Book scuba diving tours in Iceland or participate in PADI courses and earn certificates with world-class instructors. Arctic Adventures Diving Center will ensure that your scuba diving experience in Iceland exceeds all expectations. Our guides come armed with many certificates and years of experience. Every diving site we take you to, from Silfra to Garður, is phenomenal. Learn about and explore underwater Iceland with us. We guarantee memories you’ll treasure forever.
If you haven’t yet learned about all of the top spots for scuba diving in Iceland, keep reading. From a fissure separating two continents to the coastal waters of the Atlantic ocean, decide what strikes your fancy and we’ll take you there!
Unquestionably the most popular diving location in Iceland, this spot awaits at Thingvellir National Park. Dive in crystal clear glacial water in Silfra fissure with unparalleled 100m visibility.
The underwater landscape of Thingvellir National Park is so unique that it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. This is no surprise considering that the North American and Eurasian continental plates actually meet in the Silfra fissure. There are some things you should be aware of when snorkeling at Silfra. Here are the main things you should avoid doing while there.
Ever wondered what it feels like to touch two continents at the same time when diving underwater? If you’re curious to find out, Silfra is for you.
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This magnificent fissure is located so close to the Atlantic Ocean that it blurs the line between coastal and freshwater diving. Because salt water greatly impacts the ecosystem of Bjarnagjá fissure, it is home to unique flora and fauna such as pink anemone and lurking eels.
Historically an old crab hatchery, this 18-meter deep lava ravine now shelters an old shipwreck that you get to explore during your dive. Bjarnagjá is isolated on both ends so no waves or currents form there, resulting in a uniquely peaceful dive.
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A darker and longer sibling of Silfra, Davíðsgjá is a monstrous crack in Lake Thingvellir. Its visibility is dependent on weather conditions but on most days it reaches an impressive 100m. Although often mentioned together with Silfra, this go-to diving site for many locals has promising sights and experiences of its own.
The size of the crack alone will leave a lasting impression. It is simply impossible to take it all in at once. The scale and underground architecture complement each other as you have plenty of space to explore massive lava formations.
Shy dwarf fish use the enormous lava rocks to keep out of sight, but you might be able to swim alongside massive trouts. If you’re keen on diving in locations off the beaten path, Davíðsgjá is your dream come true.
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This old fishing pier features the highlights of coastal diving in Iceland. Garður is located at the end of Reykjanes peninsula and is rich with marine wildlife. Over 40 species of algae, a great many fish, soft corals, crabs, kelp forests and many more fascinating marine creatures call Garður home.
Since this is a coastal dive, visibility is a lot more limited than in freshwater tectonic fissures. Expect around 3 – 11 meter visibility depending on the season and tides. Still, if you get close enough to the bottom, you are likely to see camouflaged flounders with their eyes curiously poking out.
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Garður is part of our Coastal diving tour, the perfect opportunity to discover Iceland’s best ocean dive sites
Explore Garður during a half-day Iceland diving trip
A monument to geothermal activity in Iceland, this lake is one of the most remarkable diving locations. Although the smell of sulfur is not the most pleasant greeting, what lies underwater definitely makes up for it.
Bubbles that form under the lake’s floor and rush up to the surface, intense rock vibrations caused by the pressure from underneath, and many more unbelievable experiences make Kleifarvatn an exceptional dive spot.
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This dive takes place in Lake Þingvallavatn, famous for its fissures and unique ecosystem. The lava rocks in this lake are young and porous, creating hideouts for fish and water full of minerals. The bottom is covered in vegetation and there are multiple cracks that ripped open on the sides, one of which we will explore in-depth during our dive.
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Fisherman’s Crack is available as a half-day diving tour location or is used as a substitute during other tours if weather conditions don’t permit visits to the primary sites.
Weave your way through the pillars of an old shipping pier in Hvalfjörður (The Whale Fjord). Starfish and sea snails are in mass force, but the true beauty here is the macro life. Many nudibranchs nest in the large leaves of kelp that have grown around the pier like ivy.
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Abandoned Jetty is available as a location for a half-day diving adventure or can be used as a substitute location during other tours due to weather conditions.
PADI is an internationally recognized diver training organization. By obtaining PADI certificates, you prepare to tackle the challenges presented by different waters.
