Discover Nesgjá: The Silfra of the North
Snorkel in 100m+ visibility in the Silfra of the North
Nesgjá is another lovely fresh water fissure with the crystal clear water that is so unique to Iceland. It is often called the Silfra of the North as it has such similar qualities as the famous Silfra in the South.Due to the activity of the tectonic plates, tension builds up in the earth’s crust. Every couple of years this tension is released through earthquakes. These earthquakes create cracks that can be seen from the south west of Iceland all the way to the north east. The Eurasian and North American continental plates meet deep down under the earth’s crust along this line.Some of these fissures are filled with water, usually glacial water that has been filtering through lava fields for many years, before it flows into rivers, the ocean or these fresh water fissures. After dripping for a such long time through porous lava rock, the water has been filtered perfectly and is literally as clear as it gets.Nesgjá is quite shallow but amazingly beautiful. The lagoon is huge and as one of our instructors says: “The visibility depends solely on the quality of your snorkel mask.” You can see further than 100 meters.Sometimes we get to see arctic charr, a certain type of salmonide in the fissure. Sea fleas have also been known to hang out at the bottom of the fissure.This location is on the Diamond circle about 30 minutes from the whale-watching town of Húsavík and a short distance from Ásbyrgi canyon, making this the perfect Diamond circle selfdrive tour. Other destinations on the Diamond circle include Goðafoss (waterfall of the Gods), the infamous Dettifoss waterfall and the beautiful Lake Mývatn.
- Availability
- Summer
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
TourID: NDT
Activity provider: Dive.is
Need to know
Participants are not allowed on tour without signing the Snorkeling Silfra Medical Statement and, if necessary, a physician’s approval which can be found on the second page of the Medical Statement document. Please read the Snorkeling Silfra Medical Statement prior to booking to make sure that you are eligible for the tour. Each participant must sign our liability release form at the start of the tour.
Please bring with you: long thermal underwear, thick socks, suitable clothes for the weather of the day, if you wear glasses, please bring contact lenses or your own prescription mask if you have one.
Requirements
- have read, signed, and followed directions on the Snorkeling Silfra Medical Statement
- sign our liability release form at the start of the tour
- be between 150cm and 200cm in height
- be between 45kg and 120kg in weight
- fit within our dry suit size chart
- be minimum 12 years of age on the year
- be comfortable in the water and be able to swim
- be physically fit
- be ready to wear a sometimes tight and constricting dry suit
- be able to communicate in English or have a translator available at all times during the tour
- Flexible Cancellation
- No Booking Fees
Tour itinerary
What’s included and what to bring on this tour
It’s important to always be prepared for your next adventure in Iceland. See our list of what’s included, and what you should bring or add to your trip
See full equipment listIncluded
- Guided snorkeling tour
- 1 guided 40min snorkel
- All necessary snorkeling equipment
- Hot chocolate and cookies after the diving tour
Not included
- Clothing to be worn under the dry suit and undergarments are not provided
Tour highlights
Are you wondering about something?
If you're planning a trip to Iceland, it's important to be prepared with the right information. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you plan your trip
You can snorkel in Iceland throughout the year. While it might seem crazy, you can snorkel in Silfra even in winter. Probably the best time to join a diving tour is spring or autumn, when there tends to be fewer crowds in the Þingvellir National Park.
Snorkelling in Silfra is possible at any time throughout the day too, with tours running from 08:00 to 17:00.
Yes, it’s possible to snorkel in Silfra during winter. It’s a challenge you’ll remember forever.
The waters are typically no colder than at any other time of year, as they tend to be a stable 2 – 4°C (35.6 – 39.2°F) year round. It will of course be a little chillier when you get out of the water though!
Snorkelling in Silfra is not like snorkelling anywhere else. Thanks to impeccably clear water and its location in a live tectonic landscape, Silfra offers one of the most thrilling snorkelling experiences on Earth. How many times can you say you’ve swum between two continents?
Snorkelling in Silfra is available to anyone. Whether this is your first dive or you’ve snorkelled all over the world, Silfra offers something special.
That said, for your safety, there are some people who are not recommended to dive here. For example, you do need to be at least 12 years of age to snorkel safely in Silfra. Similarly, if you’re pregnant you won’t be able to dive with us.
You’ll also need to be able to fit in a dry suit, have a decent level of fitness, and be able to swim.
Most snorkelling tours at Silfra last for about 2.5 hours, including time to get fitted in the right gear and learn key safety advice. You will spend about 30 to 45 minutes in the water exploring the different areas of the tectonic fissure.
These times don’t include transportation. If you would like to start your Silfra snorkelling tour from Reykjavík, account for a further 2.5 hours in travel. We’ll pick you up in one of our comfy vans.
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