Weather
St Helena is a year-round destination with a sub-tropical temperate climate. Temperature remains warm for most of the year, ranging from 15 – 30ºC. For such a small island, the variation across locations can be quite dramatic; it can be hot and sunny in the capital of Jamestown, but much cooler and misty in the island’s elevated interior.
ST HELENA | AN INTRODUCTION
Clear blue water and a very agreeable sub-tropical climate make St Helena a year-round diving destination, home to a number of species only found in the waters of this tiny, isolated island - plus a seasonal visit by one of the most important whale shark aggregations in the world
St Helena is one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, some 1,200 miles into the southern Atlantic Ocean from the African continent. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1502 and settled by the British in 1659, it once provided an important stopover for shipping on the trade routes from the east, but nowadays is trying to come to terms with life in the modern world.
More widely known as the home in exile of Napoleon Bonaparte, this British Overseas territory has much more to offer than a sliver of history. It is an idyllic sub-tropical paradise full of the most vibrant and diverse landscapes imaginable, all on a volcanic island less than 10 miles across.
Click on map to enlarge
Needless to say, the unblemished waters of the island, where marine life has evolved in quiet isolation, offers some very special diving. Since scuba diving first arrived on the island in 1962 only a few hundred people have ever had the opportunity to explore these truly pristine sites.
The diving around St Helena is placid and beautiful. Although the island is swept by strong South Atlantic currents, much of the diving is in the sheltered lee of the island and can be enjoyed by recreational divers of all experience levels. The absence of mass tourism means the only other people in the ocean may be several thousand miles away, and there's little chance of bumping into anything other than the splendid array of wildlife that the island's waters have to offer.
Whale shark congregations occur between December - March each year (Photo: Marine Division / SHG)
Prior to October 2017, the only route to St Helena was a five-day voyage from Cape Town, South Africa, aboard the RMS St Helena, a working Royal Mail Ship that ferried islanders, tourists and fresh supplies to and from the island every three weeks. The much-loved ship was phased out in early 2018, however South Africa Airliink now runs a weekly service on Saturdays from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport in South Africa. flight times are approximately 6hrs, with a refuelling stop in Walvis Bay, Namibia. An additional mid-week flight from Cape Town has been scheduled during the peak seaon between December and February. A full list of pricing and information can be found on South Africa Airlink's website, or take a look at some of the itineraries available from dedicated dive travel specialists Dive Worldwide
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