Silfra snorkelling

Requirements for the tour
All participants must:
– have read, signed, and followed directions on our online Snorkeling Silfra Medical Statement PDF
– have our Snorkeling Medical form signed off by a doctor if they are age 60 or older PDF
– sign our liability release form at the start of the snorkeling tour PDF
– be at minimum 150cm / maximum 200cm
– be at minimum 45kg / maximum 120kg
– fit within our dry suit size chart PDF
– be at least 12 years of age on the year and at least 45 kg / 99 lbs
– be comfortable in water and be able to swim
– be physically fit
– be ready to wear a sometimes tight & constricting dry suit
– be able to communicate in English
– not be pregnant
– eat well before the tour

Note: Make sure to select the option with a pick up from the Reykjavik cruise ship terminal.

Silfra is a fissure created by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates cutting through Iceland. The Silfra fissure fills with glacial water that has been filtered underground for decades through hardened, porous lava rock. The filtering process of the glacial water makes Silfra one of the clearest bodies of water on earth with up to 120 meters of visibility.

On the drive to Thingvellir National Park, your guide will provide you with background information about the unique geology and cultural history of Iceland and Silfra as well as the surrounding area of the UNESCO world heritage site.

Upon arrival at Silfra, your guide will give you your dry suit and snorkeling equipment. Your snorkel guide will explain how to use this equipment and how to ensure that you will be warm and comfortable during your 30 to 40 minute snorkeling tour of Silfra Hall, Silfra Cathedral, and Silfra Lagoon.

During your snorkel you will explore the four main parts of Silfra. You will float through Big Crack, Silfra’s narrowest section and where the continental plates are so close you can almost touch them. The fissure then widens into Silfra Hall. Here the full spectrum of Silfra’s colours and clarity become all the more apparent. At this point if you look at just the right angle you can see all the way to lake Thingvallavatn, over 150m away. Near to the opening to Thingvellir lake we will enter the Silfra Cathedral; as the depth reaches 23m you feel like you are flying over the boulders and glacial silt. Your snorkel is finished in the endless visibility of Silfra Lagoon.

Make sure to drink some of the Silfra water while you are snorkeling! Who knows when you will be able to drink water so pure again.

Timeline
Arrival at the meeting point at Silfra 15 minutes before the tour start time, check-in with guides
Division into groups of 6 people, one group per guide
Briefing and gear-up with your guide (∼1 hour total)
Once you are fully dressed, your guide will take a number from the park ranger and that will be your group’s number to enter the water
Make your way to the entry platform, short wait (wait time may vary)
30-45 minutes spent in the water
Exit through platform, walk back to the meeting point (∼250 meters)
Take off equipment, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies to warm up

Included
– All necessary snorkeling equipment
– Hot chocolate and cookies after the snorkeling trip
– Entrance fee into Silfra

To bring
– Long underwear
– Thick socks
– Suitable clothes for the weather of the day
– Contact lenses if you wear glasses