HMS Newcastle - Silfra & Thingvellir

Okay, so this one's a bit of a trick, isn't it? The HMS Newcastle, a British light cruiser, was absolutely a real ship, launched in 1936. But you won't find her anywhere near Silfra or Thingvellir in Iceland. Those sites are famous for their glacial meltwater, the continental rift, and incredible visibility, not shipwrecks. The Newcastle spent her war years in various theatres, saw plenty of action, and was eventually scrapped in the 1950s. If you’re looking for wrecks, we'd point you towards places like Scapa Flow in Scotland, or even some of the deeper Norwegian fjords for cold-water historical sites. Silfra, on the other hand, offers something entirely different: the incredible experience of diving between tectonic plates, with visibility that often exceeds 100 metres, where the only "wreck" you'll find is perhaps an accidental dropped camera from a less-than-careful diver. It’s a truly unique dive, just not for wreck enthusiasts.

Location
Silfra & Thingvellir, Iceland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
65.800000, -25.316668
Type
wreck

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

Nearest Dive Centres to HMS Newcastle

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

Recommended Packing List for HMS Newcastle

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