Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Iceland

Photograph of Silfa Fissure by Diego Delso

How would you like to brag to your friends that you snorkeled nonstop from North America to Europe, touched the European continent, then turned around and snorkeled all the way back to North America? Just do not tell them the “secret” behind your outstanding accomplishment until later. If you are a scuba diver, you could also do it on scuba. However, many divers opt to just enjoy the trip snorkeling, as you will need a dry suit and scuba diving with a dry suit requires special training. The only place to start this intercontinental challenge is in Iceland.

Iceland has a number of unique dives and snorkeling opportunities. You can snorkel or scuba dive in the purist waters in the world, or experience those activities in natural hot springs. Scuba divers can interact with large sea mammals in the fjords along the coast and explore underwater chimneys created by hydrothermal vents.

While Iceland does not seem like a location favoring water sports, snorkeling and scuba diving are very popular tourist activities, given the unique nature of the activities in a location normally associated with cold. There are even a few snorkeling and scuba dive sites that are often found on the list of best diving or snorkeling in the world. Heated community swimming pools are common and open year-round, including many that are outdoors.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving from North America to Europe

Okay class, time for a confusing lesson. Politically, Iceland is considered a part of Europe, however, it is not a member of the European Union. It is included in the European Economic Area and the Schengen Agreement. The Schengen Agreement allows free crossing between member nations' borders. If your nationality requires a visa to a Schengen Agreement country, one visa covers all the countries of the agreement. So Iceland is in Europe!

Earth scientists will give you a different answer. Iceland sits on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a mountain range primarily deep under the Atlantic Ocean. The ridge also is the separation between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Therefore, part of Iceland is in North America and part is in Europe. By now, you are likely wondering how this all relates to the statement, you can snorkel from North America to Europe and back. Generally, the tectonic plates overlap. A strong earthquake in 1789 around the Thingvellir area of Iceland created a fissure between the plates. This fissure, the Silfra fissure, is filled with water from underground springs. The Silfra fissure is located within the Thingvellir (or, in Icelandic, Þingvellir) National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Water from the higher Langjökull glacier, about 40 miles (ca. 64 km) away, seeps into the porous volcanic rock under the glacier and about a century later enters the fissure. The water has been so highly filtered that it is the purest water in the world. Since there are no impurities, the visibility is over 325 feet (ca. 100 meters), allowing snorkelers to see the bottom of the fissure that is 215 feet (ca. 66 m) below in places. The views are stunning, with underwater cliffs and different formations. There is one portion of the fissure, called the Big Crack, where you can extend your arms and touch both tectonic plates at the same time. So, a single trip to touch two continents. Being glacier fed, the water is COLD. It is never more than a few degrees above freezing. There is a very slight current in the Silfra fissure as the water continues away from the fissure. This keeps the water from forming ice.

The Silfra fissure flows into Thingvallavatn (lake), which is the largest natural lake in Iceland. The lake has other rifts and fissures that are often scuba dived. The water in the lake is often deeper. Close to shore, the visibility is not as good as in the Silfra fissure, so snorkeling is not as common here. Scuba divers doing shore dives will find excellent visibility once they submerge away from the shores.

Snorkeling the Fire

Lake Kleifarvatn Photograph by Alexander Grebenkov

Iceland is a volcanic active country, and like Japan, it is known for its natural hot springs. While snorkeling is frowned upon in most of the spas that are around some hot springs, there are some lakes where you can enjoy nature's warm waters. Lake Kleifarvatn provides unique snorkeling or diving experience that has been nicknamed the champagne dive. The lake is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the most volcanic active portion of Iceland, and is just a short distance from Reykjavík and Keflavík (KEF) International Airport.

Lake Kleifarvatn is one of the deepest lakes in Iceland and has no visible inlets or outlets, The lake is fed by springs. In 2000, the lake suddenly shrunk in size, and it took 8 years for it to fill back to its original size. Then later in 2008, the lake changed again. Divers exploring the latest change in the lake discovered hot springs and hydro-thermal vents feeding the lake. This area of the lake has earned the nickname, the “Devil’s Jacuzzi”.

The hydro-thermal vents release hot volcanic gases into the water causing bubbles to rise to the surface, much what you would see in an expensive bottle of champagne. Generally, they disburse before reaching the surface. These hot gases also heat the surrounding cold water. Minerals found in the hot gases solidify when hitting the cold water, leaving colorful deposits around the exit points. Snorkeling and scuba diving in the lake still require a wet or dry suit. Most of the water in the lake is still very cold, just over freezing. However, the suits will also protect you from being burned if you get too close to the heated waters.

If you are a scuba diver, there is another area you need to have on your bucket list, and that is Akureyri. Akureyri is the second-largest urban center in Iceland and is located on the north coast. Scuba diving Eyjafjörður fjord can be done from here. However, there is a “fire and ice” dive that should be explored.

Around the world, scientists have discovered massive hydro-thermal vents found in water thousands of meters deep. As hot gasses are released from the vents, minerals form around the vents and create chimneys. The same process happens in the waters around Akureyri, however, the water is only 250 feet (ca. 76 m) deep and the chimneys reach just 45 feet (ca. 14 m) below the surface.

Why Head to Iceland

Reykjavík Harbor Photograph by Charles Davis

There are many things about Iceland that people get wrong if they have never visited it. The weather is a big one. While New York City is further south than Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, the winter weather is not drastically different. On average between December to March, both cities have similar daily temperatures, with New York having a slightly higher average but on many days may be colder. Snow falls are also similar, however, it does seem to stay around longer in Iceland. If you make a comparison between Buffalo, NY, and Reykjavík in January, Buffalo has more snow on average and is colder.

We mentioned the hot springs for relaxing, however, there are other benefits. The volcanically heated water is used for other applications as well. There are six major Geothermal power plants in Iceland that produce almost 30% of the country's electrical needs. Hydroelectric provides the rest. Geothermal heating provides heat and hot water to 90% of the homes and businesses in the country. While NYC has a fleet of over 2,300 snowplows and 700 other vehicles with snow removal duties, Reykjavík has 60 which are seldom used in the city. The pipes returning the water used to heat the homes and businesses in the city to the geothermal plants are also used to heat the roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks within the city. Except in the heaviest of snowfalls, the snow melts before it can accumulate.

Keflavík (KEF) International Airport Photograph by Charles Davis

I used to fly from the US east coast to Europe for business frequently. The eight or more hour-long non-stop flight was not something I enjoyed. On one trip, I was booked with a change of planes in Reykjavík. Not only was the airport very nice, but it was also just over 5 hours from the East Coast. My layover allowed me to walk around and get a nice meal before my final 3-hour flight. The flight time from New York JFK to Reykjavík is about the same as JFK to LAX in Los Angeles, and the fare is generally less.

Granted, Iceland is not a major tourist destination, and might not be on your bucket list destinations. A nice travel hack that I have learned is Iceland Air allows you to stretch your layover in one direction for up to 6 days with no extra charges. So there is no reason why you can not add a stop in Reykjavík on your way home from Europe. Enjoy the culture, and hot springs, and get in a snorkeling day or two.