Other marine life
Arctic Char
Salvelinus alpinus
A cold-water freshwater and anadromous char, and the only fish divers are likely to encounter in Silfra. Operators report Arctic char entering the fissure mainly during the August–September spawning period. A resident dwarf form lives deeper in Silfra year-round but is rarely seen. Brown trout and sticklebacks live in Þingvallavatn but are not reported inside the fissure.
- Max size
- Commonly 20–40cm in Þingvallavatn; the dwarf char form stays much smaller
- Habitat
- Þingvallavatn lake and its fissures; the dwarf char form lives in the deeper, darker recesses of Silfra year-round
Best places to dive with Arctic Char
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Not a reason to book. Sightings are incidental — the dwarf char stay deep and dark, and the larger Arctic char come in from the lake mostly around the August–September spawning period. Most divers see no fish at all.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Dive Site Silfra — DIVE.IS
- Silfra — Wikipedia
Note on the data: Þingvallavatn's char are well known for having diverged into several distinct morphs, including the small dwarf char found in the fissure.