Description
Summary
Description
Float between two continents in the clear glacial water of Silfra Fissure on this small-group snorkeling tour in Thingvellir National Park, with free underwater photos and hot chocolate.
Silfra lies in the rift where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates drift apart. Its water comes from Langjokull Glacier, about 37 miles (60 kilometers) to the north, and is filtered through porous lava fields for decades, traveling nearly 31 miles (50 kilometers) through volcanic rock. This gives visibility of about 328 feet (100 meters).
You meet your guide at the Silfra parking lot in Thingvellir National Park 15 minutes before the tour starts.
Your guide, a PADI-certified divemaster, fits you with a drysuit, thermal undersuit, neoprene hood and gloves, mask, snorkel, and fins, and gives you a full briefing about the area, safety, and how to use your equipment. The water stays at about 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 4 degrees Celsius) all year. Your hands and face get wet, which is normal.
After a short walk of about 490 feet (150 meters) to the entry point, you slip into the water. A slow current carries you through the fissure's blue channels.
Silfra has four main sections: Big Crack, the narrowest part, where the plates nearly touch; Silfra Hall, a wider area filled with giant rocks; Silfra Cathedral, a deep corridor with some of the clearest views; and Silfra Lagoon, a shallow, calm pool. You may also see bright green seaweed known as "troll hair."
You snorkel for about 30 to 35 minutes before getting out at Silfra Lagoon, and then walk about 1,150 feet (350 meters) back to the parking area.
You warm up with hot chocolate and cookies, with views of the lava fields and mountains of Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Golden Circle route.
Check availability by choosing a date.
