Iceland is open for travel. Check volcano updates here

Snorkeling & Diving

FAQ about Snorkeling & Diving

The first step is to make sure your credit card provider allows you to make payments in Canadian Dollars (CAD) or American Dollars (USD) if you have selected.

In some cases, your credit card company would need to pre-authorize the transaction for you before you can process the transaction online.

If you are still having problems booking through Arctic Adventures website www.adventures.is then please contact our Customer Care Team

All relevant information for the tour can be found in our snorkeling handbook.

Yes, you can bring a camera, but we recommend to have a waterproof one if you want to have it in the water with you.

If you plan to drive and meet us on location, the meeting point is at the Silfra car park, in Thingvellir National Park.

GPS: 64°15’23.508″N 21°6’58.676″W

Note that the National Park charges a small parking fee of 500 ISK.

We kindly ask you to be at the Silfra car park 15 Minutes prior to your tour starts.

Our guides normally have an underwater camera and usually, take photos during the tour without any fees. If you are interested in photos please let your guide know before you go into the water and after the tour, the guide will provide you the code to the folder which includes all the photos from that day.

Kindly note that photos cannot be guaranteed. Our customers’ safety and well-being are our first priority, and therefore the guide will focus on snorkelers as a priority when in the water and will be taking photos when everyone is comfortable.

No. Unfortunately, glasses don’t create a seal between your face and the mask. We recommend wearing contact lenses instead.

You are not able to participate in the snorkelling tour if you are pregnant.

Yes, the tour is directed in English and therefore you need to be able to understand English to participate.

Some snorkelling tours match with a dive tour, and then you will be in the same area at the same time. You will, however, be in separate groups with separate guides, and won’t be in the water exactly at the same time.

You need to be more than 12 years old. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian booked on the same tour.

You need to know how to swim independently. Because of the drysuit sizes, there are height-weight limitations. The minimum height is 150 cm, and the minimum weight is 45 kg. The maximum height is 200 cm, and the maximum weight is 120 kg.

All participants must have read and followed directions in the Snorkeling in Silfra Handbook.

The minimum height is:
  • 150 cm (4’9)
The minimum weight is:
  • 45 kg (99 lbs)

The maximum height is:
  • 200 cm (6’5)
The maximum weight is:
  • 120 kg (265 lbs)

Yes, you must be able to swim independently without a lifejacket, and you must be comfortable in the water.

When snorkelling in Iceland you will be wearing a dry suit, hood and gloves made of neoprene, along with fins, mask and snorkel. This equipment will make it not only possible but also very enjoyable, to stay in the water despite the low temperature. It is a fantastic experience.

No, you don’t need any previous experience to snorkel, but it is important that you can swim independently and that you are comfortable in the water.

Please wear or bring some long underwear and some warm socks. Wool or fleece is the best material to wear. You will be wearing your long underwear and warm socks under the dry suit.

We provide dry suits so that your body stays dry, and you will also wear undergarments to keep you warm. We use high-quality neoprene dry suits from Waterproof International and O´Three. But it is good to know that there is always a small risk that water can enter the dry suit. This is not dangerous but can feel a little cold, so we recommend you bring a spare set of clothes and a towel, just in case. Kindly note that your hands and face will get wet, which is completely normal and not actually that cold.

We provide an undergarment and neoprene dry suit from Waterproof and 0’Three. We also provide a neoprene hood and neoprene wet gloves to protect your head and hands from the cold. You will also be given fins, mask and snorkel.

Our client to guide ratio is one guide for every 6 snorkelers.

The water temperature is 2-4 degrees C (35-37 degrees F) all year round. The water comes from the Langjökull glacier which keeps it nice and cool, and very refreshing!

We use high quality neoprene dry suits from Waterproof International and O´Three.

Yes, there are 2 toilet facilities at Silfra. However, we don’t recommend that you use them for changing, as it can result in long queues.

Sometimes fish venture into Silfra from Þingvallavatn lake, but they will quickly swim back, as they don’t like chilly glacier waters. However, there is plenty of colorful seaweed, including a bright green variety known as “troll hair”, which makes the fissure unlike anything on the surface.

The cave systems in Silfra can be up to 60 m deep. However, your dive in Silfra will be from about 7 to 12 m, and the maximum diving depth that is permitted is 18 m.