Ascension Island

Paul Colley · Issue 64, Jan/Feb 2012 · pp. 61–66

Products mentioned: Nikon D300, Inon Z240 strobes, Subal ND30 housing, Tokina 10-17mm, 60mm lens, +3 dioptre

It is possible that few (if any) people reading this article will have been diving in the seas around Ascension Island. The small, remote and rugged volcanic island is 9_ flying hours from the UK and over 500 miles south of the Equator in the South Atlantic Ocean. With only a small local population and limited logistic support, the Island is still used as a staging post for the Falkland Islands, and it can be a difficult place to get to and to operate from. Although the water is generally warm and clear, with less than a 1m tidal range and modest currents, diving conditions can be challenging. Some parts of the coastline are buffeted by huge swells and strong surge, with over 4000 miles of uninterrupted deep seas subject to almost permanent strong winds. Swells during the expedition that this article chronicles were routinely 1 to 2m high and the surge sufficient to move divers a few met…