f you feel too hot this summer and dream of cooling down, start reading this edition from Antarctica. The continent is incredibly interesting and full of surprises.
Porto Santo, which we include in the Madeira Archipelago in Portugal, is also worth our visit: nine kilometres of rocky beach and the underwater secrets of the Atlantic surrounding the island. A real desert and golf course...
Molnar is only for technical divers... Or maybe not necessarily? Imagine that you are diving in the warm water under Budapest and I really mean it "under" :)
We do not forget about freshwater reservoirs. Now is the time when fish most often stay closer to the surface, between depths of 1 and 7 m. We can admire carp, pike, zander, perch, chub, rudd, catfish and others. Only burbots and eels hide in various holes. We invite you to Lake Piaseczno, 40 km from Lublin in Poland. A sandy lake with rich vegetation and quite deep.
Monika Zyber makes her debut on our pages, revealing her path to diving. It can be different and sometimes extremely difficult, especially for our psyche.
That is why breathing and techniques for dealing with anxiety underwater and on land are important. We have a separate article for you in this issue.
Training and knowledge are always important for Perfect Diver. See what training and diving with nitrox gives you? Check if a "regular" diving mask affects your buoyancy.
Not enough? As usual, there are silent or loud companions of our dives, i.e. birds living close to the water. There is also an attempt to face the challenges of underwater photography. Speaking of which, we would like to remind you that there is an underwater photography competition, organized by Nautica Safari. Send in your photos and win prizes.
Because diving gives direct contact with nature, calms us and clears our heads. It's revealing and amazing every time. For example, the fact of breathing underwater, moving freely and being able to play with gravity.
Did you like this issue? Give us a viral coffee buycoffee.to/perfectdiver Visit our website www.perfectdiver.com, check out Facebook www.facebook.com/PerfectDiverMagazine and Instagram www.instagram.com/perfectdiver/
Publisher PERFECT DIVER Sp. z o.o. ul. Folwarczna 37, 62-081 Przeźmierowo redakcja@perfectdiver.com
ISSN 2545-3319
Wojciech Zgoła
Karolina Sztaba
Anna Metrycka reklama@perfectdiver.com
Agnieszka Gumiela-Pająkowska Arleta Kaźmierczak
Reddo Translations Sp. z o.o. Piotr Witek
Lawyer Joanna Wajsnis Brygida Jackowiak-Rydzak
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distribution dive centers, online store preorder@perfectdiver.com
cover photo
Tom St George email: stgeorge.t@gmail.com website: tomstgeorge.com youtube: youtube.com/tomstgeorge instagram: instagram.com/tom.st.george
location
Porto Santo, Portugal wreck
Corveta Pereira D'Eca
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WOJCIECH ZGOŁA
Passionate about diving and pure nature. He likes to say that he travels by diving. He learned to swim when he was less than 6 years old. At the age of 15, he obtained a yacht sailor's license and has been diving since 2006. He has completed over 800 dives in various regions of the world. He wrote and published many articles.
Co-author of photo exhibitions. An advocate of leaving the place of residence clean and unblemished. Diving promoter. Since 2008 he has been running his own website www.dive-adventure.eu
Based on extensive experience, in 2018 he created the new Perfect Diver Magazine, which has been successfully published regularly every two months in Polish and English for 6 years.
A graduate of geography at the University of Wrocław, an incorrigible optimist... permanently with a smile on her lips
I have been diving since 2002, which is more than half of my life I started diving in Polish waters, to which I willingly return during the year – and it gives me great pleasure! :) I must have come to Activtour by destiny and I have stayed here for good... for over 10 years! I am passionate about fulfilling people's dreams by preparing diving trips around the world! Personally – I fly and dive in different seas and seas whenever I can, because it is one of the loves of my life Since the beginning of the existence of the PD magazine, I have been transferring my memories of diving trips to paper, sharing my passion with others and I can't stop writing ;) 2023 permanently in the PD editorial office – hoping to bring her some "fresh blood" ;) A diving dream come true: Galapagos! Still ahead of me… Antarctica! If I don't dive, I choose skiing, tennis or strong rock sounds! ;) The motto that I really like is: "Be realistic – start dreaming"! :) anna@activtour.pl; www.activtour.pl;
SYLWIA KOSMALSKA-JURIEWICZ
A traveller and a photographer of wild nature. A graduate of journalism and a lover of good literature. She lives in harmony with nature, promotes a healthy lifestyle: she is a yogini and a vegetarian. Also engaged in ecological projects. Sharks and their protection are especially close to her heart. She writes about the subject in numerous articles and on her blog www.blog.dive-away.pl. She began her adventure with diving fifteen years ago by total coincidence. Today she is a diving instructor, she visited over 60 countries and dived on 5 continents. She invites us for a joint journey with the travel agency www.dive-away.pl, of which she is a co-founder.
My adventure with photography began long before I started diving. From the very first dive I dreamed that I would be accompanied by a camera. As I became more adept at diving, my photography gear evolved as well. From a simple gopro camera through a compact and SLR camera to a full-frame mirrorless camera. Now I can't imagine diving without a camera. I have the impression that underwater photography gives meaning to my diving. www.facebook.com/przemyslaw.zyber www.instagram.com/przemyslaw_zyber/ www.deep-art.pl
Karolina Sztaba, and professionally Karola Takes Photos, is a photographer by education and passion. She is currently working at the Trawangan Dive Center on a tiny island in Indonesia – Gili Trawangan, where she moved to live four years ago. She photographs above and below the water. In addition, she creates photographic projects against littering the oceans and polluting our planet with plastic ("Trapped", "Trashion"). She cooperates with NGO organizations dealing with environmental protection and actively participates in pro-ecological actions (coral protection, coral planting, cleaning the world, protection of endangered species). She is also the official photographer of Ocean Mimic – a brand that creates swimwear and surfwear from rubbish collected on the beaches of Bali. She cooperated with many brands of diving equipment for which she created advertising campaigns. In 2019, she became the ambassador of the Polish company Tecline. She has been a technical diver for two years.
Laura is a journalist, instructor trainer, CCR and cave diver. She has been developing her diving career for over a decade, gaining knowledge and experience in various fields. Her specialty is professional diving training, but her passion for the underwater environment and its protection drives her to explore various places around the world. From the depths of the Lombok Strait, caves in Mexico and wrecks in Malta to the Maldives, where she runs a diving center awarded by the Ministry of Tourism as the best diving center in the Maldives. Laura actively contributes to promoting the protection of the marine environment, takes part in scientific projects, campaigns against ocean littering and cooperates with non-governmental organizations. You can find her at @laura_kazi_diving www.divemastergilis.com
ANNA METRYCKA
KAROLA TAKES PHOTOS
LAURA KAZIMIERSKA
PRZEMYSŁAW ZYBER
He has been diving for 35 years. He has spent more than 16,000 hours underwater, most of them diving technically. He has been an instructor and mentor instructor for many organizations including CMAS, GUE, IANTD, PADI. He co-created the training programs for some of them. He is a professional with vast knowledge and practical experience. He has participated in many diving projects as a leader, explorer, initiator or speaker. He was the first Pole to dive the HMHS Britannic wreck (117m). He was the first to explore the deep part of the Glavas Cave (118m). He made a series of dives documenting the wreck of ORP GROM (110m). He has documented deep (100-120m) parts of flooded mines. He is the creator and designer of many equipment solutions to improve diving safety.
Technical Director at Tecline, where, among other things, he manages the Tecline Academy a research and training facility. Author of several hundred articles on diving and books on diagnosis and repair of diving equipment.
He dives in rivers, lakes, caves, seas and oceans all over the world.
He has been diving forever, he does not remember his first dives. The only thing he remembers is that diving has always been his passion. He spent his entire childhood on Polish lakes, which he still prefers to distant destinations. With great success, he turned his passion into a way of life and business. Curiosity of the world and constant striving for perfection are the main features that definitely hinder him in life. Professional diving instructor, photographer, filmmaker.
Creator of the DECO Diving Center, PADI Course Director, TecTrimix Instructor Trainer TECREC.
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was chaos...
…that is, the multitude of thoughts and delights after my first immersion under water in 2005 in the form of INTRO while on vacation in Egypt. By then I had completely immersed myself in the underwater world and wanted it to have an increasing impact on my life. 2 years later, I took an OWD course, which I received as a gift for my 18th birthday, and over time, further courses and skills improvement appeared.
"Photography" appeared not much later, but initially in the form of a disposable underwater "Kodak" from which the photos came out stunningly blue I am not a fan of one type of diving, although my greatest weakness at the moment is for large pelagic animals. The Galapagos Islands were my best opportunity to photograph so many species of marine fauna so far.
I share my passion for diving and photography with my buddy, who is my wife IG: luke.divewalker www.lukedivewalker.com
A graduate of two Poznan universities, the Academy of Physical Education (coaching specialization – handball) and the University of A.Mickiewicz, Faculty of Biology (specialty of experimental biology). He connected his professional life with this first university trying to influence the direction of development of future professionals on the one hand, and on the other planning and implementing research, pushing laboriously in the right direction of the stroller called science. In his free time he spends his time actively – his main passions are sailing (sea helmsman), skiing (downhill skiing instructor), riding a motorcycle, recreational diving and many other activities, as well as photography, mainly nature.
A graduate of the Poznań University of Technology, financier, the auditor. A diver fascinated by theory diving – physics and physiology. In love passionate about history in underwater archaeology Ancient Rome, active Centurion in the group reconstructionist Bellator Societas (Rome I century BC). He dreams of attending at least once underwater archaeological research a then describe everything in a series of columns.
It can be found as often as under water in Japan, whose culture and history he has been fascinated by nearly three decades.
Zoopsychologist, researcher and expert in dolphin behavior, committed to the idea of protecting dolphins and fighting against keeping them in dolphinariums. Passionate about Red Sea and underwater encounters with large pelagic predators. Member of the Dolphinaria-Free Europe Coalition, volunteer of the Tethys Research Institute and Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit, collaborator of Marine Connection. For over 15 years, he has been participating in research on wild dolphin populations, auditing dolphinariums, and monitoring the quality of whale watching cruises. As the head of the "Free & Safe" project (formerly "NO! for a dolphinarium"), he prevents keeping dolphins in captivity, promotes ethical whale & dolphin watching, trains divers in responsible swimming with wild dolphins, and popularizes knowledge about dolphin therapy that is passed over in silence or hidden by profit-making centers. on this form of animal therapy.
