Swim
between two tectonic plates
Silfra's
fluorescent green algae.(Stocktrek Images/Getty)
Iceland’s Silfra
fissure – a crack
between continents formed by the constant pulling apart of two tectonic plates
– is a geological wonder. Because of this, it’s become one of the world’s top
diving destinations, where divers and snorkelers can literally float between
the North American and Eurasian continents; in some of the narrower openings,
you can touch both sides at once.
It’s also where you’ll find
some of the clearest water in the world, the result of a fascinating natural
filtration process where melting waters from the nearby Langjökull glacier
filter through porous underground lava for 30 to 100 years before reaching
Silfra. With visibility of more than 120m, there’s a clear view of both the
breathtaking underwater geography and the emerald algae carpets that illuminate
the fissure’s floors.
Silfra’s waters offer four
main dive locations: the Big Crack, home to the narrowest (0.5m) and deepest
points (45m) of the rift; Silfra Hall, where the fissure widens into a
remarkable cave system; Silfra Cathedral, with its exquisite lava rock
walls; and Silfra Lagoon, a favourite for snorkelers, where the algae is at its
most vibrant.
Due to its location in Thingvellir National Park, Silfra is protected by the park’s
regulations and requires that snorkelers and divers enter the water with a
local guide through companies such as DIVE.IS .
Most companies offer tours from May through September.
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