Iceland?

[Tony F]

My wife (who hasn't even dived in a drysuit yet!) wants me to look into diving in Iceland, go figure.

Anyway I've found a couple of websites and am searching through the mags but does anyone here have any personal experiences they'd care to share or can anyone point me at a trip report?

[Alison Boler]

Can't see any trip reports, Tony, but there are a number of dive operator sites, as you say. I did find some fantastic pictures on an image site . The visibility in the inland sites looks amazing - absolutely glass clear. Like some of the springs in north Florida! Wierd topography too which I suppose you would expect from such a unique destination. Apparently sea viz conditions are much more variable and can be low. Still, looks very interesting and combined with all the other leisure opportunities would make for a great holiday.

Some times in the year there are whales - there is someone on the travel forums offering snorkelling trips to see them - don't know if he has also been there diving.

Obviously - it goes without saying :) - please send us a trip report when you get back.

All the best

Allie

[Tony F]

Can't see any trip reports, Tony, but there are a number of dive operator sites, as you say. I did find some fantastic pictures on an image site . The visibility in the inland sites looks amazing - absolutely glass clear. Like some of the springs in north Florida! Wierd topography too which I suppose you would expect from such a unique destination. Apparently sea viz conditions are much more variable and can be low. Still, looks very interesting and combined with all the other leisure opportunities would make for a great holiday.

Some times in the year there are whales - there is someone on the travel forums offering snorkelling trips to see them - don't know if he has also been there diving.

Obviously - it goes without saying :) - please send us a trip report when you get back.

All the best

Allie

Thanks Allie, I'm still a long way from even booking it yet but if it flies I'll definitely do a trip report for you :)

[hazey]

Was on a trip to Kilda last year with the skipper of the hjalmar bjorge. He had just come back from a trip to Iceland. Said the bird and whale watching was great, but he would not be running any more diving trips. I think the diving was a bit of a disappointment. Might be worth giving him a call to ask about it.

Sorry I can't give you any first hand information.

[Tony F]

. I think the diving was a bit of a disappointment. Might be worth giving him a call to ask about it.

I've heard the diving can be a bit 'samey' and often not that extensive. But we're planning only two or maybe three days diving and will be happy filling the rest of the week with some whale watching and on-land sight seeing.

If we were only interested in the diving I can see it might be lacking so thanks for the heads up.

[Paul Morris]

I might be dreaming, but didn't Dive magazine, or possibly Diver mag run a feature on Iceland a while ago?

[Edit] No didn't dream it :o October issue of good old Dive mag. Silfra, Iceland
http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?SP=&v=1&UAN=2424

[Kompressor]

I wouldn't want to be understood as bashing diving in Iceland, because the Thingvellir is (supposedly) a splendid dive. But that's the unique Iceland diving. Two dives and you're done, very cold and out of money...
Ocean diving outside Island must be a weather thingy, but if you're lucky and hit a calm I'm sure you will see some awsome creatures. But going to Island for a week of diving is perhaps a bit over the target though. -According to my friend who's been there, since I haven't!

[Tony F]

I might be dreaming, but didn't Dive magazine, or possibly Diver mag run a feature on Iceland a while ago?

[Edit] No didn't dream it :o October issue of good old Dive mag. Silfra, Iceland
http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?SP=&v=1&UAN=2424

Cheers Paul - I actually looked through my mags over the weekend and found one from March O4 but I must've missed that, I'll have a look tonight.

[Tony F]

Close but no cigar!

Iceland has much to offer for a week long trip topside, it's different and unique. That applies to a couple of dive sites too as far as I can tell and if anyone's interested I can give them a few leads/links.

However for a week's trip for a family of three such as mine, intending to make the most of a visit it's just too expensive, the bang isn't worth the required buck. So instead of a week in Iceland we're off to Gozo and Malta for three weeks - still not the cheapest of destinations but despite this our three weeks there will cost us less than one in Iceland.

Shame but there you have it, no trip report from Iceland from me.

[tracy_from_oz]

g day.

Iceland is actually in the trip im planning to Europe, and i am wanting to dive there.
The dive store i am liking so far is:

PADI Dive Center
Grófinni 2
230 Keflavík
Iceland
Telephone number 421 - 7100
www.dive.is/eng/

These guys also have some video on their web site and from my research it is going to be 2 dives taking most of the day. They are out of the capital but about 40km and offer a bus or pick service and drop back at the end of the day.
so far im liking to dive where one is in the Sifar and one in the ocean

dive tour sea and silver

The tour. The first dive, the sea dive, will be at our naturalist dive site Ottarsstadir between Keflavik and Reykjavik. Many different species are found at this site. Parts of the site are influenced by fresh groundwater inflow increasing the biological diversity. After the first dive we will drive to Thingvellir for our second dive. Thingvellir is a national park and the area is spectacular in terms of history and in terms of natural phenomena.


Sifar is apparently one of the best dives there is ive heard, as it is between two continental plates of the earth.


tracy

[colt]

Hello
My name is David and I´m from iceland!

I was reading this thread and wanted to tell you guys that diving in iceland is like nothing else. we got cristal clear water up to 300m vis no lie. and we got a thermo chimney that have´s a 70°C water coming out of (water is about 6°C around it) and I´m running a very smal dive company and can take you diving and fishing. please send me a e-mail dive@simnet.is or cal -354-8618832

[LindaN]

Hello
My name is David and I´m from iceland!

I was reading this thread and wanted to tell you guys that diving in iceland is like nothing else. we got cristal clear water up to 300m vis no lie. and we got a thermo chimney that have´s a 70°C water coming out of (water is about 6°C around it) and I´m running a very smal dive company and can take you diving and fishing. please send me a e-mail dive@simnet.is or cal -354-8618832

You don't happens to have a site on the net with information?