Óttarsstaðir – Shore Diving in a Kelp Forest Just Outside Reykjavík
Óttarsstaðir is a shore dive on the lava coast by Straumsvík, just outside Hafnarfjörður and about 20 minutes’ drive from Reykjavík. It is the site our own divers return to most often: close to town, sheltered in most weather and full of life. We use it for training dives, after-work dives and as a relaxed first ocean dive for divers who are new to Iceland.
The dive
You walk into the sea from the shore over lava rock, and the kelp forest begins almost immediately in the shallows. From there the seabed slopes gently down to around 18 metres, so depth is easy to control and the dive is simple to plan. Navigation is straightforward: follow the slope out, turn, and follow it back to the entry.
Dives here are unhurried. There is time to look under the fronds, practise skills, work on buoyancy and trim, or set up a camera and wait for the life to come to you.
What you will see
The kelp forest is the main attraction. The fronds sway with the swell, and the longer you look, the more you find living in and under them: crabs and sea urchins on the rocks, starfish on the sand, shrimps and small fish darting between the stalks. Marine life changes with the season, which is part of why local divers keep coming back.
Visibility is usually good on calm days, and because the site is shallow there is plenty of natural light, which makes Óttarsstaðir a rewarding site for underwater photography.
Who is it for
Óttarsstaðir suits any certified diver with a dry suit certification. The calm conditions, gentle slope and modest depth make it an ideal site for newly certified divers, for a first ocean dive in Iceland, for photographers, and for anyone who simply wants a peaceful dive with lots to look at. We also use it for training and for the open-water dives of several of our courses.
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: Straumsvík, Hafnarfjörður, about 20 minutes from Reykjavík. Open in Google Maps
- Type: ocean shore dive, kelp forest and lava rock
- Maximum depth: around 18 metres, with a gentle slope
- Water temperature: cold all year, so every dive is made in a dry suit
- Conditions: usually calm and sheltered, but weather dependent. We choose the day and the site according to the forecast
- Requirements: Open Water certification and a dry suit certification
Tours and pricing
Óttarsstaðir is on two of our day tours: Óttarsstaðir & Garður, two kelp forest dives on the Reykjanes Peninsula, and Óttarsstaðir & Kleifarvatn, which pairs the kelp forest with the geothermal springs of a volcanic lake. It is also one of the sites on our 2-day Ocean Tour around the Reykjanes Peninsula.
- Óttarsstaðir & Garður: 85,000 ISK per person
- Óttarsstaðir & Kleifarvatn: 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.
Óttarsstaðir 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 Óttarsstaðir
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!