Snorkeling in the Silfra fissure
In Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park lies a hidden wonder… the Silfra Fissure. The Silfra fissure is a deep & cavernous split between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, filled with glacier melt-off that has been filtered through lava stones for decades. This natural filtering process has created some of the clearest water in the world, with visibility of up to 120 meters. Because of this high level of visibility, there are many tour companies operating snorkeling tours for visitors & locals to be guided through this breathtaking (quite literally) experience.
Eager to explore this geological marvel, my husband and I booked a group tour guided by the experienced team at DIVE.IS. While we opted to drive ourselves to the meeting point, this tour company also offers pick-up from Reykjavik for an additional fee. Our guide was Wilmar, who eased any apprehensions and made us feel well taken care of. He was also super funny and just an all-around nice guy who didn’t make me feel too bad when I needed my goggles re-adjusted a few times.
Preparation and Briefing:
The water in the Silfra fissure stays between 35-39 degrees F (2-4 C) year-round… it is glacier water, after all. So, for this tour, we wore snug dry suits with our own clothes underneath. We wore a couple of layers under our dry suits, and because our tour was on a beautiful, sunny day, we stayed comfortably warm as we waited for our tour to begin. Our hands, however, were in wet suit gloves & were the only part of our body (besides our face) that came in contact with the water, but our guide shared a few tricks with us to lessen this discomfort while in the water.
After a safety briefing and double-checking everyone’s suits, we waddled to the entrance point of the Silfra.
Descending into Clarity:
As we moved into the water and began to adjust, the anticipation continued to grow! After a few more safety demonstrations, we began to float, face-down, slowly along the fissure's current. The pristine waters revealed vibrant algae-covered rocks and intricate canyons deep below. Through each section of the fissure, the depths & structures below changed, and the sunlight reflected over every surface, creating spectacular views. As we approached the deepest sections of the fissure, I audibly gasped as we turned the corner into full view of the cavern below. Suspended, what feels like miles above the fissure’s floor, it’s hard not to be moved by the vastness & beauty of this creation. After floating in tranquility, peace, and awe for about 30-40 minutes, we arrived at the end in the Silfra Lagoon. Here, we were given the option to continue swimming around the lagoon or bring our snorkeling adventure to an end. Given the numbness of my hands at this point, and the small bit of water seeping into my dry suit 😆, we opted to climb out and dry off.
Tour Wrap Up & Warm Up
At the end of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, the guides bring you back to the meeting point and assist you with removing the dry suits. They also offered a bucket of warm water for us to dip our (mostly frozen) hands in, followed by hot cocoa and cookies with our tour group & guide as we thawed out, debriefed, & shared our favorite parts of the experience. If you’re looking for a unique adventure in Iceland and an experience you’ll never forget, snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure should absolutely top your list. Need a little more warming up after hanging out in glacier water? Continue your trip around the Golden Circle with a stop at the Laugarvatn Fontana spa & natural springs. Be sure to book the Rye Bread (geothermal bakery) tour for a decadent & educational treat!
Skál!
