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Ready to snorkel between two continents? Gear up in a dry suit and enter the Silfra Fissure, a crack between the North American and Eurasian plates in Thingvellir National Park. Glide through glacier-clear water, float past shifting lava walls, and explore a natural wonder with visibility up to 150 meters (490 feet). See why Silfra ranks among the world’s top adventures!
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It is required to read the Snorkeling Handbook before booking.
Your adventure begins at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 45 km (28 miles) from Reykjavík. Here, you’ll explore a narrow volcanic canyon filled with crystal-clear glacial water, winding through an ancient lava field.
Before entering Silfra, your guide will help you gear up with a dry suit designed to keep you warm in the glacial water. Then, you’ll hear about the park’s unique geology and get a safety briefing on your equipment and tour. Once ready, it’s a short 150-meter (490-foot) walk to the entry point.
Mask and fins on, you’ll enter the glacial waters and start your snorkel between two tectonic plates! As you glide through this surreal underwater canyon, with visibility often stretching up to 150 meters (490 feet), you’ll float through some of the clearest water on Earth. Expect about 30–40 minutes of snorkeling through Silfra before finishing in the Silfra Lagoon.
After exiting the water, it’s a 400-meter (1,300-foot) walk back to the parking lot. You’ll change out of your gear and warm up with hot chocolate and cookies—the perfect way to wrap up this unforgettable Icelandic experience!
Silfra is located in Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fissure opened after a powerful earthquake in 1789, tearing the land apart where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Since then, the plates have continued to drift away from each other at a rate of about 0.79 inches (2 centimeters) per year.
The water in Silfra comes from Langjökull Glacier, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) away. It filters through underground lava fields for up to 100–200 years before reaching the fissure, creating crystal-clear water with up to 150 meters (490 feet) of visibility.
As you snorkel through Silfra, you’ll discover spectacular rock formations, vibrant algae, and some of the clearest water on Earth. The route flows through four sections:
The slow-moving glacial water, surreal colors, and underwater scenery make Silfra one of the world’s most extraordinary snorkeling spots.
Meeting point
The Silfra car park in Thingvellir National Park is the meeting point. Please be ready in the Silfra car park to meet your guide 15 MINUTES before your tour is due to begin.
Driving directions to the meeting location
If you choose the meet-on-location option, the meeting point is Silfra Car Park in Thingvellir National Park. Click here for driving directions to park your car (parking “Thingvellir P5”). To meet your guide: Walk 400m back along the road until you reach a smaller car park with all the snorkel and dive vans, and look for your guide. Please be ready in the Silfra car park to meet your guide 15 MINUTES before your tour is due to begin.
For GPS: 64°15’23.508″N 21°6’58.676″W
For those who have chosen to be picked up in Reykjavík, the pick-up time in summer (May 15-August 31) is 7:45 am or 12:30 pm. The pick-up time in winter (Sept 1-May 14) is 8:30 or 12:00.
Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes. Your patience is greatly appreciated! Available pick-up points
To participate in the tour, you must read and sign the medical statement form in our Snorkeling Handbook before booking. Medical approval from a doctor is required if you have any medical conditions.
Participants need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim.
You cannot participate if you are pregnant due to the small risk of cold water entering the suit.
Dry suit sizes: The gear sizes reflect what is available on the market, and it is essential that guests are within the size parameters. This ensures the safety equipment can serve its purpose and keep guests from getting cold in the glacial water.
Weight limit: 99-265 lbs (45-120 kg)
Height limit: 4'11" - 6'7" (150-200 cm)
English: It is essential that you can both understand and communicate in English to participate in the tour.
Meet our guides
Mattia
Passionate for any water activity, I worked over and under the most beautiful waters of Europe and Asia for the last 15 years as a diving and sailing instructor, boat captain and tour manager. I'm always looking for the next skill to learn and ready to guide you safely through your next adventure.
Weronika
Weronika, I am a diving instructor from Poland. I came to Iceland for a while, I stayed for longer. I am a positive person, always smiling and waiting for challenges. Raised in cold waters, I am not afraid of any work and any challenge, so if you want to drown, do it only with me 😉. ‘Mayday Mayday we are sinking!’ ‘What . . . what are you sinking about?’
