Snorkeling in Silfra Fissure

Floating Between Continents

Silfra fissure is the only place on Earth where you can snorkel directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Located within Thingvellir National Park, this crack in the Earth's crust is filled with glacial meltwater that has been filtered through porous lava rock for 30 to 100 years before emerging here. The result is water so pure and clear that visibility routinely exceeds 100 meters, creating an underwater experience unlike anything else on the planet.

DIVE.is has been running Silfra snorkeling tours since the early days of the activity and their operation is polished and professional. The meeting point is a short walk from the Thingvellir parking area, where guides help you into a drysuit, hood, gloves, and snorkeling gear.

The Snorkeling Route

The snorkel follows a gentle current through four distinct sections. You begin at Silfra Big Crack, where the fissure walls narrow dramatically on either side. Silfra Hall opens into a wider section with boulders visible on the bottom far below. Silfra Cathedral is the deepest point, where the bright turquoise water seems to glow from within. Finally, you drift into Silfra Lagoon, a shallower area where you can see every pebble and strand of emerald green algae on the bottom with startling clarity.

The entire snorkel takes 30 to 40 minutes. The drysuit keeps your body dry but your face and hands will feel the 2-4 degree water. Most people describe the cold as an initial shock that becomes manageable within a minute or two. The visual spectacle is so absorbing that the temperature quickly becomes secondary.

What Makes It Special

There are many snorkeling destinations in the world with warm water and tropical fish. Silfra offers none of that, and that is precisely its appeal. The water clarity is almost disorienting — you feel suspended in liquid glass rather than water. The colors shift between deep blue, turquoise, and green depending on depth and light. There is no marine life to speak of, just pure geological drama.

The experience of floating through a rift between two continental plates while seeing the underwater world with absolute clarity creates a lasting impression. It regularly ranks among the top snorkeling and diving sites globally in surveys.

Logistics and Tips

The total experience takes about three hours including suiting up, the briefing, the snorkel itself, and changing afterwards. Hot chocolate and cookies are provided after you exit the water, which is more welcome than you might expect. DIVE.is offers professional underwater photography packages so you can focus on the experience rather than managing a camera in thick neoprene gloves. Book well in advance during summer months as Silfra permits are limited to protect the site.