Óttarsstaðir & Garður – Reykjanes Coastal Diving
Discover the marine life and volcanic underwater landscapes of Iceland’s Atlantic coast.
Explore the underwater world of the Reykjanes Peninsula on a guided two-dive day that combines the volcanic coastline of Óttarsstaðir with the rich marine life around Garður.
Iceland is famous for its freshwater fissures, but its coastal waters offer an entirely different experience: lava formations, kelp forests, colourful marine life and the ever-changing character of the North Atlantic.
85,000 ISK per person · 2 guided dives · Full day, up to 8 hours · Pickup in the capital area
All dive equipment, including the dry suit, is included.
Dive 1 – Óttarsstaðir: Beneath the Lava Coast
Our first dive is at Óttarsstaðir, where the lava fields meet the Atlantic just outside Hafnarfjörður. You walk into the sea from the shore over lava rock, and the kelp forest begins almost immediately. Below the surface the rocky coastline continues into lava formations and boulders, sloping gently down to around 18 metres, with crabs, sea urchins, starfish and small fish living among the rocks and seaweed.
It is an excellent introduction to Iceland’s coastal diving. Read more about the Óttarsstaðir dive site.
Dive 2 – Garður: Life Beneath the Atlantic
Our second dive is at Garður, near the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula: a shallow dive by an old pier, with a maximum depth of 16 metres. Nutrient-rich Atlantic water supports a diverse ecosystem, and depending on the season you may meet wolffish, monkfish, flounders and cod, as well as crabs, starfish and sea urchins.
Plenty of natural light makes Garður one of the most rewarding sites we dive for photographers. Read more about the Garður dive site.
Why this tour
- Two different Atlantic coastal dive sites in one day
- Lava formations and kelp forests
- Icelandic marine life up close
- Excellent underwater photography
- Experienced local dive guides
How the day works
Tours usually start in the morning, and we agree the pickup time with you when you book. We pick you up at your hotel anywhere in the capital area and drive you to the Reykjanes Peninsula. You dive Óttarsstaðir first and then Garður, and we take you back to your hotel at the end of the day. The tour is a full day of up to 8 hours.
Pickup outside the capital area can be arranged by agreement, depending on the distance.
What is included
- Two guided dives, at Óttarsstaðir and Garður
- All dive equipment, including a dry suit, BCD, regulator, weights, hood, gloves, mask and fins
- Cylinders and air fills
- A dive briefing and help preparing your equipment
- An experienced local dive guide
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in the capital area
- Transportation between the dive sites
Price
85,000 ISK per person. A minimum of two divers is required per departure, and solo divers can join an existing departure. Discounts for bringing your own dry suit or driving to the dive site yourself, and prices for private departures, are listed under prices and discounts.
Who can join
- Open Water certification or equivalent
- A dry suit certification, or at least 10 logged dry suit dives confirmed by an instructor
- Minimum age 17
- Good health and fitness for cold-water diving: you carry heavy dive equipment a short distance
- A medical form, which you sign on site before diving
Not dry suit certified yet? See our diving courses.
What to bring
We provide all scuba equipment. Bring long thermal underwear (wool or synthetic, not cotton), thick wool socks, a towel, your certification card and warm clothes for before and after the dive. See the full what to bring list.
Weather and conditions
Diving is always subject to conditions. Dive sites and entry points depend on sea conditions, weather and visibility, and we may choose an alternative site when necessary. If we have to cancel a dive because of the weather, we rebook you when that is possible, and otherwise refund you.
More ways to dive Reykjanes
Prefer a lake for your second dive? Óttarsstaðir & Kleifarvatn pairs the kelp forest with the geothermal springs of a volcanic lake, also for 85,000 ISK per person. For more ocean diving, our 2-day Ocean Tour around the Reykjanes Peninsula includes four dives for 165,000 ISK per person. See all our dive tours in Iceland.
Book Óttarsstaðir & Garður
Bookings are made by email for now. Tell us your preferred date, the number of divers and your certification, and we will confirm your booking. Write to us at icedive@icedive.is.