Freediving in Iceland is one of the best outdoor activities on offer in this unique landscape. With crystal clear glacial water that stretches over 100m in depth at places, its truly breathtaking. That’s why I wanted to make an ultimate guide to freediving in Iceland!
You might not think of Iceland at first when it comes to freediving, but for cold water freediving it is a perfect place. The Silfra Fissure is renowned for divers and snorkelers alike. It attracts thousands of people each year to explore the natural wonder it is.
Its located in Thingvellir national park and you can actually dive in the fissure, which is between two plate tectonics that are growing apart.
Is there anywhere else in the world that you can actually dive between to continents?
As the land of fire and ice, Iceland is an otherworldly destination for freediving. It offers dramatic landscapes, volcanic formations, glacial waters and experiences to connect with this nature. Freediving here is a way to get in touch with the land and see what lays underneath.
To break down the guide I will go through:
- Background to freediving in Iceland
- Freediving between tectonic plates
- My personal experience
- Practical tips for freediving
- Iceland Freediving spots
- Environmental Considerations
- Conclusion
Background to freediving in Iceland
To start of this ultimate guide to freediving in Iceland, we must first paint a picture.
Freediving in Iceland is a way to connect deeper to nature and the natural environment on offer from the land of ice and fire. It is home to basalt and other volcanic features underwater that you can swim through. It has an abundant marine life like whales, seals, crustaceans and other critters.
There are beautiful kelp forests and sheltered fjords to explore. There are also geothermal vents and glacial waters you can dive to.
It is rich in natural wonders and such a great place for divers to explore. The cold water offers a completely unique perspective and creates a different experience than diving in tropical water. The underwater world of Iceland is unmatched and open for all levels of divers!
What to expect when freediving between tectonic plates
Thingvellir National Park is one example of what is so unique about freediving in Iceland. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, just outside Reykjavik. This is where the Silfra fissure is spreading the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates apart at the mid-Atlantic ridge.
It can be seen from above and below the water. However, who doesn’t want to jump into some of the most crystal clear water in the world?! The glacial water here stays usually between 2-4°C, and the visibility is up to 100 meters, which is crazy!
Some people opt to scuba dive or snorkel in drysuits to stay warm, while others wear 7mm wetsuits and freedive in Silfra.
There is little marine life here compared to the ocean, but the rock formations and underwater features make it such an awesome dive. While freediving, you get to swim around these underwater features that are not possible while snorkeling or scuba diving.
The dry suits might keep you warmer, but they are a lot more restrictive too. Volcanic fissures and glacial waters are amazing features of this dive, and it’s so worth the trip.
Personal Experience
I started my freediving in Iceland journey in the Westfjords, where we would go off at the weekends and just explore the coastline. This is still one of my favourite places to explore underwater in Iceland, because there are so many things to uncover in the fjords!
You can literally swim into the fjords and dive to shipwrecks or see artifacts of old whaling stations from the past.
There are kelp gardens to swim through and uncover marine life in between.
Another one of my favourite freediving activities in the Westfjords is to go scallop diving. When the conditions are right and the scallops are in season, you can freedive in the fjord and go foraging. We go on food hunts for scallops.
After a quick taste of them straight from the shoreline, we usually take them back to the kitchen and make dinner for everyone.
Freediving for scallops
Back when I lived in the Westfjords, and I was feeling funky I’d bring my mermaid tail on a dive. We would take endless photos of the ‘ice mermaid’ in the fjords. The landscapes, especially in winter are so stunning, it’s hard to take a bad picture! I would also use the tail as a monofin to dive.
After discovering so much, this was when I first thought of how nice to would be to make an ultimate guide to freediving in Iceland!
Practical Tips
When is the best time to freedive in Iceland
This depends on your preference. The summer months do offer milder conditions for diving, especially the air temperature. However the winter offers such dramatic landscapes and more extreme experiences, if you can suffer the cold.
It also tends to be a little less busy with tourists if you are going to Silfra. Remember that Silfra is glacial water, so it doesn’t get warmer in the summer, but the air might be.
Freedive gear
You cannot dive Silfra without the appropriate gear such as wetsuits, fins, masks, snorkels, gloves and booties that are 5-7mm. However, if you go with a tour operator these are all provided for you. If you are freediving in a lesser known location with friends, make sure to have these with you so you can avoid hyperthermia on your dive.
Diving in Silfra
Diving in Silfra requires a permit as it is located in a national park but this is also provided by the tour company. If you are going without a tour, you need to get this permit yourself which is available here Diving – Thingvellir National Park. You can also get it on arrival at the service centre.
