Reykjavik

Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates with Pick Up from Reykjavik

Badge of ExcellenceReykjavik, Iceland

Snorkeling Silfra Half Day Tour from Reykjavik

4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Experience Iceland’s incredible geology from underwater on a 5-hour snorkeling tour at Silfra from Reykjavik, including round-trip transport. Travel to Silfra, a water-filled fissure between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park. Then, don a dry suit and snorkel through the ultra-clear waters, admiring the luminous plants and rocks at the only place on earth where you can snorkel between continental plates. All equipment, and hotel pickup and drop-off included.

5-hour Thingvellir Park Silfra snorkeling tour from Reykjavik
Experience the only place where you can snorkel between two continental plates
Don a dry suit to float through Silfra's ultra-clear waters
Marvel at the fluorescent greens and blues of the waters and rocks
Refuel with hot chocolate and cookies
All equipment provided, only swimming experience required
Round-trip transport with hotel pickup and drop-off included on the below times: • 07:00 / 08:00 / 09:00 / 14:30 / 15:30

What's Included

Guided snorkeling trip
Hot chocolate and cookies
All necessary snorkeling equipment, drysuit and warm undersuit
Live guide that is a PADI instructor
Heated changing van
Entrance fee to Silfra (ISK 1,500)
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Souvenir photos of your snorkeling tour (available to purchase)
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick up service is available only within central Reykjavik at selected hotels and bus stops. Make sure to take this in consideration before booking your tour. If you are staying outside of the central Reykjavik area, please send us a message and we will tell you where to meet us. Please note we don't operate pickups outside of Reykjavik.

What To Expect

Start your 5-hour tour with a pickup from your central Reykjavik hotel or alternatively, from a central location in the city. Then, travel by air-conditioned vehicle into Thingvellir National Park, where Silfra is located.

As you travel, take in the volcanic landscapes and hear from your guide about the park’s geology and history as the site of Iceland’s earliest parliaments. Thingvellir is also famous for the rift valley between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates: a valley becoming gradually ever wider as the plates slowly pull apart. Some of the fissures and faults between the plates, such as Silfra, are filled with clear, cold water.

On arrival at Silfra, hop out, and listen to an introduction to snorkeling in the fissure. Then, don a special dry suit over your everyday clothes to stay dry and warm in the cold water.

Learn how to use your snorkeling equipment, and enter the water via steps. Then, follow your guide on a 30- to 40-minute tour of the only place on the planet where you can snorkel between two continental plates.

Float through the intensely blue glacial waters that are famously clear for having filtered through the underground lava for 30 to 100 years. The incredible visibility — more than 328 feet (100 meters) — showcases the rocks, with their emerald plant life and algae creating beautiful colorscapes.

Swim the narrowest section known as the Silfra Big Crack, following the fissure as it widens into Silfra Hall. Gaze through the waters into Thingvallavatn Lake before entering the deep Silfra Cathedral. Float over the boulders here before finishing in stunning Silfra Lagoon.

Afterward, change out of your dry suit, and warm up with hot chocolate and cookies before your return transfer and drop-off at the Reykjavik start point.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
All participants will need to fill out a medical form before participating in the tour. Please contact local operator in order to request the form via email.
Not wheelchair accessible
All participant's height, weight and age information must be provided to local operator to ensure they bring the best fitting drysuit. The tour operator will contact you after booking to ask for this information.
Participants must be at least 12 years of age
Dry suits are worn over your own clothing. We recommend wearing long thermal underwear and thick wool socks as a base layer under the dry suit
Minimum height is 4ft 11in (150cm). Minimum weight is 100lbs (45kg).
Maximum height and weight is 6ft7in (200cm) and 264lbs (120kg).
Participants must be comfortable in water and able to swim, physically fit and healthy

Please note that that dry suits can sometimes feel quite tight and constricting
All participants must be able to communicate in English
Not suitable for pregnant women
IMPORTANT: All participants over 60 years of age must have their doctor sign the approval form
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

christie_j

We did the snorkeling adventure with Dive Iceland- they were great! Our driver and guide Jake, was fantastic! I was very uncomfortable in my suit and a bit nervous about the whole situation but he put me at ease and was really understanding. He also was very knowledgeable about the scenery and Icelandic culture. I would definitely recommend Dive Iceland and Jake to anyone interested in snorkeling.

Reviews

5.0

1,134 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 1,134 reviews

Snorkeling Trip

Pam_H, May 2024

Jake, our snorkeling guide was fantastic! He made sure everyone stayed safe and had fun! The warm suits provided kept us warm, even though the water was very cold. It was a a beautiful sunny day and the colors danced off the rock formations from the sunlight.

Silfra gets A1 rating

james_w, Apr 2024

The site was beautiful and our guides leered tremendous. Very knowledgeable professionals all around. Highly recommended.

Amazing Experience!

Jennifer_T, Apr 2024

This was a truly amazing experience. Henry was a great guide who was very knowledgeable and explained everything very thoroughly. Everything went smoothly without a hitch!

