Reykjanes Peninsula · Iceland · Freshwater · Wall
Bjarnagjá
A plate-boundary fissure where groundwater meets a trace of the sea
Bjarnagjá is a lava ravine at the tip of the Reykjanes peninsula, where the Eurasian and North American plates meet. Fresh groundwater fills the fissure, but the coast lies only a few hundred metres away and lends it a touch of sea salinity, so divers get fresh and salty water in a single dive.
Also known as Bjarnagja.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Reykjanes Peninsula and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The single dive lasts about 30-40 minutes inside the crack, with sheltered rock walls draped in lime-green algae rising on either side down to the floor at 18 m. Divers with the right training and experience can also take in sections in an overhead environment.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Reykjanes Peninsula: Departures run all year; July and August bring the warmest water, about 11 °C against 6 °C in March.
Know before you go
- Parts of the fissure are an overhead environment, open only to divers with the appropriate training and experience.
Dive videos
Diving Bjarnagjá Crack in Iceland · Magmadive Iceland on YouTube
Sources
- Bjarnagjá Dive Site in Iceland — Icelandia
- Bjarnagja Diving Tour — DIVE.IS
More dive sites in Reykjanes Peninsula
Kelp forest
Lava arches under kelp, with wolffish tucked into the crevices
Similar dives elsewhere
Vertical walls, a steep southern slope and fallen boulders to the north
Sunken boats in a small bay, good for navigation training
The narrowest water in Silfra, both walls within reach at once
See the full 100 m length of the corridor from its entrance