Clear water, strange heat, and real awe.

This double snorkeling day is built around two very different underwater worlds: Nesgjá fissure and the Litlaá bubbling sands. Nesgjá is Iceland’s answer to the famous Silfra look—freshwater, bright visibility (often beyond 100 meters), and a shallow route that still feels wonderfully remote. I also like that the experience is guided by a PADI instructor, and that the group stays small (max 4), so you get help with your mask and comfort rather than feeling rushed.

The only real catch is the gear and the fit. You’ll wear a dry suit over your own clothes, and those suits can feel tight or constricting—so if you’re sensitive about clothing pressure or you’re not comfortable in water, this may not be your easiest day.

Key highlights worth planning for

• Two snorkeling spots, about 15 minutes apart: Nesgjá fissure first, then Litlaá river
• Nesgjá visibility can reach 100+ meters (mask quality matters most)
• Dry suit snorkeling gear is included: dry suit plus warm undersuit
• Litlaá is 20°C-ish water with bubbling sand patterns from cold upwelling
• Small group size (max 4 travelers) for a more personal guide-led day
• Warm cocoa and cookies after snorkeling helps you warm up fast

How the double snorkeling day flows (and why timing works)

This is a 10:00 am start day that runs about 6 hours total, from Skúlagarður Country Hotel & Restaurant in Ásbyrgi (the meeting point). You’re not doing a long, exhausting drive between stops. Nesgjá and Litlaá are roughly 15 minutes apart, which makes this a smart add-on if you’re doing a self-drive loop in North Iceland—especially if you’re connecting it to the wider Diamond Circle style of sightseeing.

The day is structured in two matching halves. First you arrive, get a briefing, get dressed into your dry suit and snorkeling gear, and then you go into the water for a guided route. After the first snorkeling session, you walk back to the parking area, warm up with hot cocoa and cookies, and then you repeat the routine at the second site.

Because the group is capped at four, the pacing feels human. You’re less likely to spend the day waiting around while someone else struggles with gear. And because you’re doing two sites back-to-back, you avoid the most common problem with “one snorkeling stop” days: the feeling that you only got half the story.

Nesgjá fissure: the North Iceland Silfra look in crystal freshwater

Nesgjá is a freshwater fissure, and it’s famous for how clear it can be. People often compare it to Silfra in the South, and the reason is simple: the water can look startlingly clean, with visibility that can run past 100 meters when conditions line up and you have a good-fitting mask.

Expect a route that’s both scenic and practical. You’ll enter at the designated entry point and snorkel down the fissure and out into the lagoon for about 30–45 minutes. It’s deep-water clarity without the same “open ocean” feeling, since this is a fissure system with a defined underwater path.

Wildlife can show up, too. You might spot arctic charr (a salmonid) in the fissure when visibility and water conditions cooperate. Even when you don’t see fish, the fissure itself is the star—freshwater, steady light, and an underwater geometry that looks almost engineered.

The mask rule that actually changes everything

One detail you’ll want to remember: the experience emphasizes that visibility depends a lot on your snorkeling mask quality. So before you go in, pay attention to comfort and fit. If your mask is fogging, leaking, or shifting, fix it before you start your underwater route. That one small adjustment can be the difference between watching shapes drift in the distance and truly seeing the far walls.

Litlaá river and the bubbling sands: patterns made by hot and cold water

After Nesgjá, the world changes fast. Litlaá river is known for “Bubbling Sands,” and it’s all about the water chemistry and temperature mix.

You snorkel in water around 20°C, and the magic happens because cold water erupts from the bottom. That upwelling creates bubbling textures and sand-like formations you can watch form and shift. It’s not just pretty. It’s a moving, underwater version of natural plumbing—warm surface water, colder influx, and the result is a living display of patterns.

Here’s what you can expect to see:

• fields of green algae and plants
• multicolored sediments
• lots of snails
• a strange-but-beautiful mix of life that thrives where temperatures and nutrients overlap

This stop also tends to feel more “alive” in a visual way than Nesgjá. Nesgjá is about clean clarity and depth feel; Litlaá is about motion, texture, and the ecosystem created by the temperature contrast.

Many first-timers find this second site easiest to react to emotionally, because you can look around and feel like you’re exploring a sci-fi set made by Iceland’s geothermal quirks. (And if you’re new to snorkeling, it often helps to have already handled your gear at the first site.)

Some tours also add a short float at the end of the river experience, which makes the last minutes feel less like “one more section” and more like an enjoyable finish to the day.

Gear and dry suit comfort: what’s included, what to wear, and what to watch

This tour includes all necessary snorkeling equipment, plus a dry suit and warm undersuit. That’s a big value point. In North Iceland, you’d pay extra just to rent the right cold-water setup—or you’d show up underprepared and spend your day thinking about keeping warm instead of looking around.

Plan to wear your own clothing first, because the dry suit goes over your clothes. The operator recommends:

• long thermal underwear
• thick wool socks (as a base layer)

Fit matters more than you think

You also need to give your height, weight, and age info so the operator can bring the best fitting dry suit. Dry suit fit can strongly affect comfort and mobility. Also note: dry suits can feel tight and constricting.

