Optical connector, particularly for operating in high pressure environment

A connector for optical fibers for use in high pressure atmospheres having means for holding respective ends of first and second optical fibers such that the respective end of the first fiber substantially faces the respective end of the second fiber, the holding means comprising:

• a first cylindrical hollow alignment ferrule for housing and immobilizing the respective end of the first fiber;
• a second cylindrical hollow alignment ferrule for housing and immobilizing the respective end of the second fiber;
• a substantially flexible, hollow collar having a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein diameter of the flexible collar is less than diameter of the first and second alignment ferrules to closely house respective ends of the first and second alignment ferrules substantially one facing the other;
• a sleeve surrounding the collar;
• and
• a substantially translucent gel placed in the sleeve, the fluidity of the translucent gel adapted to substantially fill a space separating the respective ends of the first and second fibers and to substantially seal the space from a surrounding medium thereby holding the respective ends of the first and second fibers in the space by capillary action, whereas ambient pressure in the surrounding medium acts on at least one free end of the sleeve while substantially holding the gel in the sleeve;
• wherein the collar comprises a slit forming a passage for the gel extending substantially from the first ferrule to the second ferrule.