Alliance

                                                                     Exhibit 23a






INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the use in this  Post-effective  Amendment  No. 3 to  Registration
Statement No.  33-89678 of American  Skandia Life Assurance  Corporation on Form
S-2 of our report dated March 10, 1997,  included and  incorporated by reference
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation
for the year ended  December 31, 1997,  and to the use of our report dated March
10,  1997,  appearing  in the  Prospectus,  which  is part of this  Registration
Statement.  We also consent to the  reference to us under the heading  "Selected
Financial Data" appearing in such Prospectus.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
April 23, 1998