Garður – Ocean Diving in a Kelp Forest at the Tip of Reykjanes
Garður is an ocean dive site by the town of the same name at the far northwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, in Southwest Iceland. The dive takes place in a shallow coastal zone next to an old pier, and it is one of the most consistent dive sites in Iceland: the marine life is here all year round. It is a relaxed dive with a great deal to look at, and it suits nature lovers, photographers and anyone who wants to meet Iceland’s coastal ecosystem up close.
The dive
The dive is shallow, with a maximum depth of 16 metres, so there is plenty of bottom time and plenty of natural light. The action is close to the pier: this is where the kelp forest is at its thickest and where most of the life gathers, so there is no need to swim far to find it. We take the dive slowly, working along the kelp and the seabed around the pier, looking under the fronds and giving the fish time to show themselves.
Because the site is shallow and the life is concentrated in one area, Garður is an easy dive to plan and an unhurried one to make. It is the kind of dive where you spend more time looking than swimming.
What you will see
The kelp forest by the pier is home to an unusually rich cast of Icelandic fish: wolffish, monkfish, flounders and cod, and that is only the beginning of the list. Garður is one of the most reliable places in Iceland to see this kind of life, whatever the time of year.
For photographers this is one of the most rewarding sites we dive: shallow, bright and with subjects close at hand. Bring a camera if you have one, and take your time.
Who is it for
Garður suits any certified diver with a dry suit certification. The shallow depth and the relaxed pace mean you can take it easy and concentrate on the life around you, which makes it a good choice for nature lovers, photographers and anyone who wants to get to know Iceland’s underwater life rather than just pass through it.
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: Garður, at the northwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, Southwest Iceland
- Type: ocean dive in a shallow coastal zone by an old pier, kelp forest
- Maximum depth: 16 metres
- Water temperature: cold all year, so every dive is made in a dry suit
- Conditions: one of Iceland’s most consistent dive sites, with marine life to see all year round. As with every ocean dive, the final call depends on the weather on the day
- Requirements: Open Water certification and a dry suit certification
Tours and pricing
Garður is dived on our Óttarsstaðir & Garður day tour, two kelp forest dives on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It is also one of the sites on our 2-day Ocean Tour around the Reykjanes Peninsula, which includes four dives at sites around the peninsula such as Garður, Óttarsstaðir, Flekkuvík, Kleifarvatn or Bjarnagjá. You can browse all our dive sites in Iceland to plan the rest of your trip.
- Óttarsstaðir & Garður: 85,000 ISK per person
- 2-day Ocean Tour around the Reykjanes Peninsula: 165,000 ISK per person
Discount: bring your own dry suit and receive a 10,000 ISK discount.
Included: 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.
Garður is also one of the sites on our Reykjanes Dive Explorer, a 3-day dive trip from Reykjavík. See all our adventure dive tours.
Book a dive at Garður
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!