Dive sites in Iceland

Bjarnagjá is a deep volcanic fissure cutting through the lava fields near Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Divers descend into a narrow tectonic trench defined by vertical basalt walls and underwater boulder jams. Seawater seeps through the porous volcanic rock from the nearby coast beneath a cold surface freshwater layer, creating a distinct halocline that blurs vision as you drop through the boundary layer.

Submerged within Lake Thingvallavatn, Davíðsgjá is a volcanic fissure running directly from the rocky shoreline out into deeper water. Often regarded as the deeper, moodier sibling to Silfra, it offers sheer basalt fault walls and expansive underwater vistas. The dive begins with an entry into the lake shallows before navigating over submerged lava formations and descending into the dramatic geological rift.

Situated at the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, Garður offers accessible North Atlantic ocean diving right off the shoreline. Dense kelp forests carpet a rocky seabed that transitions into open sand flats, providing shelter to diverse cold-water marine life. Divers navigate around natural rocky reefs and the old pier structure, where bottom-dwelling species wedge themselves between boulders.

Set within the volcanic landscape of the Reykjanes Peninsula, Lake Kleifarvatn offers a distinct geothermal freshwater dive. Gas bubbles continuously percolate from underwater fissures across the lakebed, creating an acoustic sensation of vibration and fizzing underwater. Divers explore sulfur-stained volcanic silt and vents where warm water escapes directly into the frigid volcanic lake.

Silfra is a tectonic fissure located within Thingvellir National Park, formed by the divergent drift of the North American and Eurasian plates. Subterranean glacial meltwater filters through porous basalt lava rock over decades before emerging into the fissure, creating phenomenal water clarity with a distinct deep blue hue. The dive route guides you through distinct sections known as the Big Crack, the Hall, the Cathedral, and the shallow Lagoon.