So here’s the practical advice: wear the recommended thermal layers, don’t overpack with bulky clothing, and communicate quickly if anything is pinching or restricting. Because the group is small, you’re more likely to get hands-on help adjusting the fit.

Who needs to be comfortable in water

This isn’t a “look from the dock” experience. You’ll need to be comfortable in water and able to swim, and the tour notes a moderate physical fitness level.

You’ll also fill out a medical form before participating. If you’re over 60, you’ll need your doctor to sign the approval form.

None of that is meant to scare you. It’s simply because cold-water gear and guided snorkeling require real readiness.

Your guide and what you’ll actually get from the briefing

You won’t just be handed gear and pointed toward the water. The day starts with a detailed briefing so you understand how the snorkeling setup works and how the route is planned.

In practice, the guide experience is a big part of why this double stop works. The snorkeling is cold-water serious, but it doesn’t have to feel stressful. One guide style feature stands out from the tour’s track record: Arnar (a PADI instructor) is known for being calm, explaining things clearly ahead of time, and staying helpful during the snorkel. He’s also described as friendly and easy to chat with—meaning you can ask practical questions about what you’re seeing underwater, not just about safety rules.

And because you’re doing two separate ecosystems, you’ll get help with interpretation. The briefing isn’t only about rules. It’s also about helping you look better once you’re in.

Value: is $274 per person fair for what you get?

At $274 per person, this isn’t a cheap “activity add-on.” But it can be good value if you price it the way the day is actually built: two guided snorkeling sessions, all equipment included (including dry suit rental and warm undersuit), hot cocoa and cookies after each snorkeling portion, plus a live PADI instructor.

You’re also saving money and time compared to booking separate sessions with separate gear planning—two sites, one day, small group. And because Nesgjá and Litlaá are not a casual “just drive to it and try” type of experience, the guidance and cold-water setup matter.

If your main goal is wildlife-free bragging rights, you might find other activities cheaper. But if your goal is real underwater visibility at Nesgjá and the bubble-sand ecosystem at Litlaá—both in one day—then this price starts to make sense fast.

Practical tips to make your snorkeling day go smoother

A few things can make the difference between a good day and a great one:

• Bring your best mask fit effort. Visibility depends on the quality of your mask fit, not just the water conditions.
• Follow the warm layer guidance. Long thermal underwear and thick wool socks set you up for more comfortable dry-suit time.
• Expect temperature swings. Even with the dry suit, you’ll notice cold transition periods on land. That’s why the cocoa and cookies stop matters.
• Plan your self-drive day around the start time. With a 10:00 am start and a full 6-hour block, you’ll want breathing room before and after.
• Use the small group size. If you need extra help adjusting gear or buoyancy, ask early.

Who should book this tour, and who should skip it

This double snorkeling day is a strong match if:

• you want North Iceland snorkeling that’s different from typical “one spot” outings
• you like small groups and clear guidance
• you’re comfortable being in the water for 30–45 minutes per stop
• you enjoy seeing ecosystems instead of just scenic scenery

It may be a poor fit if:

• you hate the idea of a dry suit and worry about constriction
• you’re not comfortable swimming or communicating in English during the briefing and experience
• you can’t complete the required medical form process

Age-wise, it’s open to participants at least 12 years old.

Should you book this double snorkeling experience?

If you’re deciding between doing one snorkeling stop or trying to squeeze in both Nesgjá and Litlaá, I’d lean toward booking this combo. The value is in the contrast: one site gives you insanely clear freshwater fissure visuals, and the other gives you the bubbling sand textures created by temperature mixing. Doing them in a single day also prevents the common letdown of “we only saw half the underwater story.”

Just be honest about comfort. The dry suit is the key factor. If you can handle that, you’re set up for a memorable North Iceland experience that feels scientific, weird, and genuinely beautiful—without turning the day into a stress-fest.

FAQ

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Skúlagarður Country Hotel & Restaurant in Skúlagarður, 671 Ásbyrgi, Iceland. It ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does it start, and how long is it?

The start time is 10:00 am, and the duration is approximately 6 hours.

What does the tour include?

You get 2 guided snorkeling tours, all necessary snorkeling equipment including a dry suit and warm undersuit, hot chocolate and cookies after both snorkeling tours, and a live guide who is a PADI instructor.

What snorkeling sites are included?

Nesgjá fissure is the first stop, followed by Litlaá river (known for the bubbling sands).

Do I need to be able to swim?

Yes. You must be comfortable in water and able to swim, and the tour expects participants to be physically fit and healthy.

What are the age and body size requirements?

Participants must be at least 12 years old. Minimum height is 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) and minimum weight is 45 kg (100 lbs). Maximum height is 200 cm (6 ft 7 in) and maximum weight is 120 kg (264 lbs).

What should I wear under the dry suit?

Drysuits are worn over your own clothing. The recommendation is long thermal underwear and thick wool socks as a base layer.

What if the weather is bad or the minimum number of travelers isn’t met?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of travelers isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Can I cancel and get a refund?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid isn’t refunded.

You Might Also Enjoy

Airplane Flight over Vatnajökull Volcanic Eruption SitesGolden Circle, Glacier & Northern Lights/Midnight sun / guided private tourGuided kayak tour in Siglufjörður / Siglufjordur.Volcano Eruption Site Hike from Reykjavik