INGE BENEDIKTE - Silfra & Thingvellir

Forget colourful reefs, Inge Benedikte is about the chill. This old fishing trawler sits upright on the bottom of Lake Thingvallavatn, a proper freshwater wreck dive. It’s a strange, almost eerie dive, with the low light filtering through the glacial meltwater. We love how the visibility, often stretching 30 metres or more, lets you appreciate the entire ship from a distance before you get close. This isn’t a rummage-through-cabinets kind of wreck. Inge Benedikte is heavily collapsed, but the sheer scale of the hull remains, a dark silhouette against the pale lakebed. You can swim over the deck, poke around the wheelhouse remains, and imagine the old trawler’s working life. The cold water means no corals, but we've seen arctic char darting in and out of the twisted metal, and the occasional freshwater sculpin tucked into crevices. This dive is for those who appreciate history and the unique challenge of a freshwater wreck in truly stark conditions. Pack a good drysuit, a thick undergarment, and prepare for a unique kind of beauty.

Location
Silfra & Thingvellir, Iceland, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
64.161780, -21.930750
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
14m

Marine Protected Area: Akurey

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 INGE BENEDIKTE

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 INGE BENEDIKTE

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