In between North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, Iceland's Silfra fissure is one of the world's most famous dive sites, popular with tourists who venture into its icy waters.
Visibility underwater can exceed 100 metres (330 feet) and the spectacle of light and darkness is hypnotic.
"When we entered the water, it was...," says Icelandic tourist Brynjolfur Bragason before pausing.
"Incredible," adds his wife Hildur Orradottir.
In the heart of Thingvellir National Park, on the edge of one of Iceland's largest lakes, corridors of submerged rocks form deep cavities in between the two continents, which move away from each other by about two centimetres every year.
The beige sand and the phosphorescent green of the algae add to the colours.
"It looks like hair," says Camille Lund, a French-American tourist.
- 'Tingling' feeling -
The fissure and the entire surrounding valley lie on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which runs through the island, making it one of the most active volcanic areas on Earth.
Water travels for several decades through a tunnel of underground aquifers around 50 kilometres long.
"This whole filtration system through the volcanic rocks... gives us super clear water," Thomas Gov, a diving instructor from Toulouse in the south of France, told AFP.
Taking a dip in Silfra requires a lot of preparation: dry suit, diving gloves, swimming hat, mask, snorkel and fins.
The equipment allows you to stay dry and float peacefully on the surface in water that stays between two and three degrees Celsius (35.6-37.4 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round.
Only part of the face and hands are exposed to the icy water.
Snorkelling is the most popular activity, but the more experienced and certified can dive with a scuba tank to a depth of 18 metres.
str/ehu/har
© Agence France-Presse
Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.