Abstract: An underwater electrical connector comprises male and female parts which are brought together to make an electrical connection. The female part includes first, second and third closed chambers containing electrically insulating media, the second chamber being located within the first, and the third chamber being located within the second. An electrically insulating shuttle piston extends through a contact socket disposed in the third chamber and through respective aligned openings of the three chambers. The shuttle piston is arranged to be urged back by a contact pin of the male part of the connector during insertion thereof such that the contact pin is received and directly engaged by the contact socket in the third chamber to effect the electrical connection.