Early wake up call this morning because we had a very exciting appointment to get to! We were going snorkeling in Silfra fissure, a crack right between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Silfra fissure fills with glacial water that has been filtered underground for decades through lava rock. The filtering process of the glacial water makes Silfra one of the clearest bodies of water on earth with up to 120 meters of visibility. For my first time snorkeling this was definitely the best way to start with a bang!
We had a little bit of a drive to get to Thingvellir National Park which is where the Silfrfa is located. We snorkeled with a company called Dive.is and I couldn’t imagine the experience to have gone any better. The one thing I was worried about was the cold water. The water is about 30ºF and without any protection one can last maybe 30 minutes in the water. I have to say that I was happily surprised to find how warm I was able to stay in the water. The first layer included our leggings and a long sleeve shirt. Next was the thermal layer which was given to us to keep us warm. Last was the dry suit and all of the snorkel gear. Due to the fact that we were on the property of a National Park, no additional construction was allowed so the company provides heated vans as changing rooms instead, which was pretty cool to say the least. All of the guides, especially ours were super super nice and did a great job of guiding us through the whole process. After we got all dressed up we had a briefing to learn where we were going to be swimming and other safety precautions as well.
After the short walk to the water we had our final equipment checks before we go into the water. The other cool thing is that the water in Iceland is some of the purest water you will ever drink. I’m definitely one to say that all water tastes the same but this water was on a different level. Not many people can say they’ve been able to drink some of the purest water out there. It might seem silly but you can definitely tell how pure the ice cold water is when it flows down your throat.
Dive.is advertises that snorkeling reveals a “mesmerizing underwater world full of colors you don’t see above the surface” and man are they spot on. Putting my head under the water was like I was transported to a whole new universe. Due to the summer season there was a lot of green algae growing on the rocks and the vibrant greens mixed with the stellar blues created an unimaginable sight. There was a small current pushing us along so all we really had to do was relax and enjoy the beautiful views below us. My hands were the only part of my body that got a little cold because the more you move your hands, the more water particles get into your gloves. I was filming on my GoPro so my hands had lots of action. I got some crazy cool clips though so the chilly fingers was a small price to pay.
After our 25 minute snorkel through the fissure we were given hot chocolate and cookies which was the best way to end such a wonderful experience. I will never forget the picturesque sights I saw my first time snorkeling in the Silfra fissure in Iceland.
