Double Snorkeling Adventure near Húsavík in North Iceland

Two waters, one very unusual morning. This small-group snorkeling trip pairs the crystal-clear Nesgjá fissure with the warm, bubbling Litlaá river, giving you two very different views of North Iceland in about six hours. I like the contrast between Nesgjá’s open, glassy water and Litlaá’s strange underwater patterns, and I like that the group is limited to four people.

The main catch is location: the meeting point is at Skúlagarður Country Hotel and Restaurant near Ásbyrgi, not central Reykjavík, despite Reykjavík appearing in the general location field. You need to be comfortable in water, able to swim, and ready for a snug dry suit. The minimum age is 12, and the physical requirements are real.

Key points before you book

• Nesgjá offers remarkable freshwater visibility: You may see more than 100 meters through the clear fissure water, with a chance of spotting Arctic char.
• Litlaá feels like another planet: Warm water, cold springs, bubbling sand, green algae, colorful sediment, and snails create a completely different scene.
• The two sites are only about 15 minutes apart: This makes the outing a practical addition to a Diamond Circle self-drive.
• The group size is very small: A maximum of four people allows the PADI instructor to give close attention during both sessions.
• The dry suit is supplied, but your clothing matters: Wear long thermal underwear and thick wool socks underneath it.
• Arnar receives especially strong praise: He is described as calm, helpful, funny, and careful about explaining each step.

Two North Iceland waters in one outing

I like this trip because it avoids the usual one-note snorkeling experience. Instead of spending the entire morning in water that looks and feels much the same, you visit two nearby sites with sharply different personalities.

Nesgjá is a freshwater fissure. Its water is so clear that it is often compared with Silfra in South Iceland. The comparison is useful, but Nesgjá has its own appeal. It is shallow, broad, and quiet, with a huge lagoon-like area where visibility can extend beyond 100 meters.

Litlaá river changes the mood completely. The water is around 20 degrees Celsius, much warmer than you might expect in Iceland. Cold water rises from below and disturbs the sandy riverbed, forming the patterns known as the Bubbling Sands. Around them, warm water supports green algae, plants, multicolored sediment, and many small snails.

The sites are roughly 15 minutes apart, so you do not lose much of the day in the vehicle. That short transfer also gives you a useful reset. You leave one kind of water behind and prepare for another.

Meeting near Ásbyrgi at 10:00

The stated meeting point is Skúlagarður Country Hotel and Restaurant, Skúlagarður, 671 Ásbyrgi, Iceland. The activity begins at 10:00 a.m. and finishes back at the same place.

This matters if you are planning a driving route. The tour is described as a good addition to a Diamond Circle self-drive, but you should plan your day around the Ásbyrgi meeting point rather than Reykjavík. If you are staying in Reykjavík, the listed location may look confusing, so check your route carefully before booking.

The group has a maximum of four people. That is one of the best practical features here. Snorkeling in an unusual natural setting is easier when the guide can watch each person closely, help with equipment, and answer questions without managing a busload of people.

The operator is DIVE.IS, and the live guide is a PADI instructor. The guide leads both sessions, explains the safety steps, and helps you get into the equipment. Arnar is specifically praised for being calm, friendly, funny, and helpful. Those qualities matter when you are wearing a tight dry suit and trying an unfamiliar activity in a remote area.

Getting ready for Nesgjá

At the first site, the guide gives you a detailed briefing before you enter the water. You then put on a dry suit, warm undersuit, and the rest of the required snorkeling equipment.

A dry suit keeps the water out, but it is not especially loose or graceful. The supplied information notes that the suits can feel tight and constricting. I would take that warning seriously. You need to be comfortable with a close-fitting layer around your body and with moving carefully in unfamiliar gear.

Wear long thermal underwear and thick wool socks as your base layer. The dry suit goes over your own clothing, so the wrong clothes can make the whole session less comfortable. Avoid bulky layers that could make the suit harder to fit.

