Davíðsgjá Dive Tour
A Hidden Fissure Dive in Þingvellir's Great Lake
3 hours•Languages: English
The Davíðsgjá Dive Tour drops you into one of Iceland's lesser-known underwater fissures: a deep, narrow rift beneath Lake Þingvallavatn that local divers quietly rate among the country's finest.
A short drive from Silfra inside Þingvellir National Park, Davíðsgjá rewards dry-suit divers with glassy water, towering basalt walls and resident brown trout, all on a relaxed, self-drive half-day.
A hidden fissure beneath Lake Þingvallavatn
Davíðsgjá, or “David's fissure,” lies below the surface of Lake Þingvallavatn in Þingvellir National Park. Unlike its world-famous neighbour Silfra, it draws few international divers, so a dive here still feels like a local secret.
What the dive is like
You enter straight from the shore, and after a short, shallow swim you drop into the long, narrow rift, which reaches a maximum depth of 21 metres. The top of the fissure sits around 7 metres down and opens to the lake, so curious brown trout often join you along the way.
Davíðsgjá tends to run a touch warmer than Silfra and can serve up superb visibility, though conditions here lean more on the weather. Divers fondly call it Silfra's wilder, darker sibling.
Who can dive here
This is a dry-suit dive for certified divers. You'll need a dry-suit certification, or at least ten logged dry-suit dives in the past two years with written confirmation from an instructor. Not qualified yet? You can add a dry-suit course, or choose to snorkel Silfra instead.
Pair it with the Golden Circle
Davíðsgjá sits right on the Golden Circle, so it slots neatly alongside Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area and Kerið crater. Keen divers can also tackle Silfra and Davíðsgjá together in a single day.
TourID: DGDT
Activity provider: Dive.is by Icelandia
Silfra Meeting Point
Need to know
- be a certified diver at the level of PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent
- have dry suit diving certification and a logged dry suit dive within two years of the Silfra tour date OR have at least 10 logged dry suit dives within two years of the Silfra tour date and be able to provide written proof from a diving instructor of these dry suit dives PDF
- have read, signed, and followed directions on the online Diving Silfra Medical Statement (link provided in confirmation email)
Requirements
- your SCUBA dive certification card (PADI Open Water or equivalent)
- proof of dry suit certification or 10 logged dry suit dives within two years of tour date
- long underwear
- thick socks
- suitable clothes for the weather of the day
- If you wear glasses, please bring contact lenses or your own prescription mask if you have one
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- Flexible Cancellation
- No Booking Fees
Tour itinerary
What’s included and what to bring on this tour
It’s important to always be prepared for your next adventure in Iceland. See our list of what’s included, and what you should bring or add to your trip
Not included
- Long thermal underwear
- Warm wool socks
- Hat, gloves and scarf
Tour highlights
Are you wondering about something?
If you're planning a trip to Iceland, it's important to be prepared with the right information. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you plan your trip
You can dive throughout the year in Iceland. The summer months are the most popular, but if you want to dive with fewer people around you might prefer to visit in the spring or autumn.
That said, any month you choose will offer you a very special experience.
The cost of dives will depend on where you dive, which tour options you choose, and any other experiences you add to your visit. For example, if you need transport from Reykjavík or want to enjoy multiple dives in a day, you can expect to pay more.
Explore the individual tour pages to see up to date prices.
Iceland has incredible opportunities for scuba diving. In fact, many people say it’s up there with some of the best diving in the world.
Silfra is the most popular dive site in Iceland. You’ll see some of the world’s clearest waters, swim between two continents, and witness some of the breathtaking rock formations beneath the surface.
Explore our tours to see more of the best diving tours in Iceland.
Yes, you can dive in Silfra in winter. Tours are available all year round. The water itself maintains a stable temperature throughout the year of around 2 – 4°C (35.6 – 39.2°F). That said, the air outside is much colder in the winter, so make sure you bring some warm clothes!
It is possible to dive in Silfra without a tour. But you’ll need to buy a permit from the Þingvellir National Park authority and prove that you have the required experience.
Unless you are highly experienced, we do recommend that you take a tour, however. It’s the safest way to enjoy your dive.
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