Double Snorkeling Adventure near Húsavík in North Iceland

Nesgjá is the star here: a broad freshwater fissure in North Iceland where visibility can reach more than 100 meters. You float through remarkably clear water, then change worlds at Litlaá river, where warm water, cold springs, bubbling sand, algae, and tiny snails create an underwater scene that feels almost otherworldly.

I like two things right away. First, the sites are only about 15 minutes apart, so you get two very different water experiences without spending the day in a vehicle. Second, the group is capped at four people, which gives your PADI instructor room to help with dry suits, point out details, and keep the pace calm.

The main catch is the meeting point. The experience is listed with Reykjavik as its location, but you actually meet at Skúlagarður Country Hotel and Restaurant near Ásbyrgi in North Iceland. This is best fitted into a Diamond Circle self-drive, not treated as a simple Reykjavik day trip.

Key points to know before booking

• Nesgjá offers exceptional freshwater visibility: You may see more than 100 meters through the fissure and lagoon, with a chance of spotting Arctic charr.
• Litlaá is warm and strange in the best way: Bubbling sands, multicolored sediments, algae, plants, and snails make this snorkel very different from Nesgjá.
• The two sites are close together: The short transfer between them keeps the six-hour outing focused on the water.
• A dry suit keeps you warm, but fit matters: You wear it over your own clothing, and it can feel tight or restrictive.
• Arnar is one of the named guides: He is a PADI instructor described as calm, funny, helpful, and attentive to safety.
• This is an active outing for confident swimmers: You need moderate fitness, comfort in water, and the ability to communicate in English.

Two North Iceland snorkels, two completely different worlds

Many snorkel trips give you one clear-water setting and call it a day. This outing makes a stronger case for its price by pairing two places that look and feel nothing alike.

At Nesgjá, you enter a freshwater fissure and follow it toward a large lagoon. The water is shallow, but the scale and clarity are impressive. The bottom and fissure walls remain visible far ahead, and the open water gives you a sense of how unusual Iceland’s geology can be without requiring a technical swim.

At Litlaá, the appeal is not long sightlines. It is the activity beneath you. Cold water rising through warmer water creates the bubbling sands, while the heat supports green algae, aquatic plants, sediments in several colors, and many small snails.

I like this contrast. Nesgjá is about space, clarity, and clean geological lines. Litlaá is about motion, texture, and a small ecosystem shaped by unusual water temperatures. If you enjoy natural details more than a standard sightseeing stop, the combination gives you plenty to look at.

Meeting at Skúlagarður near Ásbyrgi

The practical detail that matters most is the starting point. You meet at Skúlagarður Country Hotel and Restaurant, Skúlagarður, 671 Ásbyrgi, at 10:00 a.m. The activity ends back there after both snorkels.

That makes this a sensible addition to a North Iceland driving route, particularly a Diamond Circle plan. It is not a Reykjavik departure with transport to the north. You need to arrange your own way to the meeting point, and the tour information does not include transportation from Reykjavik.

The total outing lasts about six hours. That includes the safety briefing, changing into equipment, two water sessions, the short transfer between sites, time to warm up, and changing out of the gear at the end.

The two locations are around 15 minutes apart. That short drive is useful because you do not lose half the day moving between unrelated attractions. You are also likely to appreciate the pause after Nesgjá, when hot cocoa and cookies help you warm up before the second session.

Entering the clear water at Nesgjá

At the first site, your DIVE.IS guide gives a detailed briefing before you put on the equipment. You receive a dry suit, warm undersuit, and the required snorkeling gear.

The dry suit is worn over your own clothes. Bring long thermal underwear and thick wool socks as your base layer. This advice is worth taking seriously, since the suit itself may feel snug and constricting. Good layers make the changing process more comfortable and help you stay warm once you are in the water.

You enter Nesgjá at a designated entry point and snorkel along the fissure and into the lagoon for about 30 to 45 minutes. The water is freshwater, not seawater, and the fissure is fairly shallow. That can make this a good introduction to Icelandic snorkeling for someone who is comfortable in water but does not want a demanding session.

The striking feature is the clarity. Visibility can exceed 100 meters, so your view may stretch much farther than you expect in an outdoor body of water. The guide’s comment that visibility depends largely on the quality of your mask is practical rather than promotional. A clean, well-fitting mask makes a major difference here.

You might also see Arctic charr, a salmon family fish found in the fissure. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but the possibility adds a quiet sense of discovery to a place whose main attraction is already its unusual clarity.

After 30 to 45 minutes, you leave the fissure and walk back to the parking area. The walking portion is short enough to be manageable for someone with moderate fitness, but you should still expect the outing to involve standing, changing, walking, and getting in and out of the water.

Warm water and bubbling sands at Litlaá

The second stop changes the mood completely. Litlaá river has water around 20°C, much warmer than the usual Icelandic water experience. You still wear the dry suit, but the milder water temperature makes this section less about enduring cold and more about observing what is happening below you.

The bubbling sands form where cold water erupts from the riverbed. Those currents disturb the sand and create shifting patterns. The effect is not a dramatic waterfall or a large cavern. It is subtler, and you need to pay attention to the bottom to appreciate it.

The warm conditions also support fields of unusual green algae and plants. Multicolored sediments add more variation, while many small snails move through the shallows. The result is a close-up look at a water system shaped by heat and cold meeting in one place.

You may also have a short river float at the end of this session. That gives the second snorkel a gentle finish and lets you watch the river move you along rather than simply swimming in one spot.

This is where the guide adds real value. Arnar, one of the named guides for this experience, has been described as calm, funny, and very helpful. He points out interesting places, explains what you are seeing, and keeps the process reassuring from the first equipment fitting to the final exit.

