Iceland is famous for its wild nature and adventurous activities, but have you ever thought about snorkeling here? In the Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park, you swim through ice-cold, crystal-clear water, right between two continents. It’s easily one of the most unique things you can do in Iceland!
Can you really go snorkeling in Iceland?
Iceland’s freezing water doesn’t exactly scream snorkeling paradise. And yet Silfra is on plenty of bucket lists, and for good reason. Forget tropical coral reefs: here you’ll find an underwater world of lava rock and deep blue cracks between two drifting continents.
Curious what it feels like? Picture floating over a deep blue chasm with visibility so good it feels more like flying than swimming. That’s Silfra in a nutshell.
About Silfra in Thingvellir National Park
Þingvellir National Park, often spelled Thingvellir, is one of the three big highlights of the Golden Circle route, alongside the geysers at Geysir and the mighty Gullfoss waterfall. It’s hugely important historically, too: the Alþingi, one of the oldest parliaments in the world, met here in the open air for centuries.
In the park, the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly drifting apart. We’re talking a few centimeters a year at most, but over the centuries that’s been enough to create some seriously deep fissures.
One of those fissures is Silfra, where you’ll go snorkeling. The water is unbelievably clear because meltwater from the Langjökull glacier spends decades being filtered through porous lava rock before it ends up here. Underwater, you can see more than 100 meters ahead. Don’t expect many fish, but do expect an almost alien world of blue shades, rocks and bright green algae nicknamed ‘troll hair’.
How do you book a snorkeling tour in Silfra?
You can’t snorkel Silfra on your own: you’ll always go with a licensed tour operator. They’ll kit you out with a drysuit, undersuit, mask and snorkel, and a guide takes your small group through the fissure. Want to go deeper? You can also go diving in Silfra, but you’ll need a diving certification and drysuit experience for that.
Operators offering small-group snorkeling in Silfra include Troll Expeditions, Adventure Vikings and Arctic Adventures. No car? There are also tours with pickup. Book ahead in summer, because groups are small and once they’re full, they’re full.
→ See all snorkeling tours in Silfra
The water is just as cold as the name Iceland suggests: around 2 to 4°C (35 to 39°F) all year round. The drysuit keeps you dry, but not necessarily warm, and your hands and face will feel the chill most. Wear warm thermal layers under the undersuit you’re given, and bring something warm for afterwards. Good to know: snorkeling usually has a minimum age of 12, and you need to be able to swim.
More tips for your trip to the Golden Circle
Our pickHotels on the Golden Circle: stay at least one night, right between the waterfalls and geysers
The Golden Circle is an easy self-drive from Keflavík. Rent a car with Discover Cars and compare the big rental companies in one go.
Fancy doing it by camper, like we did? Rent a campervan from CampEasy near Keflavík airport, 4x4s included for the rougher roads.
Prefer everything arranged? Browse Iceland tours on TourRadar.
No flight yet? Compare flights to Keflavík, Iceland's international airport near Reykjavík.
Fancy snorkelling between two continents? Book a Silfra snorkelling tour with GetYourGuide.
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