Dive Log: Grünersee (Bucket List Item)

Dive Log: Grünersee (Bucket List Item)

The REAL reason we went to Austria in May was to dive the famous Grünersee. After seeing it in countless magazines and on too many ''Top 10 Dives to Do Before You Die'' lists, we knew we HAD to add it to our bucket list and make it happen. I mean, it's pretty awesome to say that you've dove in the Alps too. Most people go to ski, but we're crazy and go to dive. 

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Dive Log: Grüblsee in Styria, Austria

Dive Log: Grüblsee in Styria, Austria

We took advantage of another long weekend in May (there are quite a few of them this month!) and headed to Austria for some diving and to check another item off of our bucket list. We booked two day tours with a dive shop out of Vienna, Neptun Diving. On Saturday, we dove at Grüblsee near Vorndernberg, Austria. And what a dive it was! The small lake, more of a pond really, is located at about 800 meters (2600 feet) in elevation, with a small dive shop and school next to it. It is officially the highest dive school in all of Europe! Surrounded on three sides by mountains and looking over a nearby ski area, the scenery is pretty awesome. We were blessed with beautiful weather too - not too hot for dry suit diving, but not too cold so that you couldn't warm up between dives.

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Visiting Reykjavik

Visiting Reykjavik

In between diving, we had a little bit of time to explore Reykjavik. Despite it's position in the North Atlantic, it's long winters, and blustery weather, Reykjavik is quite a colorful city. We were no where close to exhausting Reykjavik, but did find a couple of gems that we wanted to share with others. We've also included some travel information in case you're planning your own trip to Iceland!

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Horse Back Riding and Blue Lagoon

Horse Back Riding and Blue Lagoon

We had one day in Iceland where we couldn't dive before we flew back to Germany. While I would have dove Silfra all over again, Iceland has a lot of other things to do and explore. From my research, I learned that Iceland has some pretty unique horses and that there is this huge outdoor heated 'pond' called the Blue Lagoon. Being lovers of new experiences and spas, we just knew we had to try them both! Kaelene over at Unlocking Kiki clued me in to a company not far from Reykjavik that had just the thing: a combination tour of horse back riding in the morning and a trip to the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon to relax (and warm up).

 

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Dive Log: Diving in Iceland - Part 3 (Bucket List Item!)

Dive Log: Diving in Iceland - Part 3 (Bucket List Item!)

I remember the exact moment that I first learned about Silfra. We were on our way back from Roatan, having just spent a week diving in clear, warm, Caribbean waters, about a month after getting certified. We were waiting to board our last plane from Atlanta back to Detroit when Aaron looked at me and said, ''We should dive Iceland someday.'' I balked. That water was cold! What is there to see in Iceland? And that's when he showed me the pictures. I was sold. But we were still new to diving and missing some crucial gear (i.e. a drysuit) and experience. Not to mention flights are usually fairly expensive from the US to Iceland. So, I thought it would be years and years before we were able to dive it. 

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Dive Log: Diving in Iceland - Part 2

Dive Log: Diving in Iceland - Part 2

The next day, we were supposed to be diving in a lake fed by a geothermal hot spring. However, a storm had washed away part of the gravel road leading to it, therefore making it inaccessible while we were there. That's a testament to just how rugged the landscape is in Iceland. Even though it has been inhabited for over 1000 years, from when the first Vikings landed there, very little of the island has been tamed by man. But, it's a good thing to leave some things unspoiled.

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Dive Log: Diving in Iceland - Part 1

Dive Log: Diving in Iceland - Part 1

Sorry for the long blogging hiatus, but, oh man guys, the diving we did in Iceland was out of this world! No joke, it has probably spoiled a lot of cold water diving for us. The people were great, the diving amazing, and the weather beautiful. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's rewind a bit and let me tell you about our first couple dives in Iceland.

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