For those divers out there who are a lot manlier than me, you might be interested to know that Iceland boasts some world-class diving. According to the Iceland Review, one of the world's best dive spots is within a deep crevasse named Silfra, near Thingvellir Lake. Filled with water that originated from glaciers, this dive site is an amazing journey through craggy, sheer-faced, vertical cliffs. To reach Silfa, the water has traveled underground for some 10,000 years. Cut off from both oxygen and sunlight and cooled to a chilly 2ºC, the water is virtually free of organisms, offering viz in the neighborhood of 300 feet! Wait -- two degrees Celsius?! That's, like, waaay below freezing, right? Don't forget your drysuit.
More interesting than the frigid waters and the nearly endless viz is the fact that Silfra 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. Bitchin'! Don't forget your passport.
If Silfra just leapt ahead of other destinations on your must-dive list, check out DiveIceland or DivingInIceland to book a trip. While making plans, don't forget to schedule a dive at the Strýtan thermal chimney. Did somebody say "thermal chimney"? Now THAT sounds like a dive! Don't forget the cocoa.
[Via Gadling]
1. For that kind of visibility and scenery who cares how cold it is?? I'd go in naked if I had to. Corals and tropical waters are all hype and no substance ;) big walls is where it's at. When you're down there at something like 50m and look up.... you'll realize it's all been worth it. It's almost like the feeling Le Grand Bleu tries to describe. That reminds me... I have to watch it again ;)
Iceland is definitely on the top of my dive destinations list.
Posted at 4:21PM on Dec 5th 2006 by Jernej