Iceland Snorkeling Adventure: Silfra Fissure at Thingvellir National Park

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced, certified, English-speaking diving guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Guided snorkeling in Silfra Fissure
    • Snorkeling gear (including thermal undersuit & drysuit)
    • Silfra admission fee
    • Free underwater photos
    • Hot chocolate and cookies

  Not included:

  • • Travel to the meeting point
    • Accommodations
    • Meals
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — optional (but recommended)
• How fit do I need to be?

  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. To participate in the tour, you must read and sign the medical statement form before booking. If you have any medical conditions, medical approval from a doctor is required.

  A slow, beautiful glacial current flows through the fissure, guiding you effortlessly during the first half of your snorkeling experience. In the second half, you may need to swim against this gentle current—while not difficult, it does require basic swimming ability.

  Dry suit sizes: While the guides would like everyone to join the tour, the gear sizes reflect what is available on the market, and it is important 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)

  Note that filling out and signing a medical statement form about your general health is required. If your health condition makes the adventure unsafe for you, the guides reserve the right to deny participation for your safety.

• Is this snorkeling adventure for me?

  Please consider the following and make sure you’re comfortable with all of it:

  • • Participants wear a tight and constricting full-body dry suit, which is heavy and may make walking difficult.
    • Due to the geographical layout of Silfra, participants must walk approximately 150 meters (490 ft) in full gear to the entry point and later 350 meters (1,150 ft) from the exit stairs back to the starting area.
    • The dry suit has tight seals on the neck and wrists to prevent water from entering, which is essential for staying dry in glacial water. However, these seals can feel restrictive and may be uncomfortable for those who are claustrophobic.
    • The snorkeling experience lasts about 30-45 minutes, with water temperatures around 2°C (35.6°F), so it is recommended to eat and drink before the tour.
    • Participants wear a neoprene hood and semi-dry neoprene gloves. While this is a snorkeling tour, it is important to note that your face, hair, and hands will get wet.
    • There is a slight current in Silfra, and participants must be comfortable swimming against it during the final part of the tour.
    • A snorkel is used for breathing throughout the activity, with one end in the water and the other in the air.
    • Iceland’s outdoor temperatures can be extremely cold, especially in winter. You will spend up to three hours outside, so dress warmly with thermals, a winter coat, hat, and gloves.
      There are no locker rooms at Silfra, so avoid bringing valuables or unnecessary items on the tour.

  Note that filling out and signing a medical statement form about your general health is required. If your health condition makes the adventure unsafe for you, the guides reserve the right to deny participation for your safety.

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

  • • Thin thermals
    • Warm socks
    • Warm undergarments
    • Spare clothes for layering and change of clothes
    • Waterproof rain jacket
    • Towel
    • Camera — optional (but recommended)

  All snorkeling equipment, including an undersuit, dry suit, hood, gloves, mask, snorkel, and fins will be provided by your guide.

• What kind of equipment is provided?

  Your guides provide an undergarment and neoprene dry suit from Waterproof and 0’Three. They also provide a neoprene hood and neoprene wet gloves to protect your head and hands from the cold. You will also be given fins, mask and snorkel.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this snorkeling adventure in Iceland, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.

  Snorkeling in Iceland can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors from 12 to 18 may be permitted to join the snorkeling adventure in Iceland on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has adventurers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  The starting point of your snorkeling adventure in Iceland is Thingvellir National Park. To get there, most people fly into Keflavik Airport, serving Reykjavik. From there, you can rent a car or take a taxi to reach Thingvellir National Park.

  The meeting point is Silfra car park in Thingvellir National Park. To meet your guide: Walk 400m / 1,312 ft 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)

  There’s also an option to be picked up in Reykjavik. For those who have chosen to be picked up in Reykjavík, the pick-up time is 8am and 11am. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes. Your patience is greatly appreciated! If you choose the Reykjavik pick-up option, then you will return to Reykjavík around 1:30pm / 5:30pm approximately.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

  Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

  Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Cancellation policy

  To secure your spot, you’ll be asked to pay the full amount upon checkout.

  • • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued (unless the departure date is within 7 days at the time of booking).
    • If cancelled 7 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If canceled within 7 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
    • Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period.