


Silfra
Diving in Silfra/ Thingvellir Park
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Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site for 2 reasons(!):
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- Firstly, the park has gained the status because of its history, it is said that world first parliament was held here by the vikings around 900 AD.
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- secondly, the park is in geographical "hotspot" right between 2 tectonic plates: The North American and Eurasian tectonic plate.
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There are quite a few fissures in this beautiful park, but the one everyone wants to dive is Silfra of course! It boasts the clearest water on the planet in year round equal conditions. The highest visibility every recorded in the world was right here: 120 meters/ 400 feet. To put this in perspective: A human eye can only focus for about a 100 meters/ 300 feet!
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The water is between 1 and 4 degrees celsius/ 35-38 Fahrenheit every day of the year. Because of the glacier water melting, there is actually quite a bit of currents gently pushing you towards your destination.
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For this dive, experience in cold water and dry-suit is a MUST. This is no easy straight forward dive. There are many level changes and buoyancy and temperature will challenge even seasoned divers.
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Staying in Iceland
Iceland isn't cheap, but that should be no surprise. There are many ways to enjoy this gorgeous country, and many people opt for a campervan to drive around and sleep wherever you please.
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When you're in Iceland for Scuba diving, your base of operations will be Reykjavic since it's connected to most dive sites.
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You can camp near Silfra, but there are no hotels nearby except for in Reykjavic.
"On every scuba divers bucket list, and an absolute MUST if you're visiting Iceland"
Additional Information
Best Time to Dive:
The diving season for Silfra is year round. However, expect longer ques in summer. The water is always a stable temperature, but diving in minus 10 degrees celsius, comes with its own challenges (freezing of gear and suit for example).
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Note: Silfra is open all year, other dive sites: like Ocean dives or Davidsgja will freeze in winter.
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Visibility:
Visibility is stable with some very rare exceptions, but generally you will enjoy a 50+ meters visibility!

How to get there?
By Air:​
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Keflavic International Airport will be your port of entry, from which you can get onto a bus and get dropped off at one of the may numbered busstops. Ask your hotel to tell you what busstop is near and they will help you.​
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By Boat:
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From mid-March to late November, embark on a weekly North Atlantic adventure aboard the M/S Norröna, sailing from Denmark to Iceland with a stop in the Faroe Islands. You can bring your car, motorcycle, camper, or bicycle to explore Iceland.
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https://www.visiticeland.com/article/ferry-to-iceland
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Silfra - Iceland
On the picture you can see the location of Thingvellir Park and Silfra compared to Reykjavic. About 50-60 minutes drive along a beautiful winding road.
