What is the Ocean Viewing Index (OVI) for Reynisfjara Beach?

OVI is a 0-100 composite score combining sea color, water clarity, visibility, sea conditions, sunlight and water quality to help you decide if the sea is worth seeing today.

When is the best time to visit Reynisfjara Beach for sea views?

Start with the current and 7-day OVI forecast for Reynisfjara Beach, then choose a daylight period that also fits your plan. If you want tide pools, exposed shore, or a tide-dependent walk, check the local high and low tide times as well.

Should I use tide times or OVI for a visit to Reynisfjara Beach?

Use tide times when your visit depends on water level, such as a sandbar, tide pool, or exposed rocks. Use OVI to compare likely sightseeing conditions including sea appearance, visibility, sea state, and lighting. For a coastal trip, read both together.

Reynisfjara Beach Tides & Ocean Viewing Index

Southern Region, IcelandAtlantic/Reykjavik

Ocean View Index

76Good

Next tide

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Sunrise / Sunset

08:27 – 17:32

Local time

22:35

Reynisfjara near Vik stuns with black basalt sand and towering sea stacks, but its powerful sneaker waves demand visitors keep their distance.

Ocean Viewing Index

Updated · Oct 23, 2026 20:59

Reference time: local noon · 13:00 (Atlantic/Reykjavik)

Estimated

Good

Good conditions. Worth a visit.

Sub-Index Breakdown

Six dimensions feed the overall Ocean Viewing Index.

Sea Color
Vivid turquoise / azure · hue
82.3
Clarity
Very clear (below 1.5 NTU) · NTU
100
Visibility
15+ m horizontal · m
100
Sea State
Light breeze (2-3) · Beaufort
60
Lighting
Low / harsh light · lux
26
Water Quality
index
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Weather Forecast

7-day marine weather forecast from Open-Meteo model.

TodayOct 23

Light Rain

5°2°

4.6 m/s

1.1mm

SatOct 24

Overcast

7°2°

4.6 m/s

SunOct 25

Overcast

5°1°

5.8 m/s

MonOct 26

Fog

3°-1°

2.6 m/s

TueOct 27

Light Rain

5°2°

3.9 m/s

0.2mm

WedOct 28

Rain

7°3°

5.1 m/s

8.7mm

ThuOct 29

Rain

10°7°

8.6 m/s

35.4mm

Visibility: 39 km·Cloud: 47%

48-Hour Hourly Forecast

Hour-by-hour marine weather for the next 48 hours.

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7-Day OVI Trend

Forecast ocean viewing conditions for the coming week.

Best on Sat: Viewing conditions are Good; aim for the golden hour just after sunrise or before sunset. Great for snorkeling and photography.

High & Low Tides Today

Times and heights of today's high and low water.

Mixed TideCoefficient: 77.6 / 120Higher coefficient means larger tide range; 120 is the largest spring, 20 the smallest neap.

Time	Type	Height
No tide extremes recorded today.

Fishing & Surf Forecast

Solunar feeding times and today's surf rating.

80Excellent64FairView full forecast

48-Hour OVI Trend

Hour-by-hour ocean viewing outlook for the next 48 hours, dampened by rainfall.

Today's Tide Summary

A quick look at the day's high and low water.

Best Months to Visit

Average Ocean Viewing Index by month over the past year.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Based on historical climatology (Pitarch 2021)

Nearby Beaches

Other beaches closest to Reynisfjara Beach.

162 km away

Nautholsvik Beach

Capital Region, Iceland

176 km away

Blue Lagoon Area

Southern Peninsula, Iceland

1265 km away

Salthill Beach

Galway, Ireland

1304 km away

Sotra Beach

Vestland, Norway

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ocean Viewing Index (OVI) for Reynisfjara Beach?: OVI is a 0-100 composite score combining sea color, water clarity, visibility, sea conditions, sunlight and water quality to help you decide if the sea is worth seeing today.
When is the best time to visit Reynisfjara Beach for sea views?: Start with the current and 7-day OVI forecast for Reynisfjara Beach, then choose a daylight period that also fits your plan. If you want tide pools, exposed shore, or a tide-dependent walk, check the local high and low tide times as well.
Should I use tide times or OVI for a visit to Reynisfjara Beach?: Use tide times when your visit depends on water level, such as a sandbar, tide pool, or exposed rocks. Use OVI to compare likely sightseeing conditions including sea appearance, visibility, sea state, and lighting. For a coastal trip, read both together.

Essential Information

Coordinates: 63.4100°, -19.0500°
Timezone: Atlantic/Reykjavik
Region & Country: Southern Region, Iceland

Data sources

Tides: UHSLC / FES2022b · Weather: NOAA GFS · Sea color: NASA MODIS/VIIRS