Double Snorkeling Combo in North Iceland

This double snorkeling combo is located on the Diamond Circle in North Iceland. Join us on a snorkeling tour in Nesgjá fissure and a snorkeling tour in Litlaá river. Both snorkeling spots are located approx 15 min from each other making this combo a great addition to a Diamond Circle selfdrive. 

Nesgjá fissure snorkeling tour

Nesgjá is a fresh water fissure with the crystal clear water that is so unique to Iceland. It is often called the Silfra of the North as it has such similar qualities as the famous Silfra in the South.

Due to the activity of the tectonic plates, tension builds up in the earth’s crust. Every couple of years this tension is released through earthquakes. These earthquakes create cracks that can be seen from the south west of Iceland all the way to the north east. The Eurasian and North American continental plates meet deep down under the earth’s crust along this line.

Some of these fissures are filled with water, usually glacial water that has been filtering through lava fields for many years, before it flows into rivers, the ocean or these fresh water fissures. After dripping for a such long time through porous lava rock, the water has been filtered perfectly and is literally as clear as it gets.

Nesgjá is quite shallow but amazingly beautiful. The lagoon is huge and as one of our instructors says: “The visibility depends solely on the quality of your dive mask.” You can see further than 100 meters.

Sometimes we get to see arctic charr, a certain type of salmonide in the fissure.

Litlaá river - bubbling sands snorkeling tour

Litlaá, meaning "Little River," is located near the northern coast of Iceland, just south of the Arctic Circle. This is an unusual spot to find warm water, but thanks to a nearby geothermal active area, we get to enjoy snorkeling in water with a temperature of about 20°C, allowing us to explore its different parts in a very relaxed way.

The tour takes place in a lagoon called Brunnar, meaning "Wells." The water in this lagoon comes from two sources: hot water from a geothermal area nearby and freshwater from wells on the bottom of the lagoon. The lake's floor is full of mesmerizing dancing sands; it looks like something from a different planet. Some act like underwater eruptions, while others resemble underwater beaches. The cold water erupting from the bottom causes these beautiful designs described as the "Bubbling Sands" that you must see with your own eyes.

Because of the warm water temperature, we also find fields of strange green algae, plants, multicolored sediments, and a countless number of snails.

In the shallow rocky area at the edges of the lagoon, we find countless numbers of sticklebacks traveling around in large groups. The majestic Brown Trout eats sticklebacks and is sometimes spotted by snorkelers.

Before we end the tour, we will do a short river float before we get out. A bit below our exit point, the water mixes with Litlaá river, coming from Skjálftavatn lake. Where the two rivers meet is a very popular fishing spot with big Brown trouts, Sea trouts, Arctic char, and sometimes Arctic salmon.

Both locations are on the Diamond circle (10-15 min drive apart) about 30 minutes from the whale-watching town of Húsavík and a short distance from Ásbyrgi canyon, making this the perfect Diamond circle selfdrive tour. Other destinations on the Diamond circle include Goðafoss (waterfall of the Gods), the infamous Dettifoss waterfall and the beautiful Lake Mývatn.