Snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure in Iceland at the beginning of December 2018 is an experience unlike any other. The temperture at 6am was well below freezing and the wind on Main Street in Reykjavik was strong enough to make you walk sideways - just to walk a straight line. We were told the weather could be much worse, we were lucky to have such a nice morning.

Years before actually visiting Iceland I read that you could snorkel there and see beautiful rocky walls and caves around you, leading out to a lagoon. That was at the top of my must-do list. When I decided that, it didn’t cross my mind that I’d ever visit Iceland in the winter.

But, WOW Airlnes (about to go out of business) sold a round-trip fare from Washington, D.C. to Reykjavik for $205 with all fees and I snagged it without thinking twice. It was going to be a solo adventure but then a girlfriend was able to join, which made what would have potentially been a rough trip a big, crazy and fun memory.

Back to snorkeling, I saw that even though it was winter, the water stayed around 35 degrees ferenheight year round, so as long as you could suit up you snorkel year round. We bought tickets and carefully read what to wear. This included: long johns and wool socks. A dry suit was strongly recommended, which was provided.

Have you ever squeezed yourself into a dry suit to jump into near freezing water? If you haven’t, it’s hard to imagine. We were NOT mentally prepared for how hard this part of the tour would be! It was hilarious too, and it would probably just be funny if you weren’t so cold you hurt all over. Summer snorkeling would have been the smart choice.

To top off the suiting up experience, I had been car sick for a good 30+ minutes and poor Kate was in caretaker mode. So we were both a little out of it when the suit-up began. Luckily, being out of the car was all I needed and we both laughed until we cried at how ridiculous the situation we’d put ourselves into was. Plus, cheeks being smooshed out of our dry suit face masks didn’t hurt the hilarity of the day.

Walking over to the entry point was another funny task, since snorkeling isn’t a regular hobby of either of ours and walking with flippers over a lava rock pathway isn’t easy. But we made it and hopped in the water. As you may have guessed, the water felt warm compared to what we were dealing with outside!

The beauty was unlike anything else. It’s too cold for wildlife, so you get to admire beautiful rock walls, little caves deep down and the clear blue water with some yellow-green growth on the rocks along the way.