Snorkel between the two tectonic plates in Iceland

Those who love travelling and discovering new places know fully well how Iceland is becoming a favourite place. Though it lies in a practically remote part of the world it holds a lot of fascination for the travellers of every kind. Due to the fact that Iceland is the new hot favourite, its popularity among the tourism industry is quite high. Be it a romantic endeavour or an adventurous venture, sightseeing or family holidays, there is so much for everyone. In the recent years a lot of interest among the people from all lifestyles, for instance, the abandoned plane wreckage has made Justin Bieber its fan, and concerts and events are being organized on different location because they are majestic and spellbinding. There are almost 130 active volcanoes, gigantic mountain peaks, the famous Aurora Borealis (the show of the northern lights) and the fields of lava. Then there is more if you are a snorkeler then do not let the name Iceland keep your hands off from exploring its riches. No doubt, there is cold but a dry suit would be enough to keep you warm. So, here is what you need to know about what is waiting for you in Iceland to experience a once in a lifetime quest to Silfra Fissure.

Snorkel the Silfra Fissure:

It is a place right amidst the two tectonic plates, the American and the Eurasian as devised by the geologists, so you can imagine how blissful it can be to float on such an important place. It might become your favourite place for your future snorkelling expeditions for its immense beauty and charisma.  Following are the details to know before planning your journey.

Reaching the destination:

Iceland is not a cumbersome location for travellers. You can get through very well individually or in-group all around the country. If you have a knack of adventure, you can do it by yourself but to explore the country at its best, it is better if you hire an experienced guide to show you around. That would possibly save you a lot of time and hassle. Cheap flights to Iceland are available, that will take you to experience this adventure. Especially to snorkel the Silfra Fissure, tours are being organized, they pick you up from the capital, Reykjavik, or you can drive yourself to Thingvellir Park to catch up with them.  This park is the site where the Fissure is located and is also designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. From here you can hire a guide of your choice and let him tag along to give you interesting and fruitful information about the whole area.

Appropriate apparels and dry suit for the expedition:

As you know, it is a cold place so you better be prepared to pack necessary clothes according to the weather. For snorkeling, the dry suits are available at the park. These suits are specifically designed in such a way that it allows you to float on the surface without letting you get underwater, you will have to put a lot of energy even to go down some inches. These suits are necessary while snorkeling in fissure. While you prepare yourself for snorkeling and put the suit on, you might feel a bit awkward as the way it looks on you but once you hit the water this feeling will go away and a blissfully floating experience will captivate your imagination.

What to expect, while you snorkel:

While floating in the fissure you will be astounded to notice the difference between what you see outside and what is there in the water. There are bare rocks with no plants or animal species because of the temperature. It is quite impossible for any fish to survive these waters being too cold so expect only human swimmers like you pacing around the area. The dry suit will however keep you warm and dry. Only your hair will feel a bit damp and your hands might get a tad bit wet because these gloves are not waterproof so a little amount of water seeps into them but it soon gets warm according to your body temperature. However, the struggle would be to keep the snorkelling gear in your mouth, as your face will get numb due to cold water. Therefore, you just need to be prepared before hitting the water and later is all fun.

Underwater sights to explore:

Although being uninhabited of sea life, Silfra Fissure has a lot for the snorkelers to explore. There are certain points in the fissure, which are the source of the cleanest water on the planet. It is crystal clear and you can even drink some that come into your breathing tubes. This is due to the constant filtering from the lava rock. This also keeps you hydrated while you float on the water examining 300 ft. below submerged valleys and taking their pictures. One thing to keep in mind is that its better not to bring your own camera equipment here, let your guide take the pictures while you snorkel around. These photos can be very unique because this area is between the tectonic plates and the fact that these plates are continuously moving (2 centimeter away from each other every year), every picture would be somewhat different from the other. A thing that you will cherish your whole life.

Concluding the tour:

This tour is not too long, excluding the suiting up and refreshments it will take almost 40 to 50 minutes. Therefore, you would be back in an hour or so. This adventure is for everyone to experience at least once in a lifetime. Even if you are scared of open waters, this beautiful trip will let you admire your courage and you might become a fan of this place in the future. At first, you might feel panicky as the amount of water that you will experience below you but later on, you will see how ecstatic this floating adventure could be. It only requires a leap of courage at first and then get ready to make memories among some of the most beautiful sights in the world.