ST HELENA

REMOTE PARADISE

St Helena Island is situated in the South Atlantic Ocean. The nearest land is Ascension Island, which is 1’125 km to the North West and the island is 1’950 km from the South-West coast of Africa and 2’900km from the coast of South America. At almost 122 km², it is one of the remotest islands in the world. A sub-tropical paradise, it is also one of the most spectacular as far as contrast goes.



St Helena boasts unparalleled adventure, impeccable beauty and unrefined nature. With ancient wrecks, giant stairways, great forts, natural wonders and extraordinary walks, the world within this exclusive land fleck is a world apart from anywhere else. Journey through 500 years of history. Experience the flavoursome culture and cuisine, rub shoulders with the oldest living land creature in the World or snorkel with the incredible whale shark.


St Helena has a small population, mainly descended from people from Europe (mostly planters, government employees and ex-soldiers serving in the local St Helena Regiment), Chinese and slaves (mostly from Madagascar and Asia, only a few coming from Africa from 1840 onward). The estimated population of St Helena at the end of 2016 was 4550. St Helenians, also known as “Saints”, are known for their friendliness – everyone waves and greets each other, even to passing cars.


Following the opening of the airport in 2017, visiting St Helena has never been easier. Just a short 6-hour flight from Johannesburg or Walvis Bay instead of a lengthy boat ride which is now in the past.

DIVING AT ST HELENA

Clear, warm waters, wrecks and fascinating marine life make St Helena Island an enticing snorkelling and scuba diving destination. Dive site habitats vary from rocky reefs with caves and areas of boulders to cobbles and sand, all teeming with marine life and all within easy reach of the wharf in Jamestown. The wrecks dotted around the coast present popular dive and snorkelling sites.

Sea temperatures vary from 66 to 75°F (19 to 25°C) and visibility can range from 16 to 130 feet (5 to 40m) with peak visibility being from December to May. Dives vary between 40 and 130 feet (5 to 30m+) and offer a range of diving opportunities. There are a number of local laws for divers to abide by, including no wreck penetration and rules for swimming and interacting with whale sharks.

Some of the popular dive sites are Buttermilk Point, Cat Island, Cat Island Main, Cavalley Point, Egg Island, Ladies Chair, Long Ledge, Robinsons and Thompson’s Valley Island.


Most of the dive sites are located on the leeward side of the Island where divers can experience a bit of surge from the ocean swells, but there are no strong currents. These dives are suitable for both beginners and advanced divers. If a visitor is planning to scuba dive they should bring their certification and log book. There are two dive operators on St Helena and both offer PADI diving courses, dive excursions and marine tours. The St Helena Dive Club is a thriving group on the Island. Many divers are trained through the club each year.


There are snorkelling nature trails at the wharf steps in Jamestown and also at Lemon Valley which can be done at one’s leisure. Snorkelling tours are available for those unqualified in scuba.

Divers and snorkelers will encounter a vast array of marine life including fish (of which 16 species are endemic) and various invertebrates including sea slugs and anemones (about 40 of which are endemic). Green and Hawksbill turtles are often seen and visits from devil rays are not uncommon. The island also has resident populations of Pantropical Spotted, Bottlenose and Rough-toothed dolphin and is seasonally visited by a number of transient species, including Humpback whales which can be spotted from June to December.


January and February are the hottest months on the island, which correlates with fish spawning patterns and the appearance of whale sharks. Reaching lengths of up to 40 feet (12m) or more, they scoop up plankton and small fish with their colossal gaping mouths while swimming close to the water’s surface. Seeing the whale sharks during their seasonal visit is not to be missed. Although massive, whale sharks are docile creatures and it is possible to swim with them. Whaleshark interaction is strictly regulated on the island and is only offered by accredited local marine tour operators.

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Clear, warm waters, wrecks and fascinating marine life make St Helena Island an enticing snorkelling and scuba diving destination. Dive site habitats vary from rocky reefs with caves and areas of boulders to cobbles and sand, all teeming with marine life and all within easy reach of the wharf in Jamestown. The wrecks dotted around the coast present popular dive and snorkelling sites.

Sea temperatures vary from 66 to 75°F (19 to 25°C) and visibility can range from 16 to 130 feet (5 to 40m) with peak visibility being from December to May. Dives vary between 40 and 130 feet (5 to 30m+) and offer a range of diving opportunities. There are a number of local laws for divers to abide by, including no wreck penetration and rules for swimming and interacting with whale sharks.