For the most part, PADI Open Water and Dry Suit certifications are enough if you want to book a diving tour with us. But with so many PADI specialty courses and levels out there, why not turn your recreational dives into a learning experience? You can combine some of the most spectacular diving spots in the world with a new scuba diving certificate!
Here at Arctic Adventures Diving Center, we can offer any PADI training and certification you’d like to obtain. Keep in mind that most PADI courses have a minimum requirement of two participants or more. Consider requesting PADI training together with your diving buddy. After all, it’s even more fun when you get to share this experience with a friend!
Read more about our PADI courses and get in touch with our team at dive@adventures.is to start planning your new adventure.
If you do not have any diving experience and PADI certification, you still can enjoy Icelandic waters by joining a snorkeling tour. Many people ask the question – what is the difference between diving and snorkeling? Click here to see our guide Guillaume answer this question!
Nick
"Captain Light"
Nick got nicknamed Captain Light because he also leads the famous Northern Lights hunts in winter. Growing up as a diver in the Red Sea, Nick soon realized teaching and guiding divers was a passion to be shared. He also worked as an oil and gas diver, so he simply cannot leave a single rock, shell, wreck or cave unexplored! Having been a part of the Arctic Adventures family for over 4 years, Nick knows the ins and outs of top diving spots around Iceland and is ready to plan your next diving adventure.
Kuba
Aquaman
Kuba is our resident adventure man. He dives under ice, drives super trucks, snowmobiles on glaciers, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! A true explorer, Kuba will take you on even the most extreme diving adventures as long as you are ready for them.
Becca
Miss Media
Becca is our diving/social media selfie queen. Arriving in Iceland as a diver from the UK, she demonstrated mad skills in her dry suit and soon developed into an exceptional diving guide. Plus, she is an all-round selfie guru of Iceland’s hot spots, so great pictures are guaranteed.
Eliska
Queen of the North
Coming from the Czech Republic, Elsika has made Iceland her home and loves to dive. She is a true explorer. Every day Elsika is in search of a buddy with whom to discover a new diving location in Iceland. Always with a smile on her face, Eliska will make your diving tour a happy experience even on a cold and rainy day.
Halli
Resident Viking
Our resident Icelander Halli loves to dress in orange, so it’s impossible to lose him underwater. On top of sharing his top level expertise in diving, Halli will have you smiling and laughing at all the tales and sagas of his country’s great history.
Most people are able to get certified and go scuba diving as long as they are in reasonably good health. There are a few health regulations you need to meet in order to safely scuba dive in Iceland.
To join us for a dive on one of our tours, you need to:
The approach to and return from some of the diving sites is approximately 200 meters. You need to be able to walk that distance while wearing full equipment.
You are not allowed to go scuba diving in Iceland if you have or have had any of the following conditions:
Note: Pregnant women are not allowed to go scuba diving.
You are allowed to scuba dive if you have the following conditions and a doctor’s note (in English) affirming you’re fit to dive:
Please familiarize yourself with scuba diving safety regulations in more depth by reading our instructions for diving safety & requirements.
Diving adventures are available year-round. Freshwater diving locations in Iceland like Silfra Fissure or Lake Kleifarvatn stay at consistent temperatures throughout the year. For example, Silfra is a steady 2-4 °C in all seasons. While that may sound chilly, with a dry suit you’ll be ready to hit the water. Diving in Silfra as well as other locations in winter ensures fewer tourists and great visibility.
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
You need to join a guide in order to have the proper supervision and safety equipment. If you’re dry suit qualified, we recommend joining our Silfra scuba dive tour.
Yes, you can at Silfra! Silfra Fissure is one of the only places in the world where you can swim and dive beneath two continental plates. Some parts of the fissure are so narrow that you can reach out your arms and touch both continents at once.
The most popular spot to see when scuba diving in Iceland is Silfra Fissure. Under the water, explore valleys, seaweed forests and geological formations. Out of the water, you’ll also see the tremendous beauty of Thingvellir National Park. You can also see remote spots of North Iceland and East Iceland when scuba diving in less-known parts of Iceland.
This depends on where you’re diving and what group you’re joining. For example, our diving tour of Silfra Fissure lasts 5 hours altogether including instruction and walking to the diving point.
Yes, diving at Silfra is incredibly safe. But as with all adventure tours, and especially with diving, safety precautions must be taken. Learn more about diving safety and requirements.
When going on a dry suit dive, it’s incredibly important to bring the following with you:
We cannot provide you these base layer clothes and socks so be sure to pack them.