Since the Bjarnagjá dive site is located near an active volcano, the area is sometimes closed due to volcanic activity. If the area is closed we will dive in a different dive spot.

Join us on an Ocean dive in the North Atlantic and a fissure dive in salty and fresh water in Bjarnagja. This diving combo might just be for you if you would like to try something completely different. Both dive sites are located in the Reykjanes peninsula, about an hour drive from downtown Reykjavik.

The Reykjanes Peninsula, has been especially active, with eruptions in 2021, 2022, and 2023. These events are monumental, marking the first volcanic activity in the area in over 800 years. The peninsula is home to a divergent boundary where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, creating a hotbed of seismic and volcanic activity.

The recent eruptions have occurred in the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system, creating spectacular lava flows that have transformed the landscape. Just 15 km from the Fagradalsfjall eruption sites, the fishing town of Grindavík has faced challenges from both volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes. Although lava flows have not reached the town itself, the Icelandic government, in collaboration with local authorities, has taken precautionary steps to protect the community. A significant measure has been the construction of a series of defense walls, or “lava barriers,” around the town.

These walls are designed to redirect potential lava flows away from Grindavík should they approach. Made of gravel and basalt rocks, the walls create a physical barrier that slows and diverts lava in specific directions, minimizing the risk to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. This impressive engineering feat showcases Iceland’s proactive approach to living with the forces of nature, blending tradition and innovation to ensure safety without disrupting the flow of everyday life.

On this tour you will drive on a road built on new lava, there might even be smoke coming from the edge of the road. You will travel by the town of Grindavik so you will see these defence walls up close and witness the impressive scale of the new lava. You will also drive by the famous Blue Lagoon.

The structure of your tour depends on the tides and weater conditions that day. Our experienced guides will decide which dive spot you will first dive at shortly before your dive date.

Bjarnagjá fissure
According to an older theory of continental drift, the Eurasian and North American continental plates shift and grind together in an endless clash of subterranean forces under a gaping rift at the tip of the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland. Bjarnagjá is an 18 m deep lava ravine on this very peninsula where the tectonic activity has caused Iceland to rise out of the ocean.

The water in Bjarnagjá is mostly fresh groundwater but it is influenced by the salinity of the sea as the rift is only few hundred meters from the coast. For those who have the appropriate level of training and diving experience this site offers dives in an overhead environment.

A boat has been placed at the bottom of the fissure, adding an eeriness to the dive spot.

Ocean dive
On the Ocean Diver Day Tour you will join the undersea inhabitants of the North Atlantic for a swim through Iceland’s cool coastal scene.

Our favorite local ocean dive site is Garður, which is a shore dive.

You will scuba dive in a kelp forest which offers a great habitat for a number of marine species, including lumpsuckers, nudibranches, and a wide variety of invertebrates. Colorful algae also flourish here off the coast of Iceland.

You will most likely notice pairs of eyes sticking out of the sandy patches of the ocean floor where the flounders live. Soft orange coral also intermittently decorates the sandy ocean floor. In the area of the kelp forests, a wolf fish might pay you an unexpected visit or stick its head out of a pile of rocks, looking a bit like a prehistoric creature.

Note that ocean dives in Iceland depend on the weather and it can happen that scheduled ocean dive trips have to be canceled due to unfortunate weather conditions.
If that is the case we usually have a plan B and can offer you other dive sites, such as Kleifarvatn, Davíðsgjá or Silfra that do not depend on the weather as much as the ocean.

All divers on this Private Diving Tour 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.

The structure of your Diving Tour
Our private tours include a private guide, the diving tours and all necessary equipment for diving as well as hot coco and cookies after the tour.

This Private Diving Day Tour includes 2 dives which will take about 30-40 minutes each, with a maximum depth of 18 meters.

If you have your own transportation, we will send you a meeting location in your booking confirmation. The meeting location depends on the tides that day.

If you choose the pick up option, your private guide will pick you up and drop you off at your location in Reykjavík. During the one-hour drive, your guide will provide you with background information about the unique geology and cultural history of Iceland.

Your guide will give you a detailed briefing of each dive site and will then assist you in setting up our dive equipment. We use high quality BARE and Aqualung brand SCUBA equipment and APEX or Aqualung regulators.

After each tour, we will have hot coco and cookies.

After the second tour we drive back to Reykjavik. We recommend visiting the Blue Lagoon after your tour. If you have booked transportation, we can drop you off there and you can book transportation back to Reykjavik.

Our Souvenirs can be purchased in your booking process by selecting them under "Extras". If the Souvenir you are looking for is not listed below please contact us or leave a comment in your booking and we will bring it on tour with us.