Some of the popular dive sites are Buttermilk Point, Cat Island, Cat Island Main, Cavalley Point, Egg Island, Ladies Chair, Long Ledge, Robinsons and Thompson’s Valley Island.


Most of the dive sites are located on the leeward side of the Island where divers can experience a bit of surge from the ocean swells, but there are no strong currents. These dives are suitable for both beginners and advanced divers. If a visitor is planning to scuba dive they should bring their certification and log book. There are two dive operators on St Helena and both offer PADI diving courses, dive excursions and marine tours. The St Helena Dive Club is a thriving group on the Island. Many divers are trained through the club each year.


There are snorkelling nature trails at the wharf steps in Jamestown and also at Lemon Valley which can be done at one’s leisure. Snorkelling tours are available for those unqualified in scuba.

Divers and snorkelers will encounter a vast array of marine life including fish (of which 16 species are endemic) and various invertebrates including sea slugs and anemones (about 40 of which are endemic). Green and Hawksbill turtles are often seen and visits from devil rays are not uncommon. The island also has resident populations of Pantropical Spotted, Bottlenose and Rough-toothed dolphin and is seasonally visited by a number of transient species, including Humpback whales which can be spotted from June to December.


January and February are the hottest months on the island, which correlates with fish spawning patterns and the appearance of whale sharks. Reaching lengths of up to 40 feet (12m) or more, they scoop up plankton and small fish with their colossal gaping mouths while swimming close to the water’s surface. Seeing the whale sharks during their seasonal visit is not to be missed. Although massive, whale sharks are docile creatures and it is possible to swim with them. Whaleshark interaction is strictly regulated on the island and is only offered by accredited local marine tour operators.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Climate

    The climate of St Helena is controlled by the South Atlantic High Pressure Cell and the Equatorial Trough. Despite the Island’s locality within the tropics, its climate is kept mild and equable by the South East Trade Winds. The trade winds blow from high to low almost continuously, making our weather so changeable, a dull rainy morning can often lead onto a bright sunny afternoon. The four seasons are not recognised on St Helena, as there are no drastic weather patterns.

    • August is not the month with least sunshine. That honour is held by October, with September not far behind. Scruffy August is also not the month with the most rainfall. It is (surprisingly) beaten by March - the ‘Lent Rains’.
    • The least rain is in November - not, as you would expect, in January or February.
    • The hottest month is neither January nor February. It is March, which is also the month with the most sun-hours. The coldest month is September, but at 16.6°C it can hardly be called ‘cold’!
    • Wind, well that has its peak in August – November, peaking in October.

    As the island is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, north of the Tropic of Capricorn, temperatures in its capital can reach 34°C, thought you won’t get it hot due to the wind. Normal temperatures range between 20 – 27°C. The hottest months are between January and March and the coolest are between June and September.

    It is an island, there will be wind, predominantly south-easterly trade winds with typical speeds between 15 – 30 km/h and unusual peaks up to 80 km/h.


    Surrounded by at least 1’900 km of ocean in any direction, you can expect a little rain. How much depends on the time of the year. The main wet periods being between March (the ‘Lent Rains’) and August (‘Scruffy August’). Jamestown receives less than 11 cm of rainfall per year which is about 5% of the total across the rest of the island with peaks up to 102 cm. The rainy weather is variable, it can be raining in Longwood and sunny in Jamestown while an hour later the two can reverse. Often a dull rainy morning can lead to a bright sunny afternoon.


    But unfortunately, climate change also plays a role in the rainfall patterns. For example August 2018 was the wettest ever recorded with 106 mm while February 2011 had 120.8 mm.


    Technically, St Helena doesn’t have any seasons. It gets hotter in January-May and cooler in August-October but the difference is not great. There is no Autumn so trees shed their leaves when they feel like it, and no Spring so things grow at any time of the year. Basically there is no bad time of the year to come visit.


    In mid-winter sunrise is at around 06:50 and sunset at around 18:00, a day-length of 11h10’. In mid-summer sunrise is at around 05:50h and sunset at around 18:50, a day-length of 13h00’. The variation is therefore only around 15%. The shortest day is on or around 21st June and the longest day is on or around 21st December.

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