El Grillo – Dive Into History at a WWII Wreck
Please note: because of current diving restrictions, a dive at El Grillo is only possible with a permit from the local port authorities. Contact us before you plan a trip and we will confirm access before anything is booked.
El Grillo is the wreck of a British oil tanker sunk in Seyðisfjörður, on the east coast of Iceland, during the Second World War. The 143-metre ship lies at 45 metres and now teems with marine life, which gives the dive an eerie, historical atmosphere. We plan our dives here within Advanced Open Water depth limits, so certified divers can explore a piece of history in Iceland’s deep waters.
The dive
The wreck rests on the bottom of Seyðisfjörður at 45 metres, but our dives are planned within Advanced Open Water depth limits. We take care over every plan, and this is not a site for long, unhurried bottom times. The ship is 143 metres long, so one dive shows you part of the wreck rather than all of it.
Because diving at the wreck requires a permit from the port authorities, trips to El Grillo are organised on request and only once a permit is in place.
What you will see
El Grillo is first and foremost a piece of history: a British oil tanker from the Second World War lying on the floor of the fjord. The ship itself is the sight, and the marine life that has settled on it over the decades is what brings it alive. The wreck teems with life, and the contrast between the steel of a wartime tanker and the creatures that have made it their home gives the dive its eerie, historical atmosphere, unlike any other site we dive.
Technical diving at El Grillo
El Grillo is a popular destination for technical divers. At 45 metres the wreck is a natural fit for technical dive planning. As a technical diver you can plan a deeper dive on a tailored trip, whether you dive on CCR, sidemount or with a twinset, and the size of the ship gives you more to explore on every dive.
Every technical trip is tailored: contact us and we will put together a package around your certification, equipment and goals. See our technical dive tours, our technical diving courses if you want to work towards dives like this, and the full list of technical dive sites in Iceland.
Who is it for
El Grillo suits divers with an Advanced Open Water certification who want to dive a piece of history. A dry suit certification is needed as well. If you are unsure whether the dive is right for you, tell us about your certification and experience and we will advise you.
Not dry suit certified yet? Have a look at our diving courses. The dry suit course can be combined with a dive tour.
Good to know
- Location: Seyðisfjörður, a fjord on the east coast of Iceland
- Type: wreck dive, the British oil tanker El Grillo, sunk during the Second World War, 143 metres long
- Wreck depth: the wreck lies at 45 metres
- Water: cold sea water, so the dive is made in a dry suit
- Access: only with a permit from the local port authorities, because of current diving restrictions. We confirm access before any trip is booked
- Requirements: Advanced Open Water certification and a dry suit certification. We plan the dive within Advanced Open Water depth limits
Tours and pricing
El Grillo is not on our standard price list. Trips to Seyðisfjörður are arranged on request, subject to a permit from the port authorities, and priced individually, so please contact us for pricing. Technical dives at the wreck are tailored packages and are also priced on request.
Our tours include all necessary dive equipment, hotel pickup and drop-off, and transportation to and from the dive site. A minimum of two divers is required per tour. Private tours get a separate quote on request. See all our dive tours in Iceland, our technical dive tours, and the other dive sites in Iceland we dive.
Book a dive at El Grillo
If you are interested or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at icedive@icedive.is. We’d love to dive with you!