WOJCIECH A. FILIP
ŁUKASZ METRYCKI / LUKE DIVEWALKER
DOMINIK DOPIERAŁA
MICHAŁ CZERNIAK
JAKUB BANASIAK
WOJCIECH JAROSZ
Better known as Wąski
Professionally, the main health and safety specialist, fire protection inspector and first aid instructor. Privately, husband and father of his daughter. A member of the Bellator Societas, where he is called St. Marcin, because every year he plays the character during the name day of the street on November 11 in Poznań. Of course, for many years an avid diver. He loves technical diving, especially those on wrecks and everything related to activity above and below water :)
For Tomek, diving has always been his greatest passion. He started his adventure at the age of 14, developing into a recreational and technical diving instructor, a first aid instructor and a diving industry technician. Currently, he runs the 5* COMPASS DIVERS Pobiedziska Diving Center near Poznań, where he passes his knowledge and skills to beginners and advanced divers, which gives him great joy and satisfaction from being part of their underwater adventure...
Zodiac Libra. Enthusiast of a healthy lifestyle, fond of active leisure. Lover of the underwater world and underwater photography. HR employee, and after hours SDI diving instructor, Vital Mentor, Diet coach. Thanks to her passion for psychology, working with people and the ability to listen, she knows that everything starts in the head. He highly values the ability to communicate without words underwater. Water helped her discover completely unknown mobility possibilities, and overcoming her own limitations, as well as learning something new in the natural environment, in the context of communing with nature, helped her rebuild her mental condition.
Author of the website https://aldonadreger.pl and https://wellbeingproject.pl Partner of the diving school https://wewelldiving.pl
„Kindness” entire adult life, as her friends call her, is professionally related to diving. She has been diving every day for over ten years as a professional PADI diving instructor, working and running diving centers in Egypt. Extremely meticulous and pedantic about safety. Specializes in training children, teenagers and women. It's impossible to miss her because she dresses her pink lifestyle in this color underwater. An accountant by education and second profession, in private she is the mother of two "terrorists". Co-owner of the DECO Diving Center.
Infected with passion for diving by Perfect Diver. He shyly expands his skills. Definitely thermophilic :) Favorite dives are those with lots of animals! Curious about diving medicine. Professionally, she has a Master of Science in Nursing – instrumentalist.
Snap-pop and diving came back into my life. And it changed my landscapes – and it was nice, and it changed my perspective – and it was great! Well, if someone has a nice life like me, diving would have to be included in it... hi-hi. That's my approach. I don't want to count the days, I want the days to count (preferably every day!) That's why diving is another adventure that I enjoy with delight (in small bites, so as not to have hiccups!) And I like it very much, because it is accompanied by great company, great views and thrill.
ALDONA DREGER
DOMINIKA ABRAHAMCZYK MONIKA ZYBER
DOBROCHNA DIDŁUCH
PIOTR KOPEĆ
TOMASZ KULCZYŃSKI
That’s the Life PORTO SANTO
Text and photos WOJCIECH ZGOŁA
It was going to be yet another beautiful and exciting day. We got up early to catch the first ferry from Madeira to PORTO SANTO.
Now, after the struggle of finding seats for a crew of five, we were able to enjoy ourselves over coffee, sandwiches, bananas and Portuguese pasteis de nata – local pastries. I chose freshly squeezed orange juice rather than coffee.
After less than two and a half hours, we reached the island. It’s area is 42,5 square kilometers and it lies 43 kilometers east of Madeira. Our ride was already waiting and as soon as we collected our luggage, we went straight to the hotel. After a short
drive, we were able to check in, however our rooms wouldn’t be available until 2 o’clock.
Still, it was all according to plan. Portugaldive.com took care of all the details. Let me tell you about our four-star hotel first. Torre Praia is built just over the ocean coast, on the plains in the south-west of the island. As we went through the lounges and hotel restaurants, we reached the Salina restaurant (which is available not only to the hotel guests), which grants you direct
access to the beach. And what a beach it is! Nine kilometers of yellow sand, surrounded by rocky islets naturally emerging from the ocean. When you look at the ocean, to your left there is Ilheu de Cima, and to your right Ilheu de Baixo ou da Cal. This means the water here is protected from the waves when the wind is blowing from the West and it is roughly 2 degrees centigrade warmer than the open sea. We explored this and confirmed for ourselves that it was a fact.
Everyday, we were able to enjoy sunny weather with a light breeze. Then we sat down, ordered some cold beverages and, glancing at the lizards basking in the sun, we fixed our eyes hungrily at the ocean.
Time flew, as it usually does, and we decided to go and explore the town of Vila Baleira. There are some 5000 people
living on the island, there is a small airfield and nine hotels (as of April 2024). You can also rent a B&B. Lodging on the island is limited, however, and in high season the prices soar. There is a church there, which was built in 1446, but after it was razed by pirates it hadn’t been rebuilt until 1665. Next to it there is a house, where, according to oral accounts, Christopher Columbus lived, and today it is a museum – Casa Museu Cristovao Colombo.
The plains I mentioned span roughly a half of the island and turn seamlessly into a plateau. The north-eastern half of Porto Santo is hilly (the highest peak, Pico de Facho, is 517 m above the sea level) with cliffs and rocky ledges. There is also a small, but fascinating desert.
The next day, we reported at the dive center that has been operated by the same married couple for over 20 years. They both come from Portugal, they fell in love, they came to Porto Santo and decided to stay there. Today they still believe that it was the best decision of their lives. Porto Santo Sub, Centro de Mergulho is located on a small hill, which allowed us to look out into the ocean as we were clearing our gear. The diving infrastructure is spacious and very user friendly. Showers, toilets, boxes, tanks and anything any diver could ever want. You could simply come here with no gear at all and rent everything on site.
After taking care of the paperwork, the owners briefed us on two dives, as we are supposed to spend our break on board
a zodiac. There are two shipwrecks in the waters around Porto Santo – we are going to see them both. We expected an estimated visibility underwater of 15–20 m with potential for waves and slight currents.
First, we drove to the port by car (around three minutes), we packed our gear onto the pontoon and we set out to the ocean. It turned out that when we left the cove of the island, there were some waves, which left us covered with drops of salt water on more than one occasion. We dove in two teams, which were divided still back on Madeira.
Oh, the feeling you get when you submerge! As if you entered an entirely new world, available to you for but a brief moment. There is nothing quite like it. As if we were transported into an entirely different space-time. Smartphones and computers go silent, nobody is talking your ear off, there are no annoying ads nor ‘breaking’ news. Nothing but you and the endless ocean. Your experience and the gear you rely on. You can never be sure what you will encounter in the depths or at the bottom, unless it’s the shipwreck of a freighter that sunk many years ago...
First we go to see a corvette, which rests on the sandy seabed over 30 meters deep. We could see it from the moment we submerged. There is an impressive 85 meters of the wreck to explore. You can instantly see how much life accumulated around and inside the hull. Visibility was at a good 20 meters, give or take. As we swam around the corvette, we could see
jackfish, barracudas, common two-banded sea breams, damselfish, trumpetfish and ever nosy triggerfish. The later came really close, bumping into the camera port several times. These can be aggressive and even bite a diver who would come too close to their nest.
After a break, we go diving again among the rocks and sand patches. We were accompanied by schools of various fish, including, a rather rare sight – zebrafish. At one point, a barracuda, over one and a half meters long, appeared from around a rocky overhang. It looked to the right and then to the left, before swimming away. We also met a moray eel and various smaller fish of the Blenniidae family.
Madeiran wreck was sunk in the year 2000. It is the oldest of the wrecks around here. Alas, it broke more or less in half. The whole ship was an impressive 75 meters long. Today, both its halves rest on the seabed at 35 meters depth. Life is even more abundant here. A large grouper resides at the bottom, from the propeller side – it’s hardly afraid of divers. As I come closer it swims away of course, but only to come back and look at me. Our flashlights bring out the color intensity and illuminate the interesting metal hull against the sandy bed and the spotted grouper. We see other fish of this kind in the other parts of the wreck and in the depths. There are also trevallies, jackfish, barracudas and uncountable smaller fish.
The wreck is pretty well-preserved and you can swim around its various pieces.
We had planned almost a whole day trip for the last day. The guide shows us the charming sights of the island. We see such vistas as Miradouro das Flores. We get to admire the deserted Ilheu Da Cal island.
From the side of the Atlantic, we marvel at the rocks made out of sand, wind and water. They chip easily, but you could also cut yourself badly. They create incredible patterns and structures. We get to see interesting geomorphological structures, including amazing basalt rocky formations created millions years ago due to volcanic activity. Pillars built by nature itself. They were formed through the process of cooling down molten magmatic rock. This way long, straight and also hexagonal basalt columns were created. You can ascend them and there is a break in one place where everyone takes pictures. You can assume a fun pose there, as if you were a part of the vertical column yourself. Interestingly, apart form the aforementioned airfield, there also are two golf courses (18 and 10 hole one), a horse breeder,
mills and Quinta das Palmeiras– a mini-zoo and mini-botanical garden. Here you can see birds, turtles and curious plants, for instance Australian ones.
Porto Santo jumped on my “I can go there anytime” list almost immediately. Perhaps because I simply like islands, or maybe because through the better part of the year there are not too many people there and it’s quite calm. As it turns out, in November or December the temperature there is over 20 degrees centigrade and the weather is sunny. You can walk along the sandy beach for kilometers here, marvel at the amazing sand-rock sculptures, gaze into the waves endlessly advancing and breaking against the shore, smile at the numerous lizards who spend their time in the sun, just be with yourself or with somebody else, away from the crowds. I can wholeheartedly recommend Porto Santo to anyone. Portugaldive.com took care of all the details, so that we didn’t have to worry about a thing.
P.S. Freshly squeezed orange juice with ice, half a liter portion during low season in our four star hotel was... EUR 4.