Ioannis
Ioannis (John) Scuba Instructor and CBO (Chief Barbecue Officer) from Greece, I started my diving journey in the warm waters of the Mediterranean sea and Greece. I like the challenges, and this is why I came to Iceland. I realized that I love COLD water and Silfra, and now I am very enthusiastic about any activity out in the cold arctic environment. I love guiding and teaching people and creating lifetime experiences for them.
Federica
My name is Federica, but I go as Fede. My diving journey started in 2020 in the beautiful waters of Sardinia and my passion for challenges and extreme activities took me to Iceland. Back then, I would have never imagined to build a life here... but fortunately I did! I have been here for almost 3 years and counting. Water is definitely my element, I am very passionate about my job, animals, the environment and food, but only if it's vegan (sorry Mamma for my vegan lasagna...). Being Italian is for sure a big chunk of my personality. Can't wait to show you the magic of Silfra!
Marcin
Marcin, diving instructor from Poland. I also love hiking, traveling, sport, outdoor activities, movies, books and many others. I enjoy learning and trying new things, especially overcoming my own fears. I enjoy specific sense of humor.
All relevant information for the tour can be found in our snorkeling handbook.
Yes, you are allowed to bring your camera along, but we recommend to have a waterproof one if you want to have it in the water with you.
If you are planning on meeting us at the location than the meeting point is at the Silfra car park, in Thingvellir National Park.
GPS: 64°15’23.508″N 21°6’58.676″W
Please note that the National Park charges a small parking fee of 500 ISK.
We kindly ask you to be at the Silfra car park at least 15 minutes prior to your tour starts,
Our guides normally have an underwater camera and usually, take photos during the tour without any fees. If you are interested in photos please let your guide know before you go into the water and after the tour, the guide will provide you the code to the folder which includes all the photos from that day.
Kindly note that photos cannot be guaranteed. Our customers’ safety and well-being are our first priority, and therefore the guide will focus on snorkelers as a priority when in the water and will be taking photos when everyone is comfortable.
Unfortunately, you cannot wear glasses as the glasses don’t create a seal between your face and the mask. We recommend wearing contact lenses instead.
You are not allowed to participate in our snorkeling tour if you are pregnant as it can put your baby in high risk.
Yes, you must be able to understand English to a participant. The tour is directed in English.
Some snorkeling tours match with a dive tour, and then you will be in the same area at the same time. You will, however, be in separate groups with separate guides, and won’t be in the water exactly at the same time.
You need to be more than 12 years old ( guardian’s approval needed for minors under 18) and you need to know how to swim independently. Because of the dry suit sizes, there are height-weight limitations. The minimum height is 150 cm, and the minimum weight is 45 kg. The maximum height is 200 cm, and the maximum weight is 120 kg.
Yes, you must be able to swim independently without a lifejacket and feel comfortable in the water to take part in the tour.
It is a magical experience. When snorkeling you will be wearing a dry suit, hood, and gloves made of neoprene, along with fins, mask, and snorkel. This equipment will make it not only possible but as well very enjoyable to stay in the water despite the cold temperature. Tripadvisor recently rated Snorkeling at Silfra as one of the Top 5 travel experiences in the world.
No, you do not need any previous experience to snorkel, however, it is important that you can swim independently and feel comfortable in the water.
We highly recommend long underwear and some warm socks. Wool or fleece is the best material to wear. You’ll be wearing the clothing under the dry suit.
We provide you with high-quality neoprene dry suit so that your body stays dry. There is always a small risk that water can enter the dry suit, that is not dangerous but you can feel a little cold, therefore, we recommend you to bring an extra spare set of clothes and a towel, just in case. Note that your hands and face will get wet, which is completely normal.
You will be provided with high-quality neoprene dry suit from Waterproof International and O’Three. As well as neoprene hood and gloves to protect your head and hands from the cold. You’ll also be given fins, mask, and snorkel.
Our client to guide ratio is 1 guide for every 6 snorkelers
The water temperature is 2-4 degrees C (35-37 degrees F) all year round.
Yes, there are two toilet facilities at Silfra.
Occasionally fish venture into Silfra from Þingvallavatn lake, but they will quickly swim back as they don’t like the cold glacier water. However, there is a lot of colorful seaweed including a bright green variety known as ‘’troll hair’’, which makes the fissure unlike anything on the surface.
Silfra can be up to 60m deep. However, when you’re diving in Silfra than you will go about 7 to 12m deep, and the maximum diving depth that is permitted is 18m.
