Snorkeling Silfra from Reykjavik: Between Tectonic Plates

You float between two continents in water so clear you see far down.

Snorkel the Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park from Reykjavik with hotel pickup, drysuit, warm undersuit and a PADI-certified guide. The one-hour drive lets your guide explain the geology and history; you spend 30 to 45 minutes in the water moving through Silfra Hall, Cathedral and Lagoon; afterward, hot chocolate and cookies warm you up on land. Minimum age is 12. You must be comfortable swimming and able to fit the drysuit (height 4ft 11in to 6ft 7in, weight 100 to 264 lbs).

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling tour at Silfra fissure

• Pick up from Reykjavík
• Drive to Thingvellir National Park
• Receive drysuit and snorkeling gear
• Briefing and gear fitting in heated van
• Walk to Silfra snorkeling site
• Snorkel in Silfra Hall, Cathedral, Lagoon
• Warm up with hot cocoa and cookies

The experience

Six hours round trip from Reykjavik means the drive, the gear-up, the snorkel itself and the warm-down all fit in one morning or afternoon. Your guide picks you up at your hotel, and during the one-hour ride to Thingvellir National Park explains the tectonic plates, the geology of Silfra and the UNESCO heritage site around it. Groups stay under six people, so the briefing and equipment fitting happen at a human pace in a heated changing van: no rushing through a wetsuit in the cold.

The drysuit keeps you warm and dry over your own thermal layers while you're in water that sits just above freezing. You walk five minutes to the fissure and spend 30 to 45 minutes snorkeling through three sections: Silfra Hall, Silfra Cathedral and Silfra Lagoon. The visibility runs 100 meters or more, so you see the rock walls, the depth and the color of the water itself, not a murky glimpse but the whole landscape. You don't need to be a certified diver. The only requirement is that you're comfortable in water and can swim.

After you come out, the guide hands you hot cocoa and cookies while you're still in the van, and you have time to talk through what you saw. The drive back to Reykjavik gives you space to decompress before the day moves on.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Reykjavik.
• drysuit, warm undersuit and all snorkeling equipment.
• heated changing van.
• one-hour guided drive with geology and history explanation.
• 30 to 45 minutes of guided snorkeling through three sections of Silfra.
• hot chocolate and cookies after the water.
• Thingvellir National Park entrance fee.
• PADI-certified guide leading a group of no more than six people.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 36 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by DIVE.IS - The Sport Diving School of Iceland

Is this one for you?Pickup from your Reykjavik hotel settles the transport and timing, so you don't need a rental car or a ride arranged separately. The 6-hour round trip fits a morning or afternoon without eating the whole day, and the guide's explanation during the drive means you understand what you're looking at underwater instead of just floating through it.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need to be a certified diver to snorkel at Silfra?

No. Silfra snorkeling requires only that you're comfortable in water and able to swim. You don't need diving certification. The drysuit, equipment and guide instruction are included, and your guide is a PADI instructor who will walk you through everything before you enter the water.

What's the water temperature like, and will the drysuit keep me warm?

Silfra's water is cold, just above freezing, which is why the drysuit is essential. You wear it over your own thermal underwear and thick socks, and it keeps you dry inside while you're in the water. The guide helps you into the gear in a heated changing van before you walk to the fissure.

How long do I actually spend snorkeling in the water?

Your snorkeling time is 30 to 45 minutes, moving through Silfra Hall, Cathedral and Lagoon. The full experience takes 6 hours round trip from Reykjavik because of the one-hour drive each way, the one-hour briefing and gear-up, and the warm-down with hot chocolate afterward.

What if I'm not sure about my height or weight? Will the drysuit fit me?

Drysuits come in a range of sizes. The operator needs your height, weight and age before your tour so they can bring the best fit for you. You'll provide this information after booking. The minimum height is 4ft 11in and minimum weight is 100 lbs. Maximum height is 6ft 7in and maximum weight is 264 lbs.

Is Silfra in Thingvellir National Park, and is there an entrance fee?

Yes, Silfra is located inside Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. The park entrance fee (ISK 1,500) is included in your snorkeling package, so you don't pay separately at the gate.