Silfra fissure in Þingvellir National Park has been re-opened to divers. The National Park announced yesterday afternoon that the fissure would be re-opened today.
Read more: Traveller who lost consciousness while diving in Silfra has died. Fissure closed until March 13
The fissure was closed on Friday after a traveller in his sixties died while snorkeling. This was the fifth fatal accident at the fissure since 2010. Park authorities and diving companies which operate at the fissure have reached an agreement on new stricter rules to ensure the safety of visitors.
One of the goals of the new rules is to reduce the number of visitors at the fissure. The new rules apply both to divers and those who only snorkel at the fissure. Fifty thousand people visited the fissure last year to snorkel and dive.
Read more: Park rangers want stricter rules at Silfra: poorly prepared divers, some barely know how to swim
According to the new rules diving in wet suits in the fissure will be banned, while snorkeling in wet suits will be permitted. All guests must also present a doctors note, certifying that they are physically fit to dive or snorkel in temperatures around freezing.
Park rangers have previously pointed out that many guests at the fissure lack experience to dive in the cold water of Silfra, having only snorkeled or dived in the warm waters of the Caribbean.
Silfra fissure in Þingvellir National Park has been re-opened to divers. The National Park announced yesterday afternoon that the fissure would be re-opened today.
Read more: Traveller who lost consciousness while diving in Silfra has died. Fissure closed until March 13
The fissure was closed on Friday after a traveller in his sixties died while snorkeling. This was the fifth fatal accident at the fissure since 2010. Park authorities and diving companies which operate at the fissure have reached an agreement on new stricter rules to ensure the safety of visitors.
One of the goals of the new rules is to reduce the number of visitors at the fissure. The new rules apply both to divers and those who only snorkel at the fissure. Fifty thousand people visited the fissure last year to snorkel and dive.
Read more: Park rangers want stricter rules at Silfra: poorly prepared divers, some barely know how to swim
According to the new rules diving in wet suits in the fissure will be banned, while snorkeling in wet suits will be permitted. All guests must also present a doctors note, certifying that they are physically fit to dive or snorkel in temperatures around freezing.
Park rangers have previously pointed out that many guests at the fissure lack experience to dive in the cold water of Silfra, having only snorkeled or dived in the warm waters of the Caribbean.
