TRAVEL continued
relax in hydrothermal spas, ride snowmobiles to the glaciers, penetrate ice caves, and so much more. During the autumn and winter months, there is a good chance for seeing the northern lights and there are tours designed for that as well. It is best to work with the dive shop you are coordinating your trip with to include several of these iconic sites. Many visitors arrange to take a 1-day “Golden Circle” tour which offers travelers the opportunity to see some of the iconic sites in Iceland. Travel and Accommodations: International flights arrive into Keflavik Airport. Direct flights on several carriers are available from various cities in the United States. Group tours to Iceland need to consider accommodations on land. In Reykjavik, there are a number of hotels to choose from. In the countryside, there are guest houses and cottages to choose from. Work with the dive shop to coordinate ground transportation to and from the airport and throughout the tour. In addition, equipment must be arranged (e.g., tanks, weights, dive gear,
etc.). It is recommended that, other than tanks and weights, divers bring their own gear wherever possible.
The best time of year for diving are the summer months between May and Sep- tember, although it is a year-round destina- tion. Sample 10-day Itinerary:
Iceland presents a varied set of experiences and planning a group dive tour requires planning and a knowledge of the country.
Day 1: Arrive into Iceland, travel to hotels, Dive briefings. Depending on the arrival time, a dive at Gardur may be arranged on the way from the airport.
Day 2: Silfra Dive(s) Day 3: Gardur Dive Day 4: Davíðsgjá Dive
Day 5: Begin drive to Akureyri. Along the way, stop to see waterfalls, hydrothermal vents, etc. This drive can incorporate elements of “The Golden Circle” tour while making your way to the northern fjords. Day 6: Strytan Dive Day 7: Strytan Dive Day 8: Drive back to Reykjavik Day 9: Open day for glacier tours, lava tube tours, Blue Lagoon Spa, Waterfall tours, etc. Day 10: Return home Scuba Diving Operators DIVE.IS (http://www.dive.is) is a Five Star PADI Dive Center, located in Reykjavik. DIVE.IS offers a variety of multi-day tours and single day dive opportunities, along with training and equipment rental. Strytan Dive Center (www.strytan.is) is located in Hjalteyri, nearby to Akureyri, and is owned and operated by Erlandur Bogason. The Skjaldarvik Guesthouse (www.skjaldarvik.is) is a nice place to stay when diving Strytan. The Guesthouse offers excellent home-style cooking with comfortable rooms. Reykjavik has a recompression chamber. Summary: Iceland is a great option for dive shops looking to offer a cold-water alternative to the common warm water destinations often visited by divers. A combination of unique dive sites, stunning scenery and a plethora of outdoor adventures makes this an appealing destination. It is best to
keep the group small because of the over-land logistics but for those who organize and participate in an Iceland dive trip, the experiences are un- matched!
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