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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 26 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Oliver Berry

The Silfra Rift running right through the middle of Thingvellir Lake is the tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates. The glacial meltwater is pure and crystal-clear, creating excellent visibility and emphasising the striking underwater scenery.

This is the only place in the world where you can dive between two tectonic plates and two continents – the rift between Eurasia and America. The water is never warmer than 4°C (you’ll need to wear a drysuit) and the glacial meltwater is so clear, it makes some divers feel dizzy.

Family-friendly snorkelling trips are available in summer, so non-divers can go too, and it all takes place in the beautiful surrounds of the Thingvellir National Park.

While you're there

Silfra Restaurant at the brilliant Ion Adventure Hotel, near Thingvellir, serves delicious, modern Icelandic dishes with a slow-food ethos and foraged ingredients – including Arctic char caught in Thingvellir Lake.

Logistics

Price from: £80
Minimum age: 6
Age suitable: 6+
When: All year around
Duration: 4-8 hours

Getting there & doing it

Full-day (8-hour) diving trips operate from Reykjavik all year round. The price includes two guided dives, pick up from your accommodation, all equipment, and some snacks. You’ll need a minimum PADI Open Water qualification to dive.

There’s also a family-friendly snorkelling version available from May-August, which lasts 4-8 hours, so non-divers can go with divers.

Diving and snorkelling are in dry suits; the water is a glacial 2-4 degrees Centigrade, even in summer. Take warm clothes with you and thick socks.

When to do it

Full-day tours run all year round. From May-September, pick-up is around 8am, returning around 3pm; in winter, it’s a few hours later depending on the daylight.

Snorkelling is only available from mid-May to August.

Who to go with: organised tours

5

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates - meet on location

Reykjavik

Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates - meet on location
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a snorkeling tour of Silfra fissure! Float between two tectonic plates, between the continents, in the clearest water in the world (100m+ visibility) while admiring the mesmerizing colors of this underwater world. You don’t need to be a certified diver in order to experience water at its clearest! Snorkeling at Silfra is suitable for anyone who feels comfortable in water and knows how to swim. This family-friendly activity is suitable for children from 12 years old. The snorkeling tour of Silfra is done in a dry suit, helping you to stay warm and dry inside the suit while swimming in the cold, crystal clear water. Silfra is located in Thingvellir National Park which is a Unesco heritage site. The beautiful park is one of the wonders on the famous Golden circle route.

Price: $119

Min age: 12

Rating 4.96 / 5 [4454 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Snorkeling Between Continents in Silfra with Photos Included

Reykjavik

Snorkeling Between Continents in Silfra with Photos Included
You'll arrive at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once there, you'll take a short journey through the volcanic, moss-laden fields of the park. Here, you will listen as your friendly and experienced PADI Divemaster guide. Later, you'll receive all of the necessary equipment for snorkeling in Silfra, including neoprene hoods and gloves, a thermal drysuit, snorkel and fins. The equipment will keep you buoyant throughout your time in the fissure, as well as offering a protection against the water. Once in the water, your eyes will meet the incredible shades of blue so prevalent in the fissure, as well as the natural under-water flora canyon walls. As you are swimming you will have the opportunity to swim across continents, as you will be switching back and forth from the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. After the tour GoPRO pictures will be sent to you by email for free.

Price: €140

Min age: 12

Rating 4.91 / 5 [2471 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Silfra: Diving Between Tectonic Plates - Meet on Location

Reykjavik

Silfra: Diving Between Tectonic Plates - Meet on Location
Experience Silfra's pristine, crystal clear water while you dive between two continents. Silfra is a crack in the Earth ripped open by the movement of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The crystal clear glacial water filling the Silfra fissure has been filtered for decades through underground lava rock, providing over 100 meters of underwater visibility. The underwater scenery that you experience in Silfra is found nowhere else on Earth, a true bucket list dive. The diving tour of Silfra is done in a dry suit, helping you to stay warm and dry inside the suit. You will explore the four main parts of Silfra, the big crack, Silfra hall, Silfra Cathedral and the Silfra Lagoon. You will be able to touch the 2 continents at one point, don't forget to take a photo! Silfra is located in Thingvellir National Park which is a Unesco heritage site. The beautiful park is one of the wonders on the famous Golden circle route.

Price: $249

Min age: 18

Rating 4.96 / 5 [1934 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates with Pick Up from Reykjavik

Reykjavik

Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates with Pick Up from Reykjavik
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a snorkeling tour of Silfra fissure! Float between two tectonic plates, between the continents, in the clearest water in the world (100m+ visibility) while admiring the mesmerizing colors of this underwater world. You don’t need to be a certified diver in order to experience water at its clearest! Snorkeling at Silfra is suitable for anyone who feels comfortable in water and knows how to swim. This family-friendly activity is suitable for children from 12 years old. The snorkeling tour of Silfra is done in a dry suit, helping you to stay warm and dry inside the suit while swimming in the cold, crystal clear water. Silfra is located in Thingvellir National Park which is a Unesco heritage site. The beautiful park is one of the wonders on the famous Golden circle route.

Price: $206

Min age: 12

Rating 4.96 / 5 [1087 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Silfra Drysuit Snorkeling - Meet on Location | Free Photos

Reykjavik

Silfra Drysuit Snorkeling - Meet on Location | Free Photos
Snorkel in between two continents at one of the top diving sites in the planet! Silfra is located in Iceland’s National Park, Thingvellir. It is a fissure that was formed by the divergent tectonic drift of the Eurasian and North American plates. What makes Silfra exceptionally unique is not only its geological significance, but it is also world-renowned for its crystal clear, fresh glacial water. This is constantly fed with a steady stream of 100m+ visibility drinkable water that creates the unique bio-diversity in this fissure. We are the only operator in Silfra offering both drysuit and wetsuit together. This means multiple people in your group can book their preferred option. We include photos as standard so you don't have the hassle of handling your own camera, but you are welcome to bring one! Our guides have all been doing this for years and know the best spots to take pictures of you and your group.

Price: $152

Min age: 12

Rating 4.88 / 5 [1012 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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