who specialises in longer distances. "I was surprised when I came to find out that many people didn't even know there was a pool here.

"I think a lot of people that come are, for the most part, either interested in swimming a long way for fitness or they're interested doing a triathlon or similar activity.

"So I like to stress not so much sprinting, where people are trying to go as fast as they can for one length, but trying to get them to go for a long time.

That means getting them to make their strokes a bit more efficient so there's a lot of little things you can ride on them about.

"I think BASA's ultimate goal is to have as many people who are interested in swimming be able to swim and make it very accessible.

"If they (adults) enjoy it they can bring their kids down and hopefully make it more of a family thing rather than just through the schools or the clubs and get as many people involved as possible.'' The pool is open every day, from 8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 6 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Adult training takes place at noon on Tuesday and Friday and between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

The cost is $40 anyone interested should call 292-1713 for more information.

DIFFERENT STROKES -- Kris Cash gives a few pointers to an adult swimmer during a recent lunch-time session.