Memorable experience

Beata_M, Apr 2024

Henry made us feel safe and comfortable. He was very patient and had great sense of humour . We were well looked after. The scenery was out of this world. Highly recommended.

Unreal views

Jennifer_A, Apr 2024

Arnar was awesome. Great guide and made sure all of us were safe and comfortable. Beautiful views. Strongly advise wearing thin warm base layers The suit keeps you warm but 2 pair of socks and base layers are super helpful.

Don't miss out on this bucket list adventure!

Jennifer_O, Apr 2024

Diogo was an incredible guide, answering all the random questions we had about dry suits, snorkeling in 34F water, etc. It's clear he truly loves his job. Although I highly recommend my experience with him, the entire team was amazing from the driver who picked us up in Reykjavik to the rest of the snorkel/dive instructors who helped us get geared up. Highly recommend!

Once in a lifetime

Chet_T, Apr 2024

Jake was not only entertaining but also an excellent instructor, incredibly accommodating, and patient. The whole experience was truly one for the books, definitely a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. When my son was enduring the cold, Jake went above and beyond to assist him.

Stunning Snorkel Float

Kacy_G, Mar 2024

Such a beautiful experience, “snorkel yoga” as our guide called it. We stayed warm with the fleece under layer provided. When they tell you to drink the water, do it. We did and it was so cold and delicious. Our guide GC was really funny and enjoyable.

Amazing experience

Maria_H, Mar 2024

Once in a lifetime experience for sure. It took some time getting into the drysuits but that was when the fun started. The water was crystal clear even if it was raining. We had a really great time. This is the way to go if you do not have a rental car in Iceland. Worth the money and pick j up and drop off was easy.

Unreal and memorable.

Catherine_R, Mar 2024

It was an unreal and memorable experience. Well organised, looked after very well by our guide Brioch. The gear you wear for the experience is at described and does work. I was dry and warm at the end. Well worth doing. 🥰

Just book it!

Maren_M, Mar 2024

Absolutely AMAZING! I would 100% go again. Jói was an excellent tour guide. He brought a lot of humor to the group while also keeping everyone on track and safe. The experience itself is indescribable. Tips: it is very cold so do wear layers as they suggest. I would also take off all facial piercings to make it easier to put the wetsuit on. The changing van is co-ed, so if you are uncomfortable with that, plan ahead!

Magical

Susan_S, Feb 2024

This was so beautiful!! Jake was a great guide. We were very worried about freezing on this adventure but we were fine and so happy we selected this tour!

Safe and cold.

cbmqsxwfpj, Feb 2024

The guide, Konrad, was hilarious but made us feel safe at the same time. The views itself was worth the freezing waters.

Just do it!

Rachel_H, Feb 2024

Such a fun experience! It was cold but the dry suit definitely keeps you dry! The only things that got wet were my face, head, and hands. My advice would be to not wear earrings and to wear your hair in tight braids if you have long hair.

Well worth the Anxieties

Damian_L, Feb 2024

Having read the Liability Waiver and Medical Questionnaire, we were a bit anxious about this trip. But our guide, Giancarlo, was confident and competent and helped us relax (a bit). It was worth it because it is an awesome experience - just look at the photos online. And the view is guaranteed, unlike the Northern Lights!

icy snorkeling is cool !

Ewan_M, Jan 2024

A fantastic experience snorkelling in crystal clear calm glacial waters. Our leader David was very helpful and took plenty of pics in the water for us and guided around the swim. The dry suit kept me very dry other than for hands and face- it was cold but not freezing unlike the outside air temperature

Try Dive Iceland for Snorkeling Silfra

christie_j, Jan 2024

Amazing!

Nat_C, Jan 2024

Amazing trip! We loved Lisa our tour guide. She was wonderful and a great support. It was absolutely beautiful!

Beautiful Experience in Water

CECILIA_A, Jan 2024

This was such a beautiful experience! Henry from Dive.IS was a great guide and did a great explanation of what to expect. The ability to not only admire beauty on land, but then under the water is just magic! I was impressed with the dry suit on how it kept me “warm” and dry with my socks and thermal base layers being worn during the excursion. My hands and hair did get wet which was announced by our guide before getting in the water. All activities preparing to go in to the water was colder than being in the water. With wearing a dry suit and then a wet suit upon entering the water it felt like a huge hug once immersed from the water pressure. The “warm changing van” is the car you drive up in FYI. The hot cocoa is a treat at the end! I purchased the underwater photos from our guide as the cold temperatures will quickly drain your Go-Pro battery but is still do able with a waterproof cover/case and floating handle. For Anyone With Pierced Ears: do not wear pierced earrings as it will be hard to remove your wet suit over your head. For Anyone with a Size 14 (US-Men’s Shoe Size): When filling out your form announce this as your dry and wet suit is a “onesie” and the foot part will be small.

Unique and Fun experience!

Brina_S, Jan 2024

Henry was a great guide. Was definitely a fun and unique experience. Very chilly, I'd probably recommend wearing two pairs of socks, however my boyfriend didn't get cold at all. Amazing clear water.

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