Hidden Under the Streets of Budapest
When I ask the question: "What do you associate Budapest with?" I usually hear answers like: the capital of Hungary, magnificent monuments, rich history, great parties. However, for me, Budapest is associated with something completely different.
Few people know that under the streets of the city center, you can discover a real gem and have an amazing adventure. You can immerse yourself in warm, thermal waters and explore kilometers of beautifully shaped underwater tunnels. The corridors resemble a real labyrinth and are as tangled as walkman headphones in a tight pocket. But don't worry. All the routes are professionally prepared and marked.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE CAPITAL
Budapest is famous for its numerous tourist attractions, such as magnificent palaces, historical monuments, and picturesque
views. It has a long and rich history dating back to ancient times. The city has been the site of many struggles and conquests, which have left their mark on its architecture and culture. One of the most famous landmarks in Budapest is Castle Hill, dominating the city's skyline. Here, you will find the impressive Royal Palace, which has served various functions over the centuries, from the residence of kings to an art museum.
Another remarkable place in Budapest is St. Stephen's Basilica, an impressive neo-Renaissance church. Its high dome is one of the city's most recognizable symbols. The interior of the basilica is stunning in its beauty and richness, and from its tower, you can admire panoramic views of Budapest.
For me, the most impressive landmark is the Hungarian Parliament Building (one of the largest parliaments in the world). This monumental piece of neo-Gothic architecture draws attention with its beautiful facade and richly decorated interiors. We cannot forget the famous baths in Budapest, which are a part of the city's culture and tradition. Particularly popular are the Gellert Baths, which captivate with their beautiful mosaics, thermal pools, and luxurious interior. It's the perfect place to relax and unwind after intense sightseeing and diving.
Budapest is a city that enchants with its beauty and history. From picturesque streets to majestic buildings, every step in this city reveals new fascinating details. It is worth taking the time to explore these landmarks and discover the hidden treasures that await every tourist.
WE FINALLY ARRIVED!
We drive up one of the main streets to an unassuming gate.
Nothing suggests that behind it lies an unforgettable adventure, and yet.
At the entrance we are greeted by Etelka, the manager of the facility.
Despite her charming name, she keeps a strict hand on all procedures and order at the facility.
She precisely points out our parking spot since the parking area is very small.
First, we tour the entire facility and go over the rules of the diving center.
We enter inside.
A long corridor carved into the rock and modest lighting lead us directly to the water entry point. Along the way, we pass by "dry" diving stations where we can prepare our equipment and leave our clothes. This area is well thought out and excellently equipped. The stations are numbered individually for each diver. There are tables, hangers for accessories, boxes for fins and wet equipment, and across from them, hangers for clothes. In the "wet" area, there are railings for hanging dry suits.
If we are diving for several days in a row, we leave all the equipment on site. The humidity in the cave is brutal, so the equipment doesn’t dry. It's worth taking the undersuits to the hotel to give them a chance to dry out.
After familiarizing ourselves with the rules in place, we set a specific time with our guide and can hardly wait.
LET’S GET STARTED!
At the appointed time, we stand before the cave map. Our guide thoroughly explains all the procedures, reviews communication, and discusses the route we will be diving. The temperature prompts us to jump into the water as quickly as possible to cool off. So, we put on our gear and descend a few steps to the platform. Ahead of us lies a vast cave.
We jump in and swim to the buoy with the descent line. First, we check all the equipment: regulators, flashlights, spare masks, computers, weights, inflators, connections to the SS, etc. This is the standard test procedure before cave diving. But don't worry, you don’t need a cave certification to dive here, but more on that later.
We descend underwater. The first dive is always a test dive, especially for those who haven't been here before and haven't
done cave diving. The route is relatively shallow and short, about 40 minutes, and close to the exit "just in case".
Once the guide is convinced that everyone in the group can safely and comfortably explore the Molnar cave labyrinths, the next dive is in a much more spectacular location.
The crystal-clear water is mesmerizing. The water temperature is delightful. The landscapes take your breath away. Long winding corridors, intersections, and the diversity of rock formations make you never want the dive to end. Thick lines (guide ropes) are stretched along each route, anchored in the walls. At every intersection, there is a directional arrow to the exit with information on the distance to the surface.
The professionalism of the route preparation is impressive.
After getting out of the water, we use wheelbarrows to transport the tanks for refilling, and we are ready for the next dive and to explore more corners of this magical cave.
In one day, we can do two dives, we usually leave the cave around 3 PM.
The second half of the day is spent exploring the city, partying in the countless clubs and restaurants. Personally, I think
Budapest is the kebab capital. You won't find such good ones anywhere else, except maybe in Berlin ;)
We usually visit the capital of Hungary with a group for three diving days. Five dives are spent exploring Budapest's cellars. We save the last dive for the Kobanya mine – an entirely different story.
KOBANYA MINE
On the outskirts of the city, we navigate winding streets to reach the Kobanya Mine. The mine was established in the 18th century and was used to extract limestone for the construction of the city. After mining operations ceased, the mine began supplying water for a brewery.
The mine greets us with massive gates reminiscent of something out of the movie "The Hobbit." When they open, a damp chill pours out, giving us goosebumps. The corridors inside are so vast that they could accommodate trucks passing each other. We drive down long, winding paths to one of the three diving spots. Unfortunately, the diving infrastructure here is virtually non-existent. There are no changing rooms or places to hang clothes. Makeshift tables for equipment preparation are all that’s available.
The water is definitely colder than in Molnar, but it is crystal clear. The mine's corridors can be explored at various levels. The white limestone walls give an impression of perfect cleanliness.
However, a completely different situation occurs after leaving the mine. The lack of suitable changing facilities, combined with the clayey ground you step onto after exiting the water, unfortunately results in the entire gear becoming completely dirty, and there’s no place to rinse it off.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIVE IN MOLNAR?
If your answer is yes, then you need to meet the following requirements:
´ AOWD certificate or higher,
´ Drysuit,
´ Twinset or side mount (SM certified),
´ Insurance – preferably DAN,
´ At least two torches,
´ A second mask in the pocket.
It is also mandatory to schedule your diving appointment in advance. You can do this by contacting through the website.
For those with cave diving certification and using CCR systems, there is the option of longer dives into the more remote parts of the cave.
This cave provides a fantastic opportunity to take a cave diving course. The second part of the cave, known as "Mordor," is used for this purpose. Even when swimming in a dark mask and stirring up sediment, it doesn’t transfer to the tourist and scenic routes. The multi-level complexity and the challenging routes are perfect for navigation and guiding practice. In the section called "Mordor," you’ll find many vertical squeezes, which are ideal for practicing diving in a dark mask.
When we get tired of the raw cave environment, we can confidently go outside, where we’ll find a wonderful pond with warm thermal water. It doesn’t freeze in winter and maintains a constant temperature. Beautiful flora thrives here, and the fauna will delight not only photographers. We can admire blooming lilies, a variety of interesting algae, and colorful fish sparkling in the sunlight. There are also turtles, small eels, and frogs.
Anyone who has visited Molnar at least once will happily return.
SUMMARY
Diving in the Molnar Cave offers various levels of difficulty, tailored to the skills of divers. For beginners, there are easier routes that allow for exploring underwater labyrinths safely. Advanced divers can tackle more demanding routes that lead to the most spectacular parts of the cave. For cave diving experts, Molnar Cave presents a unique technical challenge and the opportunity to explore areas that are inaccessible to most divers.
I highly recommend diving in this location, the diving infrastructure is top-notch.
There are tables prepared for diving equipment, boxes, accessory hangers, and a separated wet area from the dry area.
Tank filling is done on-site with any mixture according to the diver's qualifications.
The on-site dive center offers a full range of courses and trainings, enabling both beginners and advanced divers to discover the cave’s beauty and acquire new skills. There is also the option to rent diving equipment.
In summary, the dive center in the Molnar Cave in Budapest is an excellent place for those interested in cave diving. The site offers not only a wealth of underwater landscapes and technical challenges, but also ensures safety and professional support for divers. For adventure enthusiasts, Molnar Cave is a true paradise. Both Molnar and Budapest impress me greatly every time.
I try to visit at least once a year and combine diving with sightseeing because you can’t get bored here!
And you? Will you dare to dive into the mysterious depths of the Molnar Cave and discover what lies hidden?
The White Continent
Text SYLWIA KOSMALSKA-JURIEWICZ Photos ADRIAN JURIEWICZ
continued
"Be the change you want to see in the world"
Mahatma Gandhi
After lunch, we have to decide whether to dive a second time on the same day or take a rafting boat trip ashore. The daily plan during our expedition is arranged in such a way that all activities such as diving, kayaking, or shore excursions take place at the same time. Therefore, we always have to decide what to choose at a given moment, and the choice is very difficult.
This time, we sail ashore to a place called Paradise Bay, tempted by the possibility of seeing penguins. We decided to check the membranes in our clothes to see if they really protect against water and cold to the extent the manufacturer claims. Before the trip, we equipped ourselves with special protective clothing, which is supposed to provide us not only with thermal protection but also with waterproof comfort. During
such expeditions, when the weather is unpredictable, the most important thing is to dress in layers, one piece of clothing on top of another. We board the zodiacs one by one, wearing life jackets that we take off upon arrival. We sail carefully, cutting through gentle waves and passing towering icebergs. The wind picks up, and I feel its icy breath on my face. We disembark from the boat, wading in water up to our ankles, and as we step ashore, penguins emerge from the water with us. They decided to stop for a moment and rest on the rocky beach. They hungrily gulp down snow and occasionally glance in our direction. We put on snowshoes over our boots and start climbing a small hill, from which, as we were assured during the briefing, there is an incredible view of the bay and icebergs. The ascent takes us twenty minutes, not counting stops to take photos or dig ourselves out of snowdrifts.
When I stood at the top of this hill, fighting the cold wind and seeing the beauty of the world around me, I felt a great warmth and joy in my heart. I look at the clouds and the long rays of the afternoon sun touching the icebergs and dipping into the sea. I see a group of kayakers who decided to reach us using their own muscle power. I look at the Plancius anchored in the bay, which from this perspective seems like a small vessel. I see
a world so beautiful and diverse that I lack words to describe it. I take a deep breath, and only now do I feel that I am truly here, that I have reached the seventh continent.
