The world's weirdest places to scuba dive

Susannah Palk - 

Bored of diving among the usual coral reefs and tropical fish ? Looking for something a little out of the ordinary ?

Ever thought about diving in a crack between two continents in some of the clearest water on Earth? Or what about swimming up to an active volcano? Perhaps underwater art is more your thing ?

If so, take a look at some of the most unusual, mysterious and awe-inspiring underwater landscapes from around the world.

Continental rift in Iceland

Not only can you dive in a crack in the earth caused by the two continental plates slowly moving away from each other (at an average of 2 cm a year), the waters are so clear that many divers are said to lose all sense of depth and even experience vertigo.

The only place in the world where you can swim between two continents, the Silfra fissure in Iceland's Thingvellier National Park is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

The water's extreme clarity is thanks to year-round cold temperatures of around two to four degrees Celsius and the water's purity. The water originates from a glacier high on Iceland's Hofsjokull Mountain and is filtered through layers of porous lava rock before reaching the national park.

Not only is it cold and clear, the water is so pure it is safe enough to drink.The three sections of the dive include Silfra Hall, the Cathedral and Silfra lagoon.

Full story...

Posted via http://maritime-news.posterous.com Maritime-News posterous