Silfra Fissure | Diving Between Two Continents

Site Overview

Silfra is the most famous dive site in Iceland and one of the most extraordinary freshwater dives on Earth. It is a fissure inside Þingvellir National Park where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart, filled with glacial meltwater that has been filtered through porous lava for decades. The result is visibility that frequently exceeds 100 metres, so pure you can drink it mid-dive. The dive follows a one-way route through four main sections: Silfra Hall, a wide-open fissure; Silfra Cathedral, a majestic lava-rock chasm tall enough to swim through; Silfra Lagoon, a shallow, calm area of stunning colours; and the vivid blue-water exit. There are almost no fish, but the neon-green troll-hair algae, towering lava walls and sense of drifting between two continents make it unforgettable. Diving is drysuit-only, year-round, and guided, with excellent conditions in every season. For many divers Silfra is a once-in-a-lifetime bucket-list experience that defines cold-water clarity. 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.