We descend slowly from the other side of the hill, tracing a semicircle. At the end of the descent, right by the shore on packed snow, three large sea lions are lounging. They are resting after a hearty meal, occasionally scratching their bellies and turning from side to side. Our time on the island is slowly coming to an end, we take off our snowshoes, put on our life jackets, and return to the ship. There, a lecture awaits us, and after the lecture, a delicious dinner.
On the second day, I wake up early in the morning, long before the morning melody flows from the speakers. I climb the stairs and get lost in the corridors leading to the restaurant area, where there is a coffee machine. A perfect device, you press a button and magic happens; the smell of wonderful, aromatic elixir reaches my senses in no time. With a steaming cup of coffee in hand, I go out onto the deck of the ship, from which there is a breathtaking view of the icebergs. In a moment, we will pass through the Lemaire Channel, named after the Belgian explorer Charles Lemaire. The strait also has a second name, "Kodak Gap," referring to the photographic beauty of this place. Today, I'm not the only one who woke up before dawn; the outside terrace quickly fills with passengers. Everyone wants to see with their
own eyes this 11 km long narrow passage surrounded by rocky mountain peaks. We are very lucky, the icebergs do not block the entrance to the channel, and we can pass through it safely. The sky also smiled at us, and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. I stand in its light and feel the warm rays of the morning sun dancing on my face, warming my cold hands, and I start to feel warm. We sail slowly between the blue and white icebergs, whose peaks stand out against the sapphire sky. Dark, high cliffs, covered with a thick layer of snow, reflect in the mirror-like surface of the water. We all look in silence and great awe at the wonders created by nature. After an unforgettable morning and a delicious breakfast, we set off on a diving trip in drafting boats. Out of the 108 passengers on board, only twenty one dive.
Diving in Antarctica is very demanding. Each diver must have a minimum of thirty documented dives in a dry suit in cold waters. Today, we are diving near Petermann Island, where a wooden, red Argentine refuge stands, built in 1955. The island is home to two species of penguins, Gentoo and Adelie, and occasionally visited by sea lions, seals, and various bird species. We reach the island in a few minutes by boat, hearing the sounds of penguins and the stench of their droppings from afar. We approach the rocks closely and admire these black and white creatures from the zodiac.
We slowly prepare for the dive, putting on our diving gear and jumping into the water. We had hoped for a spectacular dive with penguins, but unfortunately, visibility at this location does not exceed twenty centimetres, and we had no chance of seeing anything, let alone penguins underwater. Penguins
on the surface are slow and sometimes clumsy, but underwater, they are real rockets, fast and agile. You have to strain your eyes to spot them. We did see the initials PP carved into the rock, probably the only documented graffiti in Antarctica. It was created in honour of the ship "Pourquoi Pas," on which French
oceanographer Jean-Baptiste Charcot made his second journey to Antarctica (1908-1910). After the dive, we went ashore in our dry suits, explored the island, and enjoyed the company of the creatures living there and the beautiful sunny weather. We could closely observe parents feeding their young penguins, who eagerly gulped down the food. We watched as they travelled the paths they had trodden, leading to the water, diving and resurfacing in search of food. We gazed at the overwhelming beauty of the landscape that stretched out before our eyes. We admired the icebergs gleaming in the afternoon sun and the crystal-clear water creeping into the island. We also saw from afar the Plancius standing still, waiting for our return.
In the afternoon, instead of diving, we chose a land excursion. We were encouraged by Michela, who assured us that it was one of the most beautiful trips on our route, and the diving would be similar in visibility to the morning dive. After lunch, we swiped our magnetic cards at the boat's exit, dressed warmly, put on life jackets, and boarded the zodiacs. Ahead of us were Salpetriere and Port Charcot, famous for their beautiful icebergs with unique and irregular shapes, drifting ice floes, and a large number of animals we could see in this location. At the very beginning of our trip, two huge whales surfaced right next to the zodiac, feeding in this spot. We could observe them closely, maintaining a four-meter distance. We enjoyed their presence for a few minutes until they disappeared into the depths. Then we sailed on towards an iceberg with a beautiful blue hue. The older the iceberg, the more beautiful its colour. Our attention was caught by a sea lion stretching on the rocks by the shore, scratching its head and contorting, resembling a yoga instructor during a class. After exercising, it lay down on the rock and fell asleep, and we sailed on to where penguins were entering the water to feed. After a hearty meal, they returned to land and began climbing the steep wall, following a narrow, trodden
path leading upwards, where hungry chicks awaited them. From a distance, they looked like skiers descending a steep slope in peak season. Nearby, a few leopard seals were basking in the sun on an ice floe, sleeping after a hearty meal. Occasionally, they stretched and looked at us with their beautiful, calm eyes. Who would have thought, looking at them, that these eyes belong to agile killers whose main diet consists of penguins and young seals.
The last point of our trip was three icebergs connected by an arch. The view made a huge impression on us, especially the flock of penguins swimming against the backdrop of the blue arch. This moment can definitely be called good timing. Upon returning to the ship, we swiped our IDs and slowly prepared for dinner, or rather for what was to follow. Today, several brave souls, including us, will sleep under the open sky at a campsite in Damoy Point, Dorian Bay.
The sun was slowly hiding behind the mountains as we sailed to shore in zodiacs after dinner, equipped with sleeping bags. It was getting colder as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. Each of us received a metal shovel, with which we began digging a few-centimetre-deep depression in the snow. This small hollow was supposed to protect us from the wind, which was steadily increasing. We first placed an insulating mat into the depression, followed by a waterproof sleeping bag in which we would spend the night in Antarctica. Before us stretched a breathtaking view of the highest peaks of Anvers Island, Agamemnon Mount and Mount Français. The mountains were covered with a thick layer of snow, their peaks gleaming gold in the light of the setting sun. A colony of penguins had settled on the island's shore, which we visited right after preparing our “beds” for the night. To the right, on a small rise, stood two huts a few meters apart. One was yellow, the other maroon. They once served as shelters for scientists and are now visited by
tourists like us. It was late, and we slowly nestled into our sleeping bags. I watched as the light around us changed, yellow shifting to gold and orange, and later, as the sun disappeared behind the mountains, a pink glow emerged, fading into grey. It was a sign that it was time to sleep. I looked up at the clear sky above us and began to observe the stars. In the distance, we heard the sounds of penguins and the creaking of glaciers, with gentle waves lapping the shore. It was very cold, the temperature dropped to – 7°C, so I zipped up the sleeping bag almost all the way, leaving a small gap to prevent condensation inside. Slowly, the quiet breaths turned into snores.
I was woken by the sounds of birds just after I managed to fall asleep, maybe we had slept for three hours. For a moment, I gazed at the distant peaks spread out before us. I thought about the night spent under the stars and the total departure from my comfort zone. Something beautiful is being created here, I thought. We are creating our shared story, which each of us will put into words and tell our loved ones or write in a notebook. We leisurely rolled up our sleeping bags and filled in the holes we had slept in, erasing our tracks. We left this place untouched, just as we found it, and that made me happy. We returned to the ship at 5:30 AM, while everyone else was still sound asleep in their warm cabins. I didn't go to sleep right away; I drank coffee and tried to savour the moment, a moment of my small victory, where someone like me, who loves warmth, spent a night in the cold, in a sleeping bag, under a sky full of stars. At 7 AM, Eduardo woke us up; another day of wonderful experiences lay ahead.
We decided not to go for the morning dive today; we were too cold from camping and lacked sleep. After breakfast, we sailed to a place called Jougla Point, home to a colony of Gentoo penguins. From a distance, I could sense the presence of these beautiful creatures; the intense smell of droppings spread in all directions. This is what the islands inhabited by penguins look and smell like; they are covered in the droppings of these charming birds and stink terribly. We are going ashore in rubber boots and following the route designated by our guides to avoid disturbing the nesting sites of other birds. Penguins filled every free space on this peninsula; there were many of them. Whale skeletons lay on the shore, remnants of the murderous activities of humans in the 20th century. Even more of these dubious mementos are on the sea bed surrounding the peninsula. Whalers in this location dragged the carcasses of dead giants ashore for further processing. It is estimated that over three million of these extraordinary creatures were killed by humans in the last century. After the excursion, we carefully washed our boots before
entering the zodiacs and disinfected them in a special solution back on the boat.
In the afternoon, we went out for a dive by an iceberg. The weather was favourable; the sun came out after lunch, and the wind died down. It was the perfect moment to fulfil our diving dream and touch an iceberg underwater. We deflated our BCDs and slowly descended. Sunrays created rainbow prisms on the uneven ice surface. We were in no hurry and had no destination to reach; we could focus all our attention on the iceberg before us. The water clarity exceeded four meters, and the light reflecting off the white ice made it very bright. We slowly swam along the wall, which descended deep down, its structure uneven and filled with various indentations. From time to time, we stopped to touch it with childlike curiosity, something Michael had strictly forbidden. This massive block of ice, with 90% of its surface below water, detached from a glacier, could be very dangerous for ships and divers. The iceberg could drift or start to turn, as we witnessed during one of our zodiac trips. Therefore, special caution is needed when diving near this white giant. After spending thirty-five minutes in the water, we surfaced, handed over our ballast and other equipment to the zodiac operator, and jumped into the boat, pushing off with our fins like seals.
In the evening, a true barbecue feast awaited us. The aft outer deck of our ship transformed into an open-air restaurant. To-
night, dinner was served by the chef in the form of a barbecue with mulled wine, and for dessert, those willing could dance until late in the evening. The captain slowly sailed into Borgen Bay, as beautiful and picturesque as the "Kodak Gap." The sun reflected off the crystal-clear water, with pieces of ice floating and drifting. I felt as if I were in a restaurant on a ski slope on a wonderful, sunny day. If it weren't for the sea, I would think I was in the Alps, not in Antarctica. The evening was splendid and long, ending with a spectacular sunset.