I’d advise going with a guide for the first time at least while freediving in Silfra. You can get a good insight into the area which can be crowded with groups. You will also be guided through the fissure and local area, while feeling safe. Here are some of the local companies that offer tours and other freediving experiences:
- Want to Freedive in Iceland? – Great Reviews & Ratings – Freedive Iceland
- DIVE.IS – PADI 5 Star Dive Center Iceland – Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
- Iceland Scuba Diving Tours | Arctic Adventures
Iceland Freediving spots
You cannot have an ultimate guide to freediving in Iceland without including the best freediving spots! One of the best freediving spots in Iceland is the Silfra Fissure, but there are so many more too.
Bjarnagjá
This is a freshwater fissure mixed with salt water that stretches 22 meters in depth. It is a good spot for training depth and visibility here is very good. It´s only 50km south west of Reykjavik, and freedive iceland offer AIDA courses here if interested.
Davidsgjá
This is a lessor known dive location in Thingvellir National Park. It is another freshwater fissure that offers an amazing experience for divers. This is also where the diving community celebrates Christmas every year.
There is an underwater Christmas party with music and even a tree! Visibility is crystal clear and the depth ranges from 10-20 meters. There is a really fun swim through here if you fancy it!
Kleifarvatn Lake
Located on the Raykjanes Peninsula, 30km south of Reykjavik. It is the largest lake on the peninsula, and offers a really unique experience due to the geothermal activity there. You can actually sea hot springs underneath the surface which creates endless bubbles in the water!
It gets to almost 100 meters in depth, and most divers come to check out the geothermal activity in the lake. However, it is close to the volcanic and earthquake activity that has been going on since 2020.
Be careful when diving here, check the conditions are safe and it is ok to visit the area. You can check this on veður.is.
Westman Islands
The Westman Islands are south of the mainland, accessible by ferry around 2.5 hours south of Reykjavik, or flight.
The volcanic formations here are even more dramatic, with stunning cliffs and rich marine life. You can freedive to explore kelp forests, lava caves, and even underwater cliffs. Puffins are abundant, as well as seals and whales so you might be lucky with the marine life too.
If not, you can visit the only beluga whale sanctuary in the world and visit Little White and Little Grey – the local belugas!
Garður
This is also located on the Reykjanes Peninsula near Keflavik.
It is a known dive spot for freediving and scuba, as it offers a good depth range of 5 – 20 meters and is easily accessible. The area is rich in marine life and kelp forests which are amazing to swim through. It is less touristy than other dive spots, and you can enjoy the landscapes in peace.
Strytan Dive Site
Located in Eyjafjörður, northern Iceland. This is a mad place, where you can actually dive to hydrothermal vents! I don´t think you can do this anywhere else (maybe the Azores?) and it is definitely one for those interested in geology and natural formations.
Hydrothermal vents are made by geothermal cones made of dissolved minerals rising from the seafloor. The cone rises 55 meters tall and can be reached at 15 meters from the ocean surface. These environments are abundant in marine life, such as cod, lumpfish and other little critters. The currents here are reportedly strong and requires a good level of fitness and freedive experience.
Fjord Diving
As I mentioned above, my first experience freediving in Iceland was in the Westfjords. But there are plenty of fjords around the country to dive and explore. They all offer different experiences, with marine life, kelp forests, calm waters inland and maybe even whales and seals.
Hvalfjörður (whale fjord north of Reykjavik) and Seyðisfjörður in the East are also good freediving spots.
I love diving in the fjords, because you can go at your own comfort and it is open to freedivers of all levels. There are always things to see or it can be fun to try and forage.
Environmental Considerations
Tourism in Iceland attracts millions of visitors each year, which in turn has a detrimental impact on the environment. Kind of ironic, as it is the natural pristine beauty of the landscapes that attracts so many people in the first place. Nevertheless, its more important now than ever to practice sustainable tourism and this includes diving.
Don´t touch or remove any rocks especially from Thingvellir National Park and other protected areas. Respect the wildlife around you, keep the waters clean from rubbish and leave no trace. Try to use eco-friendly products as much as possible.
Conclusion
Most of my freediving experiences and all of my formal training was done in tropical waters. That is until I moved to Iceland, where I was introduced to a whole new type of freedive experience. It takes a lot more effort and energy to dive in sub-arctic temperatures and glacial waters, but it is so worth it.
Cold water diving is an adventure like no other. Freediving in Iceland is an immersion into the raw beauty of our planet. I encourage everyone to dive in and see below the surface.
I hope this ultimate guide to freediving in Iceland is useful for you. Share your thoughts on freediving in cold climates or ask any questions below in the comments if you are interested in a freedive trip! Please share this with anyone you think might be interested in freediving in Iceland.
To read more about cold water adventures in Iceland continue reading below.
