Travel Guide

Assomption Island

Aerial view of Assomption

Assomption is a somewhat crescent shaped island, with a brilliant white sand beach on a sheltered bay located inside the crescent. The landscape of this coral island is rough and rather arid, with only shrubs and a palm trees for cover. A program of tree planting is in progress to supplement the vegetation. What the islands landscape is in short supply of, the surrounding seascape more than makes up for it. Assomption is encircled by a coral reef that slopes away to a white sandy bottom with coral heads as big as the size of a compact car. Visibility beneath the surface is incredible, down to 150 feet or more. The variety of sea life defies description, schools of nine-line sweetlips, sea cucumbers, shrimp, crab, urchins, starfish, and lobster. Scenes in Cousteau’s epic documentary film, “The Silent World”, were filmed here by then young director, Louis Malle.

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