After an extraordinary evening, another day in Antarctica has arrived, promising to be amazing. Today, we are foregoing all land excursions in favour of two dives. The weather is changing, a light fog has appeared, and the wind has started to pick up, making this our last diving day on the seventh continent. We are taking zodiacs to Foyn Harbor, where the rusty, brown skeleton of a ship protrudes from the sea near the shore. The wreck of the Governoren rests on the western coast of Enterprise Island. In its heyday, it was the largest ship used for killing whales, as well as for quartering them and processing them into valuable oil. In 1915, when the enormous tanks on board were filled to the brim with oil, the Governoren’s polar mission was over, and the ship was ready to return home. To celebrate this special day, the crew organized a party below deck. While the celebration was un-
derway, the upper deck caught fire. There was a vast amount of whale oil on board, which immediately started to burn. The captain managed to reach the shore of the island, where the entire crew of 85 disembarked and everyone was saved. Today, we are viewing the wreck of this massive ship, much of which protrudes above the water's surface. We dive slowly along the metal structure descending to eighteen meters. The wreck is covered with numerous algae and seaweed, among which snails and colourful starfish hide. Visibility exceeds three meters, and the water temperature is zero. That same afternoon, we were diving by an iceberg, where visibility and temperature conditions were similar to those at the wreck.
The last day on the White Continent began early in the morning. Wrapped in silence, I stepped out onto the observation deck and listened to the sounds of Antarctica. Snacks appeared on the tables, signalling that soon the outer deck would fill with guests, and something spectacular awaited us. The scenery had changed dramatically; I no longer saw the white icebergs my eyes had grown accustomed to, but two dark hills that looked like a gate, a portal to another world. Between the mountains was a narrow passage called "Neptune Bellows." What surrounded me now resembled a scene from "Game of Thrones" more than a real place created by nature. The Plancius slowly approached the narrow passage leading us to Fort Foster Bay, filled with the water of the active volcano's caldera on Deception Island. The last eruption of this volcano occurred 54 years ago. Now this area is protected and, since
2002, has been named an "Antarctic Specially Protected Area." We sailed slowly, allowing us to admire the beautiful cliffs that drop vertically into the water. Their colours were awe-inspiring, and the sunlight only enhanced this effect. We slowly prepared to disembark. The captain anchored the ship at a considerable distance from the shore, so we boarded zodiacs and sailed to the shore. We landed on Deception Island; the gravelly, dark beach was covered with yellow and red algae. We headed up the trail marked by our guides. We reached the top of a lateral moraine, offering a breathtaking view of the bay. We descended slowly, observing patches of yellow moss covering the gravelly ground. Eduardo and the rest of the team were waiting for us on the beach, offering the traditional "Polar Plunge," a dip in the icy water for those interested. We stirred the crystal-clear water with our feet as we ran into the sea with gusto, dressed in swimsuits. The icy water splashed in all directions as we ran forward with childlike enthusiasm. I felt pain combined with numbness as I submerged myself completely. For a moment, I stayed there, savouring the moment filled with courage and gratitude. Back on shore, I wrapped myself in a towel and dressed quickly. Only then did I realize what we had just accomplished. It was a beautiful experience, one that showed me there are no impossible things, only limits we set for ourselves.
"It always seems impossible until it's done." Nelson Mandela. Our stay on the seventh continent was coming to an end. Ahead of us lay the crossing of the Drake Passage and the return to Ushuaia. Antarctica is fascinating. There is something magical about the surrounding whiteness, in all the new sounds and noises amplified by the silence. We've been here for a short while, yet so much has happened, and we've learned so much about ourselves.
Wild PIASECZNO
Text DOMINIKA ABRAHAMCZYK Photos DOMINIKA ABRAHAMCZYK, WOJCIECH ZGOŁA
A lake of first-class purity
located in the Lublin Voivodeship on the Łęczyn and Włodawa Lakeland. Such facts can be found on the Internet.
But what is Lake Piaseczno really like? You’ll find out shortly here.
The landscape is truly idyllic. Forests, meadows, fields, countless storks – the eastern part of Poland offers such unique views that they put you in a blissful state. Your eyes feast on every landscape, to the point that we even turn off the car radio because it seems to disturb the peace. After a 40 km drive from Lublin, we reach the signs indicating the turnoff to the Ranczo Dive Base. We pass a barrier and drive a few dozen meters along a narrow path next to a grain field, getting closer to the lake. The base is about
100 meters from the water’s surface. There, we find a parking spot, a shelter, a toilet, and infrastructure to facilitate diving preparations. After setting up our gear and putting on our wetsuits in 30-degree weather, we headed toward the long-awaited coolness
Walking the 100-meter stretch to the lake, the entry into the water is quite "wild," giving it a very cool character. You don’t enter the water among crowds of beachgoers but amidst trees, where you can still enjoy the charming atmosphere and
surroundings of Piaseczno. A bit of shallow water and soon it will be much easier We dive under the water to check how true the positive reviews about this place are.
The first few meters reveal lush vegetation. Very rich "underwater gar dens," where the presence of a plant resembling conifers and an underwa ter forest dominates. It’s called in the Polish Red Book of Plants as endangered and found in lakes with predominantly sandy bottoms. small fish – perch and minnows.
Initially, we dive along handrails – one of them leads us to a platform un der which a handsome pike appears. The water clarity, for this time of year, is good, though we have heard it can be even better. As we dive deeper, it gets "milky," but below 10 meters, the water becomes clear again. The lake has a depth of 39 meters, offering a variety of diving experiences. Notable artifacts include a sunken tugboat (14-16 meters) and a sailboat at 20 me ters – each marked by a handrail. We look for burbots, as they are said to be here, but unfortunately, none wanted to greet us… We like to end the day in the "reeds" – the play of light among the reeds, yellow water lilies, and white water lilies impresses us, as the flora in the Lublin Voivodeship is lush both above and below the water.
We return to the base among the buzzing of insects swarming over the nearby field. We are very pleased with this place, especially since there is no other lake this clean in the vicinity.
On a technical note – if you want to dive using the Ranczo infra structure, plan to arrive on a weekend and contact the Dive Base in advance to confirm.
ENRICHED AIR
Text and photos DOMINIK DOPIERAŁA
My plan is to take as many photos as I can. I looked at the map before the dive and I know what places interest me the most. My plan, ambitious as it may be, is to be quick and see the whole thing. The seconds it takes for the flash lamp in my camera to recharge, drag on forever. There are so many curious nooks and crannies. An anchor capstan, overgrown by soft coral here – a window over there. All of a sudden, my computer lets out its characteristic “beep”. How? When? Is that it, already? I’ve got three minutes left of my my no-decompression limit. I went for a recreational dive with just one tank. I couldn’t do even half of what I had planned. Yup... I should have used nitrox.
Truth be told, there will be another dive here, but it won’t change much. A repetitive dive at this depth would be even shorter...
I have been diving for a long, long time. Once I wondered what three things influenced diving all over the world the most. These are of course just my thoughts and I might be wrong, but... I think, you’ll find it rather difficult to argue with me once you’re finished reading. In any case I would be happy to discuss with
SUN RAYS TIMIDLY PENETRATE THROUGH THE WAVES, PLAYING AGAINST THE IMPENETRABLE SEA SURFACE. AS IF THROUGH THE MIST, THE FORM OF THE SHIP APPEARS A DOZEN OR SO METERS BELOW ME. A LONGAWAITED SIGHT FOR ME. PERHAPS IT DOESN’T LIE AT AN IMPRESSIVE DEPTH,
BUT IT IS MASSIVE.
anyone who thinks differently. In this article I will attempt to explain, as simply as I can, what a wonderful world we live in, how our knowledge and gear developed over the years resulted in the fact that not only can we dive safer, but most importantly LONGER. And I am not talking about technical deco diving, but about all the opportunities we get from recreational dives with just one tank.
First, we need to determine what were the greatest challenges for the early scuba pioneers. Form the day when Cousteau and Gagane invented the modern regulator that allowed to reduce the pressure coming from the tank down to ambient pressure level, everything seemed possible. As what’s simpler than to put on a mask and fins, put a tank with a regulator on your back and jump straight in. Some exposure suits were added – dry, wet. Buoyancy compensators came soon after. Various underwater “survival” training programs were put together.
What turned out to be problematic was physics. The world around us follows its own set of rules. We are “designed” to walk on the ground and to breathe gas – not just any gas, a specific one, at a particular pressure. We have rather high
tolerance, of course, to atmospheric pressure changes, but in relation to what we are exposed to when we dive, our tolerance counts for almost nothing.
The gas we breathe is air and for simplicity’s sake, let’s say it consists of 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. Which translates into 0.21 ata of oxygen and 0.79 ata of nitrogen. Oxygen is consumed by every cell of our body, so that is hardly a problem. Nitrogen, though, is a different story. There is a lot of it and it dissolves inside our bodies, but it doesn’t get metabolized. You must have seen how to make fizzy water in a soda maker. Each breath we take underwater at a certain depth is akin to a shot from a soda maker into our system. Even a child knows that if you dropped a Coke bottle, you need to unscrew it very, very slowly. And once you unscrew the top, the drink is still fizzy. Let’s not dwell too long on the mechanisms, but just consider the problem. I took a shower this morning. I washed myself thoroughly, but I was unable to locate any port or socket on my body where I could plug a sensor to show me how much gas dissolved in me when I was diving.
When recreational diving started to develop, the problem of body gas saturation had become apparent very quickly. Divers started to use diving decompression charts from various militaries. However, your average soldier differs significantly from
your average Joe. Joe is a couple kilos overweight, a dozen or so years older and in completely different physical shape. Military charts simply did not work for civilian use. Thus the PADI RPD (recreational dive planer) chart was crated, which set forth many rules regarding recreational diving. Its impact on diving around the world was massive. The chart introduced lower ascent speeds and set an obligatory safety stop. It significantly improved the safety of regular dives done by regular folk. However, it was not a game changer. The true revolution was yet to come...
The first step. PADI “Wheel” RDP chart. It’s the first chart to allow multi-level dives. Three dive levels, one after the other. You no longer needed to finish your dive after reaching the limit. All you needed to do was to change your depth.
