Hidden gem
Davíðsgjá Dive Tour
Silfra's wilder, darker sibling
A hidden gem
In Thingvellir national park
Davíðsgjá is a fissure located in Lake Thingvellir, just like Silfra). The name directly translates as David's fissure. Davíðsgjá is popular among local divers but international divers are not frequent visitors.
Davíðsgjá is usually slightly warmer then Silfra. Divers walk straight into the water and after a shallow swim they enter the long, deep and narrow Davíðsgjá fissure.
The maximum depth of the dive in this fissure is 21 meters. Davíðsgjá often has incredible underwater visibility, although this varies and is more dependent on weather than in Silfra. Therefore, Davíðsgjá is sometimes called Silfra's wilder and darker sibling.
The top of the fissure in Davíðsgjá is actually about 7 meters underwater, which allows for more contact with the water in Thingvallavatn lake. It is therefore common that trout join the divers in exploring this fissure.
All divers on this Diving Tours must have dry suit diving certification OR 10 logged dry suit dives within two years of the Silfra tour date. These 10 dives must be confirmed with written proof signed by a diving instructor.
In case you do not fulfill these requirements, you can take PADI Dry Suit Diver Certification Course (or equivalent) before coming to Iceland. Or you can also take the Dry Suit Diver Course & Diving Silfra 2-Day Package here with us in Iceland! Alternatively, you can also Snorkel in Silfra instead of scuba diving.
If you are interested in also diving in Silfra, we would like to draw your attention to the Silfra and Davíðsgjá diving combo.
Silfra fissure is located at Thingvellir National Park which is on the Golden circle, a very popular sightseeing route in Iceland. Other sightseeing locations on the Golden circle are Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot spring and Kerið crater.
After your tour, we suggest you continue on the Golden circle, a very popular sightseeing route in Iceland. Other sightseeing locations on the Golden circle are Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot spring and Kerið crater.
Tour Details
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From April to November. Contact us at [email protected] for details
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Don't see a tour time that works for you? Contact us at [email protected] and we will find the best time
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3 hours
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Maximum ratio of 3 divers per 1 dive guide
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Minimum 2 divers. We will refund you in full if the minimum is not met
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Self-drive only (pick-up included in our Dive Silfra and Davíðsgjá combo)
Included
- Dive Instructor
- 1 guided dive
- All necessary dive equipment
- Hot chocolate and cookies after the dive
Please bring
- Your SCUBA dive certification card (PADI Open Diver Water or equivalent)
- Proof of dry suit diving certification OR written proof from a diving instructor of 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 wish to be more private, we offer this tour also as a private tour.
Safety requirements
Participants must:-
be a certified diver at the level of PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent
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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
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have read, signed, and followed directions on the Diving Medical Statement PDF
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have our Diving Medical form signed off by a doctor if they are age 60 or older PDF
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sign our liability release form at the start of the Silfra dive tour PDF
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be at minimum 150cm / maximum 200cm
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be at minimum 45kg / maximum 120kg
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fit within our dry suit size chart PDF
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be at least 17 years of age (signature of legal guardian required for under 18 year old participants)
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be physically fit
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be able to communicate in English
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be ready to wear a sometimes tight & constricting dry suit
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not be pregnant
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eat well before the tour
Timeline of your tour
- Arrival at the Davíðsgjá meeting point 15 minutes before the tour start time, check-in with guides
- Division into groups of 3 people, one group per guide
- Briefing and gear-up with your guide (∼1 hour total)
- Make your way to the entry point
- Weight check upon entering the water
- 30-45 minutes spent in the water
- Exit the water
- Take off equipment, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies to warm up
- At this point, you will have time to chat with your guide, ask any questions you might have and take a look at the pics taken during the tour
Your bookable extras
Experience the tour
Guides on this tour
You will dive here
Frequently asked questions
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Are photos always taken on the Diving Day Tours?
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Our dive guides always bring along an underwater camera on the dives at the breathtaking Silfra and other marvelous dive sites. During these dives, our dive guides strive to capture as many splendid underwater photographs as possible. However, the safety of our divers is our utmost priority, and there may be occasions when the dive guide chooses to focus solely on dive safety during challenging conditions or with less confident divers. In such cases, it is possible that only a few or no photos are taken. We sincerely appreciate your understanding should this be the situation.
