Diving in the Silfra Rift

Not only does Iceland have magnificent landscapes in the traditional sense, but the subaquatic scenery is also quite extraordinary.

Indeed, Silfra is considered one of the 3 best diving spots in the world. Iceland has 2 unique and world-renowned dive sites, Silfra and Strýtan. This particular one is located in Thingvellir and is the most famous.

• How to get to Silfra
• The Silfra dive site
• Types of diving
• Diving tours in Silfra

How to get to Silfra

The site is very easy to get to, being located in the Thingvellir National Park very close to the church car park (P5 Valhöll, paid: 1,000 ISK per day for a car of up to 5 seats, valid at car parks P1, P2 and P5) just opposite Almannagjá. The site is therefore accessible in summer and winter, and you can get there on your own or take a tour leaving from the capital (see below).

By car, the Silfrugjá fault, or Silfra, is located 50 km from the capital, so less than 45 minutes by car.

Silfra dive site

The Silfra dive site is located over a rift between the European and American plates, a truly one-of-a-kind dive! The Silfrugjá is a fault called “normal fault” (also known as dip-slip fault, where one shelf pushes beneath the other).

When you do this dive, a guide will give you all the history and geology, keep you safe in the water, and also take a few photos, which means you can just focus on the dive. In fact, many visitors state that Silfra is an ideal place for scuba diving, provided you are certified: an Open Water (or equivalent) certification is required, along with either a dry suit diving certification or 10 dry suit dives within the last 2 years. Silfra is not a place to learn to dive; beginners can opt for snorkeling instead.

The crystal clear water is incredibly clear, a visibility of up to 100 meters which is rare in the diving world, and the temperature constant between 2 and 4 °C. The water comes from the second largest glacier in Iceland: Langjökull.

The most impressive section is clearly the Silfra Cathedral: a 100-meter long fissure, with water so clear you can almost see right through to the other end. The fault reaches a maximum depth of 63 meters, but the maximum depth permitted for divers is 18 meters.

The type of dive

Of course, these excursions are very well-equipped. Depending on the type of excursion chosen you will be given:

• A dry suit (as well as a mask and snorkel!)
• A wetsuit (for snorkeling only: a dry suit is mandatory for scuba diving)

In a dry suit, you stay absolutely dry, not a drop of water in your suit, and you only feel the icy water on the visible part of your face. The small downside is that the combination floats more, so it's hard to dive very deep. Only part of the face is finally in contact with water.

In a wet suit, you'll feel the water temperature a great deal more, but you have more freedom of movement at the surface. This option is only allowed for snorkeling: scuba divers must wear a dry suit. It is recommended to wear a swimsuit under the wetsuit.

The dive is generally a single immersion of about 30 to 45 minutes (some operators offer an optional second dive, with a break to warm up in between), which is ample time to admire the rift: the hall, the lagoon, and the Silfra Cathedral.

Diving Tours in Silfra

Silfra diving: nudiblue @fotolia

Several tour companies offer diving tours in Silfra departing from Reykjavík in both winter and summer:

• 2 to 4H tour: Snorkeling in Silfra
• 3H tour: Snorkeling in Silfra
• 3H to 5H tour: Snorkeling in a dry suit with photo package 
• 2H30 tour: Snorkeling with photos and return transfer
• 3H tour: Diving in Silfra with photo package

Depending on your level of experience, you should opt either for snorkeling or scuba diving if you already have experience with the sport.

Of course, scuba diving means you can venture deeper into the fault line than free diving.