The second step. The widespread introduction of enriched air mixtures with more oxygen. Commonly known as nitrox. Using dedicated charts for the right mix, you could prolong your dive time by a factor of almost two without changing the rules. If you used them along with the multi-level diving chart, your problem quickly became the amount of gas rather than the time spent near the bottom.
The third step. The future of diving. Computers. Simple wearable devices worn on the wrist. Today, they are used for
almost every dive. They monitor our activities in real time. They constantly recalculate our dive parameters. They make it possible to have a multi-level dive and with different mixtures.
I’m going to write an entire new article about them, but for now let’s focus on the enriched air.
ARE THERE ANY DOWNSIDES?
From the point of view of the regular user, they are practically negligible. You need to observe the maximum depth for a specific mix – nothing to write home about. It will take a couple more minutes before the dive to check and analyze the mix – hardly a big deal. You’ll need to take a course – if you hadn’t already. If I were you, I would get in touch with my diving instructor and ask them for the Nitrox online training course access code immediately after finishing this article.
ADVANTAGES OF ENRICHED AIR DIVING
Bottom time. And not just during a single dive. Imagine you are going on a diving safari at the far side of the world. You have planned four dives a day. It is your dream destination. Giant animals, breathtaking coral reefs. Just how do you plan to do four hour-long dives with no “boost”? You’ll be able to stay underwater for longer. You’ll be safer. You’ll be less tired. You’ll be more resistant to the decompression sickness. The benefits are self-evident.
Using enriched air requires a license. You’ll need not only to take some training, but also an exam. However it’s one that is really worth it. It is not a training to consider. It is a training to COMPLETE. And once you do complete it, make sure you take advantage of this as often as possible. If, for whatever unfathomable reason, you’re a diving instructor and you don’t teach nitrox diving, give me a call, and we’ll fix it right away!
IN V Diver-drama ACTS
A personal account of my difficult path to diving and of how the comfort zone creates a wall that separates us from fantastic adventures.
And about this, how much we are not even aware of this "wall".
About this, how someone who swims well can develop anxieties facing water, without even noticing it and how easy it is to accept it without any objection.
About the fact that with the support of the right people you can overcome many adversities – if you only want to!
WHERE DOES THIS FEAR COME FROM?
I was about 13 years old. It was a wonderful holiday at Lake Powidz with my parents and sister.
The sun, the forest, a house on a hill, delicious fruit bought at the market, cold ice cream, several pieces of bubble gum chewed at a time and a competition to see which of us will inflate the bigger bubble... That's how I remember that time. Until the day I overdid it with swimming in the lake. It was also the day I passed my exam for the swimming card – I was so proud of myself! My sister and I were sitting in the water all day, competing against each other in diving time trials and jumping off the pier. It was a fantastic day...
But then night came and with it an unimaginable ear pain, which despite painkillers did not let go. The next day, it turned out that I had severely damaged the tympanic membrane of my ear. Throughout the next two weeks of vacation, everyday
Text ”Monia”, MONIKA ZYBER Photos PRZEMEK ZYBER
in the morning, I had to show up to change the dressing (I still can't believe that such a large dressing could fit in my little ear) and take medication. I hated these visits, but at the same time I waited for them impatiently as my ear and half of my head were throbbing with pain after the night.
Needless to say, I had to forget about swimming in the lake until the end of the holidays. The doctor forbade any ear wetting, even in the shower. Even if I hadn't been forbidden – the pain still kept me away from the lake, and in the following weeks it kept my ear away from the water.
I learned to wash my long hair by bending my head over the bathtub – just to keep the water from pouring into my ear. I didn't even notice when it became my habit. I did this even when the ear had already healed. I didn't pay attention when I stopped going to the pool, stopped going to swimming competitions, stopped submerging my head under water. I gave up swimming (in favour of other activities, fortunately) so that the scenario from the aforementioned holiday would not be repeated.
Then school and priorities changed, but the compulsion not to wet my ears did not change. My childhood fear of chronic earache had developed for good, it was a part of me. I didn't even feel it rob me of my freedom and limit me...
Up to a point.
IIOH MY GOD! WATER IN MY EAR!
I took an unconscious first step forward after the first year of study.
I went on holiday to Egypt with my boyfriend (currently my husband Przemysław Zyber). Beautiful hotel, wonderful reef, but I didn't wet my ears, sorry I wouldn't get my ears wet and that was it...
Anyone who knows Przemek is aware that he will always find a solution. It was no different this time.
We bought a mask and a snorkel, right after I accepted the breakneck plan, which assumed that I would only submerge the mask and part of my face, lying on an air mattress. Przemek tried to convince me that it would work (that I wouldn't get my ears wet) and I would be able to see how much life and colours there were under the water. It was a real circus on the water :) My future husband's tenacity and my curiosity prevailed.
Although my stress was enormous, because of course it's impossible not to get your ears wet when you look under the wave (!), but the world under the water was so beautiful that I overcame my fear. In fact, I swam on the mattress until there was no air in it at all. Yes! That was the part of the plan that I didn't know about. Well, Przemek let some air out of the mattress every now and then, so that I could finally say that I do not need a mattress (with ears full of sea water!!!) When I got up the next day without pain, we bought fins and that was the turning point. I went back to swimming. And slowly, step by step, I forgot about my "ear trauma", chronic pain, or unpleasant ear treatment in the past.
For the next dozen or so years, my comfort zone moved to the level of snorkeling. I could with great joy admire the underwa-
ter world, being in various beautiful places. Years passed, my boyfriend was promoted to husband, there were children who, like us, spent almost the whole holiday watching marine life and playing in the water.
I was so comfortable and safe in my new comfort zone, until suddenly... my husband and ten-year-old son enrolled in the OWD course!!!
III
WHAT? BUT HOW? THE WANT TO DIVE?
No. There was no diving in my life plans. I cheered for them and enjoyed their new challenge, but from a distance. When they got their license and we started going on vacation with diving in the lead role, I slowly realised that I had already put down some decent, woody roots in my comfort zone. I hid behind a solid retaining wall. I made my first diving trips as a snorkeler and I felt good about it. Until I understood that I didn't get rid of my "ear fear", but only reduced its influence a bit. This fear dictated the conditions: "No! you won't be diving! Because what if the eardrum breaks again? What do you need the stress and pain for?" And so I accompanied them on diving trips, helped my son get dressed, served my fins, hung wetsuits and waited forever... I waited, for them to come out. Waiting had become an indispensable part of holiday trips. When they dived in the cenotes, I waited on the beach. When they dived into the sea, I waited on the boat. On every trip, I had to take care of the waiting place, in the end
even a good book was no longer enough. After some time, this waiting irritated me to the maximum. On top of that, I felt that I was missing out on something really cool. When they came out of the dive and told me what they had seen with flushed faces, I started to get tired of sitting in the waiting room.
However, I was aware that there was one more obstacle on the way to my diving: claustrophobia. An obstacle that my husband knew perfectly well, which is why he did not push me about diving, because he felt that it could be too much for me. Although a few times after the dive, he tried to persuade me to try to dive, at least a meter underwater, on his octopus. Each such attempt ended in a fiasco. In panic, I immediately surfaced with a pain in my ear and a tightness in my chest. In such situations, I felt a terrible, panicky fear that I did not give myself a chance to try.
However, after one of the subsequent diving trips together, I decided:
IV
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH...
I was tired of the constant waiting. I was determined and really wanted to try to deal with the blockages I had in my head. I knew that I had to take the course alone, without my family around. I wanted to deal with it without any prods, calmly. Or maybe it was to limit the number of witnesses of a possible defeat? I do not know. All in all, the only thing that mattered at the time was that I finally decided to deal with my traumas.
The first problem appeared sooner than I thought, already when I bought the wetsuit. When I put on my first wetsuit in the store, my claustrophobia kicked in right away, I started sweating and I felt dizzy, I had the impression that I couldn't catch my breath, and the salesman additionally said: Definitely too big!… It would be stupid to give up now, the course was paid, the resolution was made, and I was suffocating in a too big wetsuit! Seriously?… I waited a moment, recovered and tried with a smaller size. When I started the OWD course, the instructor knew that it would not be easy. At that time, I had a problem with holding my breath underwater, I couldn't imagine that I could take off my mask underwater, that I could take the regulator out of my mouth while being underwater, that I would be able to open my eyes underwater, and then there was this tight wetsuit... The first course meetings in the pool gave me a pre-infarction feeling, but I made a decision: "I want to try!" and I did not turn back from the chosen course (although you may laugh, I was terrified, like before giving birth!).
It was a method of small steps. One to one with an instructor on the shallow part of the pool. This is what the first "dives" looked like. When it turned out that I had done all of the above exercises and was still alive, my ears did not hurt and the instructor was optimistic, I believed that it could work. The pool part of the course stretched over several months, I bought much more hours than is usually needed. I wanted to feel confident when it came to diving in open waters. I started the course in January, and in May I was supposed to finish the course diving in Egypt.
I must disappoint all those who hope that I will stop feeling sorry for myself. Not yet... This is not the end of the drama :)
AND MAY CAME...
I went to Egypt with a group of trainees and an instructor for a week.
You know the first day: relaxation, sunbathing, rest. When I called my husband on the first day, he said: "You'll see, tomorrow you'll call and you'll be delighted. Diving in Egypt is relaxation, amazing colours and this peace underwater."
Hmmmm... well, the next day after the dives... I was supposed to call, but I feel like I was not ready yet. Because if I had called, I would have started crying for sure. So I put it off until Przemek called me. I answered the phone and before I said anything, my voice broke. I was crying like a little child. (?) Przemek was shocked: "What had happened? Surely it wasn't that scary?" He had lost hope that we would ever dive together.