Why the guide and group size matter

A maximum of four participants is a major advantage for an activity that involves specialized clothing and water confidence. You are not trying to hear instructions over a large group, and the guide has more time to check each dry suit and answer questions.

The guide is a PADI instructor, so the outing includes more than simply being shown a place and told to swim around. You receive a briefing, help with the equipment, and supervision at both sites.

That said, this is not a lesson designed for someone who cannot swim. Every participant must be comfortable in water, able to swim, physically fit, and healthy. You also need to communicate in English.

The age limit is 12. Participants over 60 need a doctor’s signed approval form. Everyone must complete a medical form before taking part, and it can be completed online.

Dry suits, sizing, and what to wear

The operator needs your height, weight, and age after booking so the best-fitting dry suit can be brought for you. The published limits are specific:

• Minimum height: 150 centimeters, or 4 feet 11 inches
• Minimum weight: 45 kilograms, or 100 pounds
• Maximum height: 200 centimeters, or 6 feet 7 inches
• Maximum weight: 120 kilograms, or 264 pounds
• Minimum age: 12

A dry suit keeps water out, but it is not the same as wearing a loose coat. It can feel tight around the body and may restrict movement until you get used to it. Wear long thermal underwear and thick wool socks underneath, and give yourself time to change without rushing.

The operator supplies the snorkeling equipment, dry suit, and warm undersuit. You do not need to rent these separately. Hot chocolate and cookies are also included after both water sessions.

The equipment and guide support help explain the $274 price. It is not a cheap add-on, but you are paying for two guided sites, specialist clothing, a very small group, instruction, and roughly six hours of the day. The value is strongest if you already plan to be in North Iceland and would otherwise need to arrange equipment and supervision yourself.

Photos, warm-up time, and the pace of the day

After both snorkels, you have a chance to buy photos from the outing and talk with the guide about the area. Souvenir photos are not included in the price, so consider them an optional extra rather than part of the package.

The pace should feel focused rather than rushed. The first session lasts 30 to 45 minutes, followed by a short walk back and a warm drink. Then you transfer approximately 15 minutes to Litlaá, repeat the briefing and equipment process, and enter the river.

Because the total duration is about six hours, do not schedule another fixed activity immediately afterward. Changing in and out of a dry suit takes time, and weather or group needs can affect the exact finish.

The experience requires good weather. If conditions are poor, the operator may cancel and offer another date or a full refund. It also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation is possible if that minimum is not reached.

For cancellations you make yourself, you need to cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this North Iceland experience

I would recommend it most strongly to confident swimmers who enjoy unusual natural settings and do not mind a little equipment fuss. You should be comfortable getting into outdoor water, wearing a snug dry suit, and following instructions carefully.

It suits:

• Adults and children aged 12 or older who meet the size limits
• People planning a Diamond Circle self-drive
• Anyone interested in freshwater geology and small aquatic ecosystems
• First-time snorkelers who are comfortable in water and want close guidance
• Small groups who prefer individual attention
• Photographers interested in unusual underwater scenes, with photos available to purchase

I would think twice if you dislike restrictive clothing, cannot swim, or want a relaxed sightseeing stop with no physical effort. The water sessions are not described as technically difficult, but the day still includes changing, walking, swimming, and managing outdoor conditions.

It is also a poor fit if you are based only in Reykjavik and do not have a plan for reaching Ásbyrgi. The location detail deserves attention before you pay.

Is $274 a fair price?

At $274 per person, this sits in the expensive half of Icelandic activities. The price makes more sense when you look at what is bundled into the six hours.

You receive two separate guided snorkels, all necessary equipment, a warm undersuit, a PADI instructor, a group limited to four, and cocoa and cookies after the sessions. The sites themselves are also unusual. You are not paying for a standard pool-style activity or a single short swim.

The value depends on your itinerary. If you are already driving near Ásbyrgi, the combination is convenient and distinctive. If you need a special trip from Reykjavik just to reach the starting point, the overall cost rises once you add transport, time, and planning.

I also like that the two sites justify the day better than repeating the same kind of water experience. Nesgjá gives you the remarkable clarity. Litlaá gives you bubbling sand and warm-water life. That variety is the strongest argument for booking.

Should you book the Double Snorkeling Adventure?

Book it if you are making a North Iceland self-drive, meet the swimming and fitness requirements, and want an active experience that shows two less familiar sides of Iceland. The small group, careful instruction, and calm guide style make it easier to focus on what is in front of you.

Skip it if you expect a Reykjavik pickup, dislike dry suits, cannot swim comfortably, or are trying to keep your Iceland budget low. For the right person, though, the price buys more than time in the water. You get a clear freshwater fissure, a warm river full of odd details, and a rare chance to compare two very different natural systems in one morning and afternoon.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling tour start?

It starts at Skúlagarður Country Hotel and Restaurant, Skúlagarður, 671 Ásbyrgi, Iceland.

What time does the tour begin?

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

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Skúlagarður.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours.

How far apart are the two snorkeling sites?

Nesgjá and Litlaá are approximately 15 minutes apart.

How long do you snorkel at Nesgjá?

You snorkel in the fissure and lagoon for about 30 to 45 minutes.

What equipment is included?

The tour includes all necessary snorkeling equipment, a dry suit, and a warm undersuit.

What should I wear under the dry suit?

Wear long thermal underwear and thick wool socks as your base layer.

Is there an age requirement?

All participants must be at least 12 years old. Participants over 60 must have a doctor sign an approval form.

Do I need to be able to swim?

Yes. Participants must be comfortable in water, able to swim, physically fit, and healthy.

What is the maximum group size?

The activity has a maximum of four participants.

Are photos included?

No. Souvenir photos are available to purchase after the snorkeling sessions.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.