A descent apparatus (1) including a housing (3) with a liquid conduit (4) therethrough and a float (8) constrained within the liquid conduit (4) and capable of slideable movement along a first path between an upper and a lower position. A moveable element (6) is located outside the liquid conduit (4) and is slideably coupled to the housing (3). A mechanical connector (9) physically connects the movable element (6) to the float (8) such that in use, the liquid conduit (4) contains liquid and the position of the float (8) is variable by applying a force to the movable element (6) and wherein the slideable movement of the float (8) along a first path produces a corresponding movement of the moveable element (6) outside the housing (3) along a second path co-axial, or parallel with the first path.