Finally, I calmed down a bit and started to talk: "So out of the whole group of over a dozen people, only me and one other girl do not have OWD qualification (we were finishing the course). There was one more freshly minted instructor with us. It falls to me to dive with him (in pairs), the second trainee is to dive with "my" instructor. (What a misfortune!) The dive was supposed to be shallow, preceded by balancing, because this was the first dive, the wetsuit is still dry ect., but my hands were already shaking, because I would be diving with someone I did not know. The waves
on the sea were great! (perfect, as for the first time!, I was lucky!) We jumped into the water, my chest squeezed instantly, my breath became shallow, I felt a little stressed. I tried to dive in, hoping that under the water the waves will finally stop whipping my face and maybe it would be calmer. None of that, I couldn't immerse myself. Time was running out, the instructor asked me to try again. I still couldn't take the plunge. The waves continued to crack against me mercilessly, my head started to spin. I felt like running away and never come back. I saw the helplessness of the (fresh) instructor who was still waiting... I didn't know what for? Time was passing, we were already a long way from the ship. Finally, the instructor with whom I was to dive consulted "my" instructor. I needed to add ballast. We ware floating on the surface fighting the waves, I was already at the end of my endurance. I swam up to the ladder, I wanted to gasp out: "I don't want it, I don't have the strength to try again". Today I can't remember if I said it or if it was only inside me that every cell of my body was screaming like that? Putting in the ballast also takes a while, the waves hit me again and again against the ladder. I really didn't have the strength anymore, I was so terribly tired, and I didn't dive yet, God, how was I going to survive this? I was shaking all over when we finally submerged under the surface of the water. A good 15 minutes passed before my hands stopped shaking and I stopped panting like a locomotive. I came to my senses and I remember what Przemek had said: do not conduct underwater, if you conduct – let air into the wing, and remember about the trim. I pulled myself together so as not to bring shame to my family and finally redirected my attention from "myself" to "the sea". And it finally got fun.”
When I told him all this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief: "So you're going to dive? You won't you give up, will you?"...
PROLOGUE
And I didn't give up. During this trip, I did all the dives, although the stress accompanied me on almost every one of them. Fortunately, with each subsequent dive, it loosened its grip. I passed the exam and proved that I could do it. The path to diving was opened. It has been 5 years since my first open water dives. Every year I dive recreationally in the sea, Mexican cenotes, or Polish lakes, deriving a lot of fun from these dives. There are other interesting, but also more demanding destinations on my list. Each subsequent dive trip reassures me that I can do it, not only as far as diving is concerned, but in many other situations, when I think at the first moment that something is beyond me.
I didn't get rid of claustrophobia, I learned that I can tame it a bit. Whenever I am overwhelmed by panic fear, I remind myself that I CAN AND WILL CONTROL FEAR – because I have already succeeded many times. The effectiveness of my tactics may not be one hundred percent, because it happens that I enter a dive (even from the shore) and find out that this locomotive is about to derail (I feel bad and I breathe like a steam locomotive on my last journey). Then I let it go. Fortunately, this happens extremely rarely and is usually related to too low water temperature. I go out, forgive myself and move on with my life. Fortunately, underwater, I'm a partner you can rely on. I even think that many of the divers I have dived with had no idea about my diving drama. I'm "normal" underwater, seriously, no weird actions and you can rely on me!
If you have already asked yourself: Well, why dive if there is so much stress associated with it?
Well. I have great satisfaction when I manage to scare my monster. I'm coming out of a difficult dive and I'm on top because I made it. Sometimes it seems to me that after five years it
will be relaxed, stress-free, normal, daily bread ... Well, after so many dives, it can't be otherwise. And then I jump into the water, my lungs squeeze, the cold water intensifies my stress and again I have the impression that I am about to suffocate, that I will not be able to do it, that if I don't go out soon, I will go crazy. So I let air into the wing, lie down on the back and try to breathe deeply and calm down. The biggest stress usually gets me on the first dive on safari, damn balancing, it always takes so long, two more kilos for this one, four for that one, someone's mask fogs up, so they want to change it... and I'm hanging in the water and my anxiety is growing. It is this moment that is crucial, I have to try to relax and watch my breath so that it is not too shallow. That's when I feel the biggest squeeze in my chest, because when I immerse myself, the wetsuit stops torturing me, the body relaxes and everything switches into "normal mode".
I also dive because I am aware that although the comfort zone is a very pleasant place, nothing grows there, so in small steps, but consistently, I overcome my weaknesses, because the sense of development and "agency" is a food that I like very much.
I hope that those tough guys, for whom diving initiation was as simple as a sneeze, had at least a lot of fun while reading this article. Yes, you have my full permission to be genuinely amused, really. The knowledge that at least a few tough guys, whose efficiency and achievements would be envied by Chuck Noris himself, will laugh under their noses, will make me genuinely happy. I am aware that if someone does not experience similar fears on a daily basis, they may have trouble understanding the situation. Maybe you didn't even know that such brave grumblers are among you.
And for those who would like to, but are equally afraid, I recommend the method of taking small steps and giving yourself as much time as you feel you need. And when you dare to overcome your obstacles, I wish you on your diving path so understanding, patient and good people as I have been lucky to meet.
WITH UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY My adventure
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE – I THINK THIS SAYING BEST REFLECTS MY ADVENTURE WITH PHOTOGRAPHY. TODAY, A SHORT ARTICLE ABOUT HOW SOMETIMES A STROKE OF LUCK PUSHES US IN DIRECTIONS WE MIGHT NOT HAVE CHOSEN OURSELVES, YET BY THE END OF THE DAY, WE FIND OURSELVES HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME.
Everyone has some talents. Some people can boast several. Some play soccer well and achieve great success, others excel in subjects like math or physics, while others are more technically inclined and can fix almost anything (or at least take it apart to see what's inside). I belong to that last group. I'm a hands-on person who doesn't care much for computers or phones and doesn't keep up with the latest tech trends. Given a choice between typing on a keyboard and writing on paper, I'll always choose paper and a pen. All my friends know that if they ask me to take a photo, the likely result will be a blurry shot with "cut-off" legs.
I would never have thought to take an interest in photography on my own. However, fate played a trick on me, and I was somewhat forced into it. My brother has always been the photographer in our team. He attended digital photography courses, bought the first DSLR, and documented our trips. He was simply interested in it and still helps me with all technology-related matters. I had assumed from the start that he would be the main photographer handling underwater photos.
We took our first underwater pictures with an old digital camera in a jamming and leaking case. But in those times, the photos
Text and photos TOMEK KULCZYŃSKI
were quite satisfactory. Currently, our diving gear takes up as much space as a woman's shoe collection.
The equipment issue came to light during our first expedition. We simply took everything we had managed to gather. It took two carry-on bags and a bit of checked luggage. After arriving
at our destination, we were confronted with the harsh reality. It turned out that the camera was causing significant problems underwater. We were diving in side mount configuration, with a large camera, wide-angle lens, arms, and lights. All dives were done from a rib, and just getting out of the boat in fairly large
Zdjęcie Bogdan Zając
waves and dealing with the camera was quite a challenge. The equipment was not well balanced, which often resulted in blurry photos. Additionally, poor lighting and strobe settings caused overexposure in most of the shots. The results were really unsatisfactory. The situation was salvaged by a GoPro, which we used to document our dives concurrently.
Upon returning to Poland, I concluded that this situation couldn't be left as it was.
The next diving trip was to take place without my brother, so I decided I had to take matters into my own hands. The beginning was really difficult, as I had to learn the basics of working with a camera. I'm talking about choosing lenses, setting up the
camera, and so on. To be honest, most of my camera settings are still on auto.
Fortunately, Bogdan Zając (FB: Eye of Poseidon) came into my life. He led a training session on underwater photography for us. This training revived my spirit, as I previously worried that the camera would either be set aside or find a new home. Bogdan changed my approach to underwater photography. He described the basics of photography in a very simple and understandable way. I can confidently say that he laid the foundation for my continuously developing underwater photography skills. We covered topics that are not easily available online and that greatly influence how the final photograph will look. Starting
Zdjęcie Bogdan Zając
from balancing the entire setup, adjusting strobes and continuous lights, camera settings, lenses, to photo editing, which is actually more important than I initially thought.
The time came for our next trip. This time, I was able to fit the photography equipment into my carry-on luggage. Underwater, I didn't snap pictures of everything that moved; instead, I focused more on framing, observing the light, and the surrounding conditions. I must admit that taking photos under such circumstances started to bring me a certain pleasure. Upon returning, while reviewing the material, we concluded that the quality of the photos was infinitely better, and I had also reduced their quantity.
In summary, I believe that underwater photography is not an easy task. I am glad that I ventured into something completely new for me and found myself on the other side of the camera. Because of my recent experiences, I have come to greatly appreciate photographers who dive. This profession requires perfect buoyancy, longer acclimatization with equipment, and, in some cases, almost freezing in place. And their work results can certainly enchant.
FROM FEAR TO CALM
Techniques for Coping with Anxiety Underwater and on Land
Text and photos ALDONA DREGER
HAVE YOU EVER FELT INTENSE FEAR BEFORE IMMERSING YOURSELF IN WATER? IF SO, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. FEAR OF WATER IS A
COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THE ANXIETY RESPONSE IN THIS CASE CAN SOMETIMES BE IRRATIONAL.
Interestingly, the techniques that help overcome it can also support us in dealing with other forms of anxiety, such as social anxiety. In this article, we will discuss how diving experiences can help in daily life, especially in the context of social interactions.
INTRODUCTION
Anxiety and fear are terms often used interchangeably, but in psychology, they have different meanings and pertain to distinct emotional states.
FEAR is a basic emotion that arises in response to an immediate threat. It is a reaction to a specific, external danger, aimed at mobilizing the body to take defensive action. Fear is usually short-lived and can involve reactions such as accelerated heartbeat, muscle tension, or heightened alertness. Fear can be compared to the body's alarm system, which responds to real and present dangers.
Example: When you see a wild animal on your path, you feel fear because the animal poses a direct threat to your safety.
ANXIETY is a more complex emotional state and differs from fear in that it is not associated with a specific, immediate threat. It is a feeling of worry, apprehension, or tension that often concerns future events or unknown situations. Anxiety can be long-lasting and more chronic compared to fear. It may arise in response to thoughts, imaginings, or external situations that are subjectively perceived as threatening.
Example: You are worried that something bad might happen during an upcoming trip, even though you have no concrete evidence that such a situation will occur.
Key differences
1. Source:
Fear: Reaction to a specific, real threat.
Anxiety: Reaction to an unspecified, potential threat.
2. Duration:
Fear: Usually short-lived and immediate.
Anxiety: Can be chronic and long-lasting.
3. Focus:
Fear: Focuses on the present and a real threat.
Anxiety: Focuses on the future and potential, imagined threats.
4. Physiological reactions:
Fear: Immediate physiological reactions preparing the body for fight or flight (e.g., accelerated heartbeat, muscle tension).
Anxiety: May involve less intense but long-lasting symptoms (e.g., unease, tension, difficulty concentrating).
Importance in the context of diving
While diving, fear can arise in situations of immediate danger, such as equipment problems or encounters with dangerous animals. Anxiety, on the other hand, may manifest as general unease before submerging in water or fear of hypothetical scenarios that may never occur.
Overcoming both fear and anxiety is crucial for divers to enjoy safe and pleasurable diving experiences. Techniques such as controlled breathing, mindfulness, and gradual exposure can help in managing both anxiety and fear, ensuring better experiences underwater and in everyday life.
TECHNIQUES FOR COPING WITH ANXIETY BEFORE DIVING
1. Controlled Breathing
Imagine you are underwater. Your heart is racing, and your breath becomes shallow. What do you do? The technique of controlled breathing can be key to managing anxiety. First, think about your breathing. You might say it's trivial, but in a state of high stress, we don't control this state. For this reason, first, notice. Once you realize you're breathing too fast, the second step awaits. Try four-by-four breathing: take a calm breath in, make a short pause, now breathe out, and remember that the exhale is usually longer than the inhale, then make another pause. Simply being aware that you're breathing too fast will slow you down. There are many breathing techniques.
2. Grounding in the present moment
When you are underwater, focus on your surroundings. Touch the coral reef, count the air bubbles rising to the sur-
face. These grounding techniques help you focus on the present moment and reduce anxiety. Redirecting your thoughts to everything else, apart from the fact that you're in the water, will bring calm.
3. Stop. Breathe. Think. Act.
In emergency situations while diving, we use the principle "Stop. Breathe. Think. Act." Stopping, focusing on breathing, thinking through the situation, and taking action can help prevent panic and make rational decisions. Rapid, shallow breathing is a sign not only of physical exertion but also of psychological stress. If something underwater upsets you, you'll start breathing quickly. The good news is that breathing can also help calm you down. By paying attention to your breathing, you'll be able to calm yourself. But if you take 2-3 conscious and deep breaths in and out, the anxiety will most likely disappear, and you'll be able to analyze what upset you.
4. Safe place
According to Basia Tworek, there is another technique in working with the nervous system called "safe place": the patient imagines their safe place in detail and calms down as a result (this needs to be practiced "DRY" multiple times beforehand, just like all the previously mentioned techniques)."
APPLYING TECHNIQUES TO SOCIAL ANXIETY
1. Breathing and relaxation
Controlled breathing techniques can be very effective in social situations. Imagine you are on stage in front of a large audience. Focusing on deep, even breathing will help you manage your nerves and reduce symptoms of anxiety.
2. Mindfulness and grounding in the present moment
Mindfulness, or consciously focusing on the present moment, is a technique used both for dealing with fear of water and social anxiety. Meditation and body scanning can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
3. Practice of gradual exposure
For both fear of water and social anxiety, the practice of gradual exposure is very effective. Slowly and gradually exposing yourself to anxiety-provoking situations allows for a gradual reduction of the anxiety response.
YOGA AND DIVING – THE PERFECT COMBINATION
As an enthusiastic advocate of yoga, I have observed its numerous benefits when combined with diving for years. My experiences as a diving instructor, where working with the body and mastering stress are crucial, have further convinced me of yoga's positive impact on physical and mental health. Underwater, just like on the mat, breath control, a calm mind, and harmonious work with the body are essential.
To better understand the benefits of practicing yoga, I sought the expert advice of a yoga teacher, psychologist, and stress management expert, Basia Tworek. Her support confirmed my belief that my feelings were accurate.
ZADBAJMY
If diving has helped you manage anxiety, it is worth considering incorporating yoga into your routine. Yoga and diving complement each other perfectly, supporting stress management, improving breathing, and enhancing mindfulness. Practicing yoga can:
1. Improve breath control
Breathing techniques used in yoga, known as pranayama, can help divers better control their breathing underwater. These exercises teach deep, conscious breathing, which is crucial for managing stress both during diving and in social situations.
“In yoga, the main goals are to control the breathing pathways (emphasizing diaphragmatic and lower rib cage breathing), slow down the breath (breathing less and more slowly), and in more advanced techniques, increase the brainstem's tolerance to CO2 and the body's tolerance to stress (including hyperventilation).
Breathing is one of the keys to controlling the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Interestingly, "autonomic" implies operating independently of our will, yet by controlling our breath, we can influence the ANS. For example, by slowing down and lengthening the breath, we can learn to calm the sympathetic branch of the ANS responsible for the fight/flight response and stimulate the parasympathetic branch of the ANS associated with calm, regeneration, and a sense of safety. It is crucial in the context of nervous system knowledge to understand that at any given moment, we can only be in ONE STATE: either fight/flight or regeneration/
rest/sense of safety. Never in both states simultaneously. Therefore, by learning to breathe, we are actually mastering a powerful tool of self-regulation.” – Basia Tworek, yoga teacher, psychologist, and stress management expert.
2. Increase mindfulness
Yoga promotes mindfulness and focusing on the present moment, which is invaluable during diving. Concentrating on body movements and breathing helps achieve calmness and reduce anxiety. However, as Barbara Tworek states, this is only partially true because a significant group of people have excessive interoception (focusing on body sensations), which can amplify anxiety. Therefore, it is better to focus on sensory experiences: temperature, sound, touch, visual sensations, etc.
3. Strengthen body and mind
Regular yoga practice strengthens the body, improves flexibility, and enhances balance, all of which contribute to better diving performance. Additionally, yoga helps build mental resilience, which is beneficial in dealing with social anxiety.
SPECIALISTS WHO CAN HELP
1. Diving instructors
Instructors from various federations are trained in techniques for managing fear of diving and can help with the practical application of these techniques. Finding a local instructor can be the first step towards overcoming fear of water.
2. Cognitive-behavioral therapists
Therapists specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help manage social anxiety using techniques such as cognitive restructuring and exposure practices.
3. Instructors of yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation
Finding an experienced yoga instructor can help you learn techniques that strengthen both body and mind, supporting stress and anxiety management.
Mindfulness instructors can teach meditation techniques that help in dealing with anxiety. Finding local mindfulness courses can be beneficial for both divers and those with social anxiety.
SUMMARY
Overcoming the fear of water can provide valuable tools and techniques that help manage other forms of anxiety, including social anxiety, as my experience shows. Controlled breathing, grounding techniques, and mindfulness practice are universal methods that can be applied in various life situations. Combining diving with yoga further enhances these skills, helping to achieve inner peace and better well-being. It is worthwhile to consult with specialists who can provide support and help you achieve better well-being both underwater and on land.
I hope this article helps you understand how overcoming one type of fear can support you in dealing with other life challenges. May your dives be calm and joyful, and the techniques you master underwater also support you in your daily life.
BLEATING BIRDS
Text and photos WOJCIECH JAROSZ
Close your eyes! Or better, read first what to imagine and then close them. Spring sunrise, a wet meadow, no rams nearby, and here you can hear bleating from the sky! Maybe not quite a ram's, goat's not quite so either, a bit strange... Aliens?
No, these are the performances of a certain aviator who tries to attract the attention of the ladies watching him during his courtship display. It sounds loudly when diving to the ground, but it does not generate the sound with the part of the body that other birds use for that.
Feathered creatures, even if they are not among the most perfect singers, usually emit voice from the area of the broadly understood head. If it is not a perfectly muscular lower larynx, it may
be snapping or clattering with beaks, as in case of storks or rare great snipes. Well, it also happens that certain noises may be made by bird's wings in flight, as in mute swans and selected species of ducks. Our hero, on the other hand, bleats with its tail! The common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) or simply a snipe, although in Old Polish also called "a ram", owes the latter of the species names to the ability to put down the side rectrices in such a way that they begin to vibrate strongly during the flight. The result is a sound we hear,
which is a bit like bleating. And where does the English name, "a snipe", come from? When the common snipe is flying, its wings make fizzing and buzzing sounds combined with whistling noises made by tail feathers; hence the English name. In Polish it is called "kszyk" /kshyk/ as when the bird is startled, it takes wing and emits a sudden "kshyk" call, or "sshkssh" or "ksh-ksh". A small digression here: I really sincerely keep my fingers crossed for the Translators (as Perfect Diver is also published in English). I know
that my texts about birds can be difficult in some fragments, especially those strongly based on the subtleties of the Polish language, but the Translators perform miracles and I hereby thank them very much for that (dear Editors, please do not delete this fragment from me!). Coming back to bird calls, I once again encourage PD readers to search the Internet for recordings of the bird songs, calls or, as in this case, its bleating. Many species of birds are much easier to be heard than seen and the common snipe's bleating is very characteristic and certainly once heard, even from a recording, will let us recognised the common snipe in the field unquestionably. We need to be very lucky (or have a good scope) to be able to have a longer look at that bird . In flight, it is so fast that taking a good photo of a bleating bird is quite an achievement (I still have many megabytes of blurred photos and not a single photo suitable for showing). When it hides among grasses, sedge or, for example, field horsetails, buttercups or campions, it is very difficult to spot. The coloration of the back, the same in females and males, is a perfect camouflage, to such an extent that while wandering through wet meadows, around river estuaries or peat bogs, we learn about the presence of the common snipe only when it shoots off suddenly from under our feet like a Falcon-9R rocket from Cape Canaveral, or perhaps
more like a New Year's Eve firecracker thrown unexpectedly at our feet (by the way: don't set off firecrackers on New Year's Eve and other holidays, because it does a lot of harm to birds, and not only to them). Once we master the first emotions and the number of heartbeats leaves the submaximal registers, let's try to take advantage of the adrenaline rush and look close than usual at the way the frightened bird flies away. Why? Because it can also be an identifying feature! The snipe flies away in a zigzag, while the larger great snipe and the smaller jack snipe (close cousins) take off in a straight line. Then we don