The operator asks for your height, weight, and age after booking so the correct suit can be brought. You also need to complete a medical form before the activity. It can be completed online, which is useful, but do not leave it until the last minute.

The requirements are specific:

• You must be at least 12 years old.
• Minimum height is 150 centimeters, or 4 feet 11 inches.
• Minimum weight is 45 kilograms, or 100 pounds.
• Maximum height is 200 centimeters, or 6 feet 7 inches.
• Maximum weight is 120 kilograms, or 264 pounds.
• You must be comfortable in water and able to swim.
• You need a moderate level of physical fitness and good health.
• Everyone must be able to communicate in English.
• Anyone over 60 needs a doctor’s signed approval form.

These rules are not minor paperwork. They tell you what kind of outing this is. It is guided and well supported, but it is not a passive sightseeing stop.

Snorkeling through the clear Nesgjá fissure

Once dressed and briefed, you enter Nesgjá at the designated entry point. The water is shallow, and the snorkeling session lasts about 30 to 45 minutes.

The best reason to come is the clarity. The fissure’s freshwater can offer an extraordinary view through the water, with visibility reported at more than 100 meters. The instructor notes that the quality of your mask affects what you can see, so a properly fitted mask is important.

The fissure is also much larger than the name might suggest. You are not simply looking into a narrow crack in the ground. The route continues through the fissure and into a broad lagoon area, giving the session a feeling of open exploration without requiring advanced skills.

The bottom and rock formations are the main attraction, but you might also see Arctic char. These fish belong to the salmon family and are adapted to Iceland’s cold waters. Sightings are not guaranteed, so treat them as a bonus rather than a promised part of the trip.

Nesgjá may suit you best if you enjoy still, clear water and unusual geology. It may be less appealing if you want a fast-moving river or a long swim. The area is shallow and the session is fairly short, but the clarity gives it visual impact.

After leaving the water, you walk back to the parking area. Hot chocolate and cookies are provided after both snorkeling sessions, and the first warm drink should be welcome after changing out of the wet-weather gear.

The warm water and Bubbling Sands of Litlaá

The second site, Litlaá river, is only about 15 minutes away. The equipment process begins again, but the scenery and water feel entirely different.

The river is approximately 20 degrees Celsius. That is warm by Icelandic standards, though the exact comfort level will depend on the day and on how you respond to the dry suit. The main feature is the interaction between warm water and cold water rising from the riverbed.

That movement creates the Bubbling Sands. Sand shifts and forms unusual patterns as water pushes upward from below. The effect can look almost manufactured, but it is a natural result of the springs and riverbed working together.

The warm water also supports an odd little ecosystem. You can see fields of green algae, plants, multicolored sediments, and many snails. Litlaá is less about vast visibility and more about texture, motion, and small details.

One account of the experience describes the river as an alien world. That is a fair way to picture it, as long as you remember that the charm is in the close-up view. Look down and watch the sand, algae, and sediment rather than expecting the broad, glassy sightlines of Nesgjá.

There may also be a short river float at the end of this session. It has been described as a pleasing finish to the water portion of the day. Since the exact length and conditions can vary, consider it an extra part of the outing rather than the central feature.

Why the small group makes a difference

A group of four is unusually intimate for an organized outdoor activity. You get more space to ask questions, and the guide can focus on fitting your mask, checking your suit, and helping you move safely through the entry and exit points.

That close attention is particularly helpful at Nesgjá, where the water is shallow but the setting is unfamiliar. It is also useful at Litlaá, where the bubbling sand and warm water may make the underwater view more interesting than the basic swimming itself.

Arnar is the guide named in the available feedback. He is praised for explaining everything beforehand, keeping people comfortable, pointing out interesting places, and taking photos. He is also described as calm and experienced, which is exactly what you want when you are learning the equipment and entering cold-country water.

