Temporary closure of Silfra following yesterday's death
Tourists going to snorkel at Silfra. mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon
Diving and snorkelling in Silfra is forbidden until 8 am on Monday according to a decision made by the Ministry for the Environment, Þingvellir National Park and the National Police. This decision comes as a result of two deaths in two months of tourists snorkelling in the famous crevasse.
The weekend will be used to investigate the rules and regulations on diving and snorkelling in Silfra. Minister for the Environment Björt Ólafsdóttir writes on her Facebook page that the decision was made to improve the security of tourists who go there.
Silfra is a crevasse at Þingvelir National Park which is on the Mid Atlantic rift, a crack betwen the North American and Eurasian continents. It's known for its very cold water (2 degrees), beautiful rock formations and crystal clear visibility.
