Being in “two places at once” is given a new meaning in Iceland’s Silfra fissure. The watery, deep crack is located between the Eurasian and North American continents. It’s where two tectonic plates meet and have been slowly drifting apart, which causes earthquakes every decade or so.
Snorkeling in the waters of the Silfra is the dive of a lifetime. You can simultaneously touch two different continents, something you can’t do anywhere else! And the frigid glacier water is so astoundingly blue, that your line of sight can reach up to 300 feet.
Beautiful underwater clarity
The Silfra water is as clear as pure air, and on top of that, the landscape views are nothing short of breathtaking. Believe it or not, the water is so clean, you could use a regulator and take a gulp. Lava has filtered the water for hundreds of years.
Scuba divers and free divers alike will be in Heaven underwater at Silfra because of all the holes and cracks to swim through and discover what lies around the next corner. You may even meet a resting trout or two while you’re down there.
What to bring
Since the Icelandic waters are frigid, you will need to wear a drysuit with two layers of thick undergarments. Before beginning your first dive, you will want to complete a drysuit course. You’ll also need to wear wet gloves and a hood.
Then don’t forget to bring a friend!
Know before you go
There are not too many scuba divers active in Iceland, with a population of only 350,000. In general, there are not long wait times for scuba diving, but Silfra is definitely the center of scuba tourism there. So you may experience crowds during some parts of the year.
You can search for a private dive guide or go with a friend. Don’t worry too much about the cold, as long as you’re prepared with layers of garments, you’ll be fine.
Get ready for the dive of a lifetime!
Kat Sweet
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