Sea level records are used to describe and discuss the response of the sea surface topography of the equatorial Pacific Ocean during the 1982-83 El Nino event. During the second half of 1982 westerly winds over the western Pacific caused a draining of warm water from the area north of the equator and a first peak of sea level at the Galapagos Islands in December. During the first half of 1983 westerly winds to the south of the equator caused draining of warm water from the area between the Solomon Islands and the Marquesas Islands and a second peak of sea level at the Galapagos Islands in May. At the end of El Nino in October 1983 sea level over the entire equatorial Pacific was below normal, indicating a loss of warm water from the equatorial Pacific.