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Want to dive the famous Silfra Fissure, but not yet dry suit certified? No problem! During this 2-day package, we'll suit you up with a dry suit certification in time to explore some of the clearest water on Earth.
Snorkeling Silfra Fissure has been rated one of the Top 5 activities in the world by Trip Advisor - go a step further with our Diving tour!
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A small ravine situated beneath the iconic Thingvellir National Park, the Silfra Fissure is consistently rated as one of the best diving sites in the world. It is famous for its crystalline glacial waters, which allow divers to see more than 100 meters in each direction and the beautiful emerald plants that populate the fascinating rocks below. It is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which cuts through Iceland and marks the spot where Europe ends and America begins. This means that in the Silfra Fissure, you will literally swim between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The glacial water of Silfra is so clean and pure that you can take a small drink of it before you dive down into its gorgeous blue depths.
The dive begins via a small steel ladder: when you enter you will be fully insulated in your dry suit, although it may take a second for your face to get used to the temperature. Then as we explore this majestic turquoise world, you will get a profound sense of the beauty that nature creates. The dive itself is divided into four parts: The Silfra Deep Crack, the Silfra Hall, the Silfra Cathedral and the Silfra Lagoon. The most famous of these is the lagoon, where the water stretches into the distance and divers can see more than 100 meters in each direction.
Silfra is a diving site that inspires awe and wonders in equal measure, the ideal place to have an unforgettable experience, which will whet your appetite for the sport and leave you wanting more.
Please read our Diving Handbook for more information about the tour.
The first day of the tour is all about learning, as our expert diving instructors teach you how to safely dive in a Dry Suit. In the morning we will be in the classroom, where we will learn about diving theory, how to communicate underwater and how to manage your equipment.
The morning will be spent in a local swimming pool, where you can practice being underwater and test all the new knowledge that you have gained followed by open water training dives. The open water diving take place in a lake or protected ocean site in the Reykjavik area depending on the weather conditions. We often go to Lake Kleifarvatn or Lake Thingvallavatn (Davidsgjá), all amazing places to test those new diving skills.
Day two is when all the action happens, as we make the scenic journey to Thingvellir National Park, to go on your guided dive through the magical turquoise world of the Silfra Fissure.
There is no better way to put your newly gained diving skills to the test than in this spectacular underwater world, renowned for being one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.
Pick-up: You will be picked up in Reykjavík, the pick-up time is at 08:00 AM. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is greatly appreciated!
Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.
Please read our Diving Handbook for more information about the tour.
Please note: In order to participate in this tour, you have to have an Open Water dive certification or higher. Also please evaluate your physical health, if you have some medical issues please check health certificate and get a physician's approval if needed.
Dry suit sizes: While we would like everyone to join our tour, our gear sizes reflect what is available on the market, and it is important guests are within the size parameters. This ensures the safety equipment can serve its purpose and keep guests from getting cold in the glacial water.
Weight limit: 99-265 lbs (45-120 kg)
Height limit: 4'11" - 6'7" (150-200 cm)
All relevant information for the tour can be found in our diving 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.
Some snorkeling 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 are not able to participate in the diving tour if you are pregnant.
Yes, it is important that you can both understand and communicate in English in order to participate in the tour.
The age limit for diving Silfra is 18 years old. We also recommend that you are physically fit and healthy if you have some medical issues, please check health certificate and get physician approval if needed.
Because of the dry suit 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. You also need to be able to carry your full dive gear for about 250 meters.
The age limit for diving Silfra is 18 years old. We also recommend that you are physically fit and healthy, and no smaller than 155 cm/50 kg or larger than 200 cm/120 kg, due to available dry suit sizes. You need to be able to carry your full dive gear for about 250 meters.
We will need to see proof of your certification. If you do not have your card, please contact us well ahead of your tour and we might be able to find you in the PADI Open Water Scuba Diver online database (if you are certified with PADI). If you come to the diving tour without your card, unfortunately, we will not be able to take you diving.
The guide will normally not take a camera on the first dive. Silfra can be a challenging dive, and the guide needs to have his or her hands-free in case a diver needs assistance in the water.
The maximum depth we are allowed to go to in Silfra is 18 meters. Most of the dive is spent at a shallower depth due to the topography of the site. The dive time is about 30 minutes per dive.
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 Fourth Element.
Yes, you must be able to swim independently without a lifejacket, and you must be comfortable in the water.
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.
Before reaching Silfra, the water coming from Langjokull Glacier is filtered through porous underground lava rock for 30 – 100 years! This makes it the clearest water in the world, as lava rock is an excellent filter. It also means that the water is the clearest in the world allowing for underwater visibility of over 100 m (328 ft).
