Hjalteyri Pier
Eyjafjörður · Iceland
The disused herring factory pier at Hjalteyri has become an extraordinary muck diving site, its barnacle-encrusted pilings hosting a vertical ecosystem of nudibranchs, sea slugs, and encrusting invertebrates that rivals any tropical muck destination in sheer biomass. Arctic char move through the shallows in late summer while lumpfish hover motionless against the pilings. The sandy floor beneath the jetty is riddled with tube worms, heart urchins, and the occasional flatfish buried to its eyes in sediment.
Conditions
Depth
3 to 12 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 12 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
1 to 13°C
Drysuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Common Eider
Last confirmed Jul 3, 2026 · 74 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Northern Fulmar
Last confirmed Jul 3, 2026 · 33 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Redwing
Last confirmed Jul 5, 2026 · 31 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Black-Tailed Godwit
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 23 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Sea Lemon Nudibranch
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Sand Mason Worm
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Arctic Char
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Lumpsucker
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear