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Between Two Continents

Snorkelling between tectonic plates in Silfra, Iceland

Into the Deep

For a snorkeling experience like no other, our Charter Specialists can arrange a private tour to Thingvellir National Park, a short journey inland from Iceland’s Western Fjord. Here you can take a plunge into the Silfra fissure, the underwater canyon that is formed by the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates slowly ripping apart. It’s 60 metres deep, filled with Glacial Meltwater, and it’s the only place in the world where you can swim directly in the gap between two continents.

No Ordinary Snorkelling Experience

The fissure is easily explored by even the most novice snorkelers. Equipped with a drysuit and led by an expert guide, you can drift gently downstream, admiring the beauty of the rift below, with little effort required. It’s cold – the glacial meltwater is a year-round temperature of just 2-4ºC – but it’s also staggeringly beautiful, and as you lower your snorkel under the waterline, you’ll see why snorkeling here is on every diver’s bucket list. Silfra is a watery wonderland. The seemingly-bottomless bare rock walls, the vibrant shades of blue, the multicolored algae, and the water that is as clear as air all work together to make you feel as if you are flying.

The Clearest Water In The World

The water in the fissure originates at the Langjokull Glacier, the second largest in Iceland - and spends 30 – 100 years travelling underground through a vast lava field. At the point of arriving in Silfra, this water has already undergone the finest natural filtration process in the world, making it so pure that you can drink any water which may enter your snorkel. In fact, it’s known as the clearest water in the world, with visibility extending to 100m - over twice the visibility of some of the best diving sites in the world.

Mesmerizing Thrills

The experience of snorkeling between two tectonic plates is just as much about the sensation as it is the geology. Head down in the water, with your body insulated from the cold, you are mesmerized by the ragged stone walls and endless palette of blues below, the only sign of life the occasional flick of your hand, to steer you away from the rocks in the narrowest segments. It is, in parts, thrillingly claustrophobic—although it will become less so in the years to come. The continental plates are moving apart at around 2.5 centimeters a year and so the fissure will gradually grow wider, with the walls further apart. By the time you return to your waiting yacht, you’ll be awestruck.

Between Two Continents

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