Silfra snorkeling in Iceland: drysuit, tours and what it's really like
What it is like to snorkel Silfra in Iceland's Thingvellir National Park: the drysuit, the cold, requirements, the best tours compared and how to get there from Reykjavík.
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Silfra is a fissure in Thingvellir National Park where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. It is filled with glacial meltwater that has filtered through lava rock for decades, and the result is some of the clearest water on Earth. Snorkeling it feels less like swimming and more like flying.
Where Silfra is
Silfra Fissure
Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
- Level
- 3 of 5
- Entry
- Steel stairs into the fissure
- Depth
- Up to about 60 m below you
- Visibility
- Often 100 m+
- Best months
- Year-round
- Facilities
- Restrooms at the Silfra parking area
- Fees and permits
- Park snorkel fee included in tour price
- What you'll see
- Bright green algae; very few fish
How to get there
About 45 minutes by car from Reykjavík on Route 36. Tours meet at the Silfra parking lot (P5) inside the national park, or include pickup from Reykjavík.
64.256° N, 21.117° WDirections
What it is really like
- Suiting up. You put on thermal underlayers, then a drysuit with tight neck and wrist seals, a neoprene hood and gloves. It takes about 20 minutes and is the hardest part of the day.
- Getting in. You walk to a set of steel stairs and step down into the fissure. The cold on your face is a shock for the first minute.
- Floating. The drysuit keeps you very buoyant. A gentle current carries you through the Big Crack, Silfra Hall and Silfra Cathedral to the lagoon, where the guide points out how far you can see.
- Getting out. After 30 to 45 minutes in the water, you climb out at a ladder and walk back along a path.
What you see: blue water, rock walls dropping into darkness, and bright green "troll hair" algae in the lagoon. There are almost no fish. People go for the clarity and the setting.
The tours compared
| Tour | Leaves from | Time | Group | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silfra drysuit snorkel with photosGetYourGuide: photos included | Silfra parking area | About 3 h | Small group | $142 | Check availability |
| Silfra snorkeling between tectonic platesGetYourGuide: meet on site or transfer | Silfra or Reykjavík pickup | About 3 h | Small group | $139 | Check availability |
| Silfra between two continentsGetYourGuide: small groups | Reykjavík | About 5 h with transfer | Up to 6 | $139 | Check availability |
| Golden Circle and Silfra comboGetYourGuide: full day of sightseeing | Reykjavík | About 10 h | Group | $285–300 | Check availability |
| Golden Circle and Silfra (alternative)GetYourGuide: combo with photos | Reykjavík | Full day | Group | $292 | Check availability |
| All Iceland snorkeling toursViator: browse every option | Iceland | Varies | Varies | $139 | See all tours |
Requirements
- Swimming ability and comfort in water.
- Minimum age and height set by the operator.
- Medical declaration: heart, lung and blood pressure conditions, recent surgery and pregnancy are common exclusions. Older guests may need a doctor's signature.
- Bring: warm underlayers (wool or fleece, no cotton), thick socks and a hat for afterward.
Tips
- Book early in your trip in case weather or operations cancel your slot.
- Pick a tour with photos included unless you have a camera that handles very cold water.
- Combine it with the Golden Circle (Geysir and Gullfoss) if you are short on days.
- It is cold. Go anyway. Most people say it is the highlight of their trip to Iceland.
Silfra makes our list of the best places to snorkel in the world. New to snorkeling? Read how to snorkel first.
