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Silfra, Iceland
the Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

Silfra, Iceland

Located within (Þingvellir) Thingvellir National Park, the Silfra Fissure was formed by the divergent tectonic drift of the Eurasian and North American plates. Divers and snorkelers are drawn to this rift by its vivid colors and unparalleled visibility. These characteristics have made it one of PADI’s top 10 best diving sites in the world.

Geography of Silfra, Iceland

Situated in the heart of Þingvallavatn Lake in Þingvellir National Park, Silfra is a fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The earthquakes that struck Thingvellir in 1789, along with the divergent movement of both plates, have only deepened and widened the crack. This famed Iceland diving destination is located right where the two continents meet. The continents, in turn, drift apart at a rate of about two centimeters every year.

Big Crack

At 40 meters deep, the Big Crack is the deepest part of Silfra. It’s also the rift’s narrowest section. You’ll have the chance to touch both the North American and Eurasian plates here. You can even take photos while you’re swimming between both continents. Once you’ve finished exploring Big Crack, you can then dive or snorkel to nearby Silfra Hall.

Silfra Hall

A quick 30-meter swim from the Big Crack is all it takes to reach Silfra Hall. It houses a deep cave system at 45 meters. This dive site is also wider than the Big Crack, as its opening reaches up to eight meters and plunges 14 meters in depth. Divers can swim through the rocks and boulders within Silfra Hall (you’ll find huge boulders below the area).

Silfra Cathedral

Exploring Silfra Cathedral will expose you to 100-meter walls. These structures rise up to nearly 30 meters above the water’s surface. You can see all the way to the site’s far end due to its remarkable visibility. Silfra Cathedral has more than 100 meters of visibility, making it the longest natural underwater visibility ever recorded in the world.

Aside from its high walls and great visibility, this section in Silfra also has one of the most dramatic underwater views—including lava rocks falling straight down. The Cathedral features a sand slope that rises two to three meters deep from an area with surging currents. For divers and snorkelers who miss the left turn to Silfra Lagoon, this slope provides a direct route out of the lake. You’ll also get the chance to do underwater photography at the Cathedral, thanks to the brilliant light escaping through its surface.

Silfra Lagoon

After making your way through the Cathedral, this site will be your final stop on your Silfra diving journey. Silfra Lagoon is five meters deep on average with a more visible underwater view at over 120 meters. Just like the Cathedral, the Lagoon’s visibility will let you see all the way across it.

This dive site has super-fine sand and neon green algae (which you can only spot during the summer). Once you’re done exploring Silfra Lagoon, you can go to the other side where the exit point is located.

Marine Life

Unfortunately, fish species rarely go far into the Silfra Fissure. You might spot small fishes and sea creatures around the Big Crack if you have good eyesight or have donned a corrective dive mask. However, they do tend to go back into hiding as you swim towards them since they’re really shy creatures.

But if you still want to see some marine life during your dive, here are a few species you should keep your eyes peeled for:
  • Crymostygius thingvallensis - This species is an amphipod that you can only find in Thingvellir Lake, as well as Silfra and the other rifts around it. Crymostygius thingvallensis have long and slim bodies that are devoid of pigment and can grow up to 22 millimeters.
  • Arctic char - These fishes only visit Silfra during August and September when the mating season takes place. They belong to the same family as the trout and salmon species. Arctic char have pink spots along the lateral line on their silvery skin, while their backs and upper sides have green and blue hues.
  • Dwarf char - Dwarf char are the Arctic char’s subspecies. They reside in the fissure all year round. This species comes in a wide range of sizes, from a few centimeters to a maximum of around 10 centimeters.
  • Troll hair algae - Along with other algae in Silfra, troll hair algae give divers a unique yet natural colorscape above the rift’s surface. These brightly colored species grow on the rocks within the Big Crack during the summer.

Other Attractions

  • Þingvellir National Park - Known as Iceland’s very first national park, Þingvellir is situated in a rift valley within the Mid-Atlantic Range. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourists can spot quite a few huge fissures here and they can even walk between the North American and Eurasian plates.
  • Golden Circle - Iceland’s most frequently visited sightseeing route is home to the Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss waterfall. But the Golden Circle also offers other attractions. Take a dip in the middle of Icelandic nature at the Secret Lagoon, ride in a Super Jeep or a snowmobile onto the glacier, or check out wonders such as a natural ice cave or a man-made ice tunnel.
  • Geysir - Extreme underground volcanic activity takes place at Geysir, where you can see boiling streams and puddles, steaming mud, and the mesmerizing Strokkur geyser. Strokkur erupts every five to ten minutes, leaving tourists mesmerized.
  • Gullfoss Waterfall - Lying within the Golden Circle, Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most breathtaking and awe-inspiring waterfalls. A more precious and memorable view of these falls awaits you in good weather with stunning rainbows and the impressive Langjӧkull ice cap above them.

How to Get There

Divers from the Americas and other regions will find it easy to travel to the Socorro islands. If you’re planning a dive in the area, here’s how you can get there:

By Air
You can book direct flights to Iceland for less with Icelandair, one of its local airline carriers. American tourists can fly from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Miami, New York, and Boston.

Iceland is one of 26 European countries with passport and visa-free borders (known as the Schengen Agreement). This means that tourists from the United States can visit the country without a visa. But they should have a passport that’s valid for at least three months after their actual departure date.

Getting Around
If you’re driving to Silfra from Reykjavik, it’ll only take you around 50 minutes to get to Thingvellir National Park. You’ll have to pass through the town of Mosfallsbær, go up Mosfellsdalur Valley, and drive past horse fields and Lake Thingvallavatn before turning to Thingvellir.

Once you’ve arrived at Silfra, you must park your car at Parking lot nr. P5. Look for the cars and huts with “Diving and Snorkeling” inside, then walk back around for about 400 meters.

Best Time to Visit

Silfra sees higher onshore temperatures and finer weather from June to September, which gives you the best diving and snorkeling conditions. Iceland also gets more daylight hours during the summer so you might get good sunlight for more visible waters.

Required Trainings & Certifications

The glacial waters in Silfra can get pretty icy, which is why all snorkeling and diving tours use drysuits. Drysuits help divers maintain warm body temperatures even in freezing conditions. To dive in Silfra, divers should have a certification in a drysuit specialty or at least 10 logged dives in a drysuit. If you meet the second requirement, make sure that you’ve dived in a drysuit for over two years. Your instructor or divemaster should sign your dive logs as well.

Miscellaneous Information

Currency
The Icelandic krona (ISK) is Iceland’s official currency. If you’re converting your money to ISK, you can get a better exchange rate at the bank. Residents typically use cards to pay for transactions, even if they’re reasonably small. Taking enough cash with you is also a great option if you’re going to isolated villages or staying in rural farmhouses.

Language
Icelandic is Iceland’s national language. However, most of the natives are also fluent in English.

Time Zone
Silfra and other parts of Iceland observe Greenwich Mean Time or the Western European Standard Time zone.

Driving Side
If you’re driving to Silfra or anywhere in Iceland, be ready to do right-side driving. You’ll also have to overtake on the left side of the road.

Calling Code
+354 is the calling code for Iceland. When making an international call from the United States or Canada, dial 011, then 354, followed by the number you’re calling.

ISO 3166 code
IS-8 is the ISO 3166 code for Iceland’s southern region, where Thingvellir National Park and the Silfra Fissure are located.

Internet TLD
.is is Iceland’s country-code top-level Internet domain.