Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
DIVING IN EYJAFJÖRÐUR
Thoughts of scuba diving usually involve sun-kissed beaches and tropical fish, so perhaps
it's surprising that some of the world's most fascinating diving lies within Iceland's frigid
waters. Most bubble-blowers flock to crystalline Silfra, but the real diving dynamo, known
as Strýtan ,lurks beneath Eyjafjörður. Strýtan,a giant cone (50m) soaring up from the
ocean floor, commands a striking presence as it spews out gushing hot water. This geo-
thermal chimney - made from deposits of magnesium-silicate - is truly an anomaly. The
only other Strýtan-like structures ever discovered were found at depths of 3000m or
deeper; Strýtan's peak is a mere 15m below the surface.
We had the opportunity to grab a meal with Erlendur Bogason (the man who dis-
covered Strýtan, and now officially protects it), and he told us all about Eyjafjörður's other
scuba superlatives.
In addition to majestic Strýtan,there are smaller steam cones on the other side of the
fjord. Known as Arnanesstrýtur , these smaller formations aren't as spectacular, but the
water bubbling out of the vents is estimated to be 11,000 years old. The water is com-
pletely devoid of salt, so you can put a thermos over a vent, bottle the boiling water, and
use it to make hot chocolate when you get back to the surface!
Diving around the island of Grímsey is also memorable. The water is surprisingly clear
here, but the main draw is the birdlife: bazaars of guillemots swoop down deep as they
search for food. Swimming with birds is definitely a strange experience - when the visibil-
ity is particularly good it can feel like you're flying!
Interested in checking out these marvels and more? Drop Erlendur a line at his diving
outfit, Strytan Divecentre ( 862 2949; www.strytan.is ; 2-dive day trips from Ikr35,000), based
at Hjalteyri, about 20km north of Akureryri.
Note that Reykjavík-based dive operators also offer multiday tours to the area; check
the websites of Dive.is ( www.dive.is ), DiveIceland.com ( www.diveiceland.com ) and Scuba
Iceland ( www.scuba.is ) .
Brandon Presser
Festivals & Events
The Events & Festivals page of the www.visitakureyri.is website lists the year's big celeb-
rations and commemorations. Winter events are getting a real boost.
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