The guide’s role is not only to lead you from one spot to the next. A good instructor helps you notice what you would otherwise miss. At Nesgjá, that might mean identifying fish or showing you how the fissure opens into the lagoon. At Litlaá, it might mean directing your attention to the sand movement, sediment colors, or small snails.

What the $274 price includes

At $274 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. The value depends on how much you want a guided water experience rather than a quick roadside stop.

The price includes two guided snorkeling sessions, a warm undersuit, dry suit, all necessary snorkeling equipment, a PADI instructor, hot chocolate, and cookies. It also saves you from arranging separate equipment for two very different water settings.

The small group improves the value. A four-person maximum means you are paying for close instruction, not simply access to a location. The unusual combination also matters. You get the famous clear-water effect of Nesgjá and the warm geological oddity of Litlaá in one half-day outing.

Photos are not included. You can buy souvenir photos after the second session. If having images is important to you, budget extra for them. The guide Arnar is specifically praised for taking good photos, but the purchase cost is not provided.

I would consider the price reasonable for someone already building a North Iceland self-drive around the Diamond Circle and nearby sights. If you are only mildly curious about snorkeling, the cost and preparation may feel excessive. If you enjoy geology, freshwater environments, and small-group outdoor activities, the two-site format gives the fee a clearer purpose.

How demanding is the experience?

The activity requires moderate physical fitness. You must be comfortable in water, able to swim, and healthy enough to walk back from the fissure entry point after the session.

The suits can feel tight and restrictive. Getting dressed, walking in the equipment, entering the water, and changing again all take effort. The activity is not described as difficult, but you should not book it expecting a relaxed sightseeing cruise.

The minimum age is 12, and the height and weight limits are firm. Everyone must complete a medical form, and participants older than 60 need approval from a doctor. English communication is also required for every participant, since the safety briefing and instructions are given in English.

Weather can affect the outing. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The activity also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for that reason leads to an alternate date or experience, or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Who should book this North Iceland snorkeling trip?

I would recommend it to you if you already plan to explore the Ásbyrgi and Diamond Circle area by car and want an activity that feels tied to Iceland’s geology rather than a standard sightseeing stop.

It is a particularly good fit if you like:

• Clear freshwater and unusual rock formations
• Small groups and close guide attention
• Short, focused outdoor sessions
• Geology, springs, algae, fish, and small aquatic life
• Trying two very different water environments in one day

You should think twice if you dislike restrictive clothing, cannot swim, feel uneasy in water, or want a completely effortless excursion. The dry suit helps with the cold, but it does not remove the physical demands of getting ready and moving around in it.

I also would not book this as a casual Reykjavík activity without checking the map. The meeting point is near Ásbyrgi in North Iceland, and the general Reykjavík location label does not tell you enough about the actual logistics.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you are comfortable in water, meet the medical and size requirements, and are already heading through North Iceland. The combination is unusual, the sites are close together, and the small group gives the guide room to provide real help.

The strongest reasons to go are the extreme visibility at Nesgjá, the strange bubbling sand at Litlaá, and the careful guiding associated with Arnar. The main reasons to skip it are the high price, the snug dry suit, the need to swim, and the requirement to reach the Ásbyrgi meeting point.

For the right person, this is not simply snorkeling twice. It is a close look at two very different water systems, with warm cocoa waiting afterward.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour begin?

It begins at Skúlagarður Country Hotel and Restaurant, Skúlagarður, 671 Ásbyrgi, Iceland. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts approximately six hours. The Nesgjá snorkeling portion lasts about 30 to 45 minutes, followed by the second snorkeling session at Litlaá.

What equipment is included?

The tour includes all necessary snorkeling equipment, a dry suit, and a warm undersuit. You should bring long thermal underwear and thick wool socks to wear under the dry suit.

Is there an age or size requirement?

All participants must be at least 12 years old. The minimum height is 150 centimeters and the minimum weight is 45 kilograms. The maximum height is 200 centimeters and the maximum weight is 120 kilograms.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience’s local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted or refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient number of participants causes cancellation, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.