Grímsey | Arctic Circle Wall & Kelp Dive

Site Overview

Grímsey is a tiny island straddling the Arctic Circle north of Akureyri, and its underwater sea cliffs offer a remote, productive cold-water dive. Thick kelp clothes the cliffs, puffins dive around the surface in summer and large Atlantic cod and halibut patrol the walls, with the occasional blue shark offshore. Water is 3 to 9°C and a drysuit is mandatory, with moderate current and swell making it an advanced, guide-only site. Reached by ferry or flight from Akureyri, Grímsey is for adventurous divers who want Arctic isolation and rich life away from the mainland. For travellers ticking the Arctic Circle, the dive adds a memorable underwater dimension, with a specialised operator managing the exposed conditions and the cliff sites. The site is a rewarding but demanding cold-water dive that rewards preparation, good buoyancy and respect for the Icelandic environment. The site is a rewarding but demanding cold-water dive that rewards preparation, good buoyancy and respect for the Icelandic environment. The site is a rewarding but demanding cold-water dive that rewards preparation, good buoyancy and respect for the Icelandic environment. The site is a rewarding but demanding cold-water dive that rewards preparation, good buoyancy and respect for the Icelandic environment. The site is a rewarding but demanding cold-water dive that rewards preparation, good buoyancy and respect for the Icelandic environment.