NORTHERN CROWN - Silfra & Thingvellir
Northern Crown isn't for everyone. It's a deep dive, well beyond recreational limits, but for those with the right training, it’s a truly exceptional wreck. This trawler went down in 1956, and we love how she sits upright and relatively intact on the seabed, not far from Eldey Island. Dropping down, the visibility here is often fantastic, allowing you to appreciate the sheer size of the vessel from a distance before you even reach her deck. We’ve spent dives exploring the bridge, imagining the gale that drove her onto Gant Rock. The holds are open, inviting a peek inside, though the depth means keeping a close eye on your no-decompression limits is crucial. Even without tropical fish, the Northern Crown has a stark, dramatic beauty; the grey and green hues of the wreck against the dark seabed are captivating. It’s a dive for wreck enthusiasts, those who appreciate history, and anyone looking for a serious deep challenge. Come prepared, and she’ll reward you.
- Location
- Silfra & Thingvellir, Iceland, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 63.759724, -22.961111
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 54m
Marine Protected Area: Eldey
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)
- Faxasker (reef)
- 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)
Nearest Dive Centres to NORTHERN CROWN
- 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 NORTHERN CROWN
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