Faxasker - Silfra & Thingvellir
Sha‘ab Abū Nuhās, often called the "Shipwreck Graveyard," is a big draw in the Hurghada area, and for good reason. This horseshoe-shaped reef has claimed its share of vessels over the years, leaving behind a collection of accessible wrecks. We've always found the *Giannis D* particularly atmospheric, its engine room still intact and penetration surprisingly easy for those with the right training. Beyond the wrecks, the reef itself holds its own with resident reef fish and occasional visits from pelagics like tuna. It’s a great spot for advanced divers looking for a multi-wreck day, though strong currents can pick up, so keep an eye on the dive brief.
- Location
- Silfra & Thingvellir, Iceland, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 63.460567, -20.239735
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Surtsey
Best Time to Dive in Silfra & Thingvellir
The warmest water temperatures in Silfra & Thingvellir occur in August, averaging 12.2°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 3.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 3.9°C
- February: 3.7°C
- March: 4.4°C
- April: 5.9°C
- May: 7.8°C
- June: 10.1°C
- July: 11.8°C
- August: 12.2°C
- September: 10.5°C
- October: 8.0°C
- November: 6.0°C
- December: 4.6°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Silfra & Thingvellir
- Æðaklettar (reef)
- ANDRI - 10m (wreck)
- CHARLES H. SALTER - 12m (wreck)
- CLAM - 50m (wreck)
- ESKE - 20m (wreck)
- GJAFAR - 8m (wreck)
- GODAFOSS - 37m (wreck)
- HENRIETTE - 14m (wreck)
- HMS Graph (wreck)
- HMS Newcastle (wreck)
- HRAFN SVEINBJARNARSON III - 10m (wreck)
- INGE BENEDIKTE - 14m (wreck)
- KING SOL - 2m (wreck)
- KOPANES - 2m (wreck)
- LEO - 0m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Faxasker
- DIVEICELAND.COM - PADI
- DIVE.IS - PADI 5 Star Dive Center Iceland - PADI
- Freedive Iceland - ["PADI"]
- Sportkafarafélag Íslands
Marine Life in Silfra & Thingvellir
Home to 30 recorded species including 8 seagrass & algae, 6 whales & dolphins, 6 reef fish, 3 clams & mussels, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 other.
Notable Species
- Orca (Orcinus orca) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels
- salmon (Salmo salar) - Reef Fish
- Dog whelk (Nucella lapillus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
- bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) - Seagrass & Algae
- harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
- dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
- dulse (Palmaria palmata) - Seagrass & Algae
- spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) - Seagrass & Algae
- knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Oarweed (Laminaria digitata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
- laver (Porphyra umbilicalis)
- dabberlocks (Alaria esculenta) - Seagrass & Algae
- channelled wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) - Seagrass & Algae
- basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) - Sharks & Rays
- whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
- long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Faxasker
Based on average water temperature of 7.4°C, currents 4 cm/s.
- Drysuit - water at 7°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
- Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories