Icland 2012 - Diving in Silfra - Þingvellir- National Park, at the Geothermal Chimneys Akureyri "Strytan", at the Polar Circle at Grimsey and in the volcano lakes "Askja and Hverahlið"Diving tour to the land of trolls and elfes, 1500 kilometer landscape, peoples, puffins, kelp and geologie! |
After our first short trip in february 2007 we enjoy two weeks diving known and unknown spots. Technical diving still develops, but our dive buddies are very interested to learn and practise to explore their own country in deeper ranges.
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Volcano lake HverahliðLocation: The volcano lake Hverahlið is located approx. 30 km south of Reykjavik, next to the high temperature area Hverahlið. It is a part of the volcano system Brennisteinsfjöll. The water line changes a lot - depends from the activity of the volcano.The sulfureous sediments are visible at the lakes surface. this looks very imposant and of course: smells ;)
Maximum Depth: 90 ? meter Water temperatur: approx. 5 degree Accessibility/ Entrance: easy, active area is marked with moored buoy. Permission: no Structure: Water level and vis change, depending on volcanic activity, silty floor! Our Dive: With amazement we gaze at the sulfur fields...
Specials: We would love to stay here for weeks exploring the lake with proper equipment, scooters and gas mix... |
Strytan, The Big Chimney, The Geothermal ChimneyAccessibility/ Entrance: in the Fjord Eyjafjorður, almost in the opposite side from an old herring manufacture in the village Hjalteyri, app.. 20 km north of Akureyri.
Maximum Depth: 65 meter Water temperatur: here in the North Atlantik between 11 and 7 degree- much comfortable than expected Entrance:: per boat, mooring buoy Permission: no, but the Strytan is the first protected underwater area in Iceland since 2001! Structure: Strytan the giant submarine cones rise from the 70 meters deep seafloor at Eyjafjörður to 15 meters under the surface. That makes Strytan almost 55 meters high. The ascent/descent rope and the Strytan connecting rope is located in 25-28m. Our Dive:We dive the Strytan twice. The vis is unfortunately very bad. But the whole contoure of the giant stalactite was vaguely perceptible.
Specials: Scientists estimate around 100 litres of 75°C hot water per second coming out of the cone. Strytan started developing at the end of last ice age 10.000 years ago and are made from magnesium-silicate from the sea. When diving on Strytan you also have to be carefully with this unique ecosystem, the animals, algae and microorganism.
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Arnarnesstrytur - the small geothermal slot, The Small ChimneyAccessibility/ Entrance: in the fjord Eyjafjorður, north of the old hering manufacture in the village Hjalteyri, app. 20 km north of Akureyri, at the sat thee side Maximum Depth: 30 meter Water temperatur: in the North Atlantic, between 11 and 7 degree Entrance: per boat, mooring Permission: no Time Slot: July is not good... Structur: many small chimneys, not all of them are active Our Dive: Waves and wind- nice boat ride! Vis poor!
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Iceland Grimsey- diving at the Polar Circle!Accessibility/ Entrance: from Dalvik to Grimsey with ferry- attention to the schedule of ferry -they do not operate daily!
Maximum Depth: a sand slope coverd with kelp goes slowly deeper than 6 meter, later many canyons leading down to 20 meters Entrance:: boat, or just from shore Permission: no Tauchplätze: puffins, cod and kelp :)
Our Dive: multiple at the west coast, right next to the "Basar Guest House", the other side of the isle was not diveable because of wind... Specials: to get footage of chasing puffins was almost impossible. The next time we are better prepared!
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Volcano Lake Askja, ÖskjuvatnAccessibility/ Entrance: from Akureyri passing the lava fields Oð'að'ahraun, passing further the tuya Herð'ubreið'. A couple of rivers are to cross, an appropriet car is mandatory!
Maximum Depth: approx. 190 meter - high altitude diving! Water temperatur: damn cold- also only 5 degree Entrance:: from shore, if you could make the 3 km path :) Permission: no Our diving spot: Cove directly under the Caldera of "Viti "- in direction south east Our Dive: We search for active areas in the cove. The entrance area is stony and coverd with yellow sulfur patterns. Some big boulders.
Specials: Thats an really amazing spot. We are lucky to be one of the first human have seen that crater from inside. The Askja volcano is still active- last eruption 1968. Accessibility is hard- equipment transport needs a good organisation. We decide to bring only diving equipment for 2 peopla and share for the dives in 2 groups. Of course that minimize dive time and depth- but for a first scout dive a good idea.
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Silfra, Þingvellir- National ParkOur experience 2012: This time we could enter the cave, besides the normal tour entrance. Very exiting! The known depth is those days 60 meters- we need for further exploring some Helium... Our dive: 45 meter with air The cave structure is more like an ripped tube or tunnel. Big boulders stick between the continents. Deeper than 45 meters the really cave begins. Squeeze your self trough twoo big rocks. We are surprised about the ammount of snorklers and divers daily guided trough Silfra. But thanks to a milde current in the crack the water clears quick out. The National Park autority conciders the divers to be charged in the near future. There is no diving infrastructure, no restroom... More infos about the diving in Silfra have a closer look to our report 2007. |
Old stuff - but maybe still interesting: Diving the Iceland crack 2007
Silfra- where the bubbels look like silver!
We spent two days of diving the silver (isl. = silfra) crack in February- surprisingly with sunshine!
Phantastic dives, breathtaking ice and rocks as well the nice and helpful guide Tobias from Germany- living in Reykjavik and owner of the dive shop- thanks a lot for the great time! |
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