Diving the Crystal Waters of Iceland

Last week we posted about surfing in Alaska. This week we take you to Iceland to scuba dive.

I'll spare you the regular clichés on why it's humorous to even think about diving in Iceland and jump right into the reality: Iceland boasts one of the ten best dive spots on this planet. Many people might argue this, but after reading about the dive at Iceland Review, I would have to believe that it certainly ranks up there with the very best.

The dive takes place within a deep crevasse named Silfra, near Thingvellir Lake. It is a fresh water dive unlike any freshwater dive you've ever experience. This is because the water actually originates from melting glaciers. To reach Silfa, it has traveled underground and, according to Iceland Review, has been cut off from both oxygen and sunlight. This, combined with very cold temperatures, ensures that almost no organisms live within the water, making visibility extend beyond 100 meters. That's more than 300 feet folks!

As if this isn't cool enough, the crevasse itself is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge--the result of the slow separation of two tectonic plates: the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate. What this means is that you can begin your dive in Europe and finish it in North America.

Sound fascinating? You bet it does. The folks at either DiveIceland.com or DivingInIceland.com can help you get set up and also point you to the island's other fantastic dives--such as the Strýtan thermal chimney in case Silfra is a wee bit too cold for your liking.

Filed under: Scuba Diving, Iceland