Typically, the photos from the dives are available for purchase after your incredible dive tour. For more information, please visit our our Souvenir page.
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Are the dry suits very tight / uncomfortable?
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We use top-quality equipment for our Snorkeling and Scuba Diving tours.
The dry suits only do a certain amount of dives/time before they get sold and replaced by new ones.
This ensures that our guests will always dive/snorkel in top-notch dry suits frequently tested, serviced or replaced.
However, it is of high importance to provide us with your correct size (height and weight), so we can make sure to bring the best fit for you. If we receive an incorrect size, the guest will receive an incorrect dry suit fit. We assure you that your size information as well as all other personal information stays confidential with us.
We also want to point out that if you are sensitive to having something tight around your neck and/or wrists you might feel uncomfortable in a dry suit. It goes with the territory to have a well-sealing neoprene neck seal and rubber wrist seals in order to stay dry.
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What do I need to wear? Do I need to buy a thermal base layer?
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It is best to come to Silfra already dressed in your thermal base layer, as there are not many locations to fully change your clothes in private. If you do not have thermals and do not want to purchase any, something soft, close-fitting and warm works just fine. For example, yoga pants, leggings, running tights and a long-sleeved t-shirt or a thin jumper.
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What is the weather in Iceland like?
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During the summer months (June, July & August) it's sunny and warm(-ish) or overcast and wet, and often somewhere in between. The Icelandic weather famously changes at the drop of a woolly hat. So be prepared, bring your sun screen and shorts, as well as your all-weather gear. Even in the middle of summer the temperatures can get low (to below 10°C at night) so a good fleece - or better yet, Icelandic wool - will be essential, along with a hat and gloves.
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What sets DIVE.IS apart from other companies?
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First and foremost, we can safely say that we, by far, possess the most experience and expertise in conceiving and conducting dive tours and expeditions in Iceland. The company was founded by pioneers and field leaders in offering regular recreational dive tours in Iceland – since 1997 – and has, as such, set the standard for others to follow. The broad selection and diversity of dive tours and expeditions on offer ensures that everyone can find a diving adventure that suits their interests and passions, from the beginner to the seasoned explorer.
Through decades of careful research and scouting, we are able to conceive of itineraries and activities based on first-hand knowledge and experience to bring you the most unique opportunities and exciting nature encounters.
Last, but certainly not least, we place a high value on the human touch and social side of your travel experience. Therefore, we employ only the very best (and nicest) guides available. We hand-pick the most experienced and seasoned guides out of a sizeable pool of dive guides working locally (mostly for our affiliate company, DIVE.IS). Our extended tours and expeditions, in turn, are largely in the capable hands of our very own David Sigurthorsson (HYPERLINK), Iceland’s most experienced dive guide and expedition leader, whom many of you already know from your previous visits.
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When is the best time to dive in Iceland?
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Each season has its own pros and cons. Spring and fall are best for those who like to stay out of the crowds. While we dive in small groups, some of the on-land sites we visit are popular among your run-of-the-mill tourists and, frankly, can get a little crowded, although we do know of quite a few out-of-the-way gems. Late spring you'll see the vegetation come alive and the birds and the bees buzzing by with excitement. The autumn colors of the turning leaves are definitely something to behold, and the weather is often calm and the air crisp. Summer is the busiest season and for a good reason. It's the warmest and most lush time of the year with nature in full bloom.
For the diving tours, the main difference between the seasons is that in the summer (April-October), we have all the dive sites available, whereas in the winter (November-March) we only have the Silfra dive site available, and occasionally Daviðsgjá. All the other dive sites are sadly not available due to road closures (ice and snow), and the water is frozen over or unsafe conditions.
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Where do I pay the entrace fee to the National park?
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There is no entrance fee into the National park, just into Silfra. The 1500 ISK Silfra fee is included in our tour prices, so you can enter the park and Silfra with out any problem.
However, parking is not included in our prices. The National Park charges a fee for car parking to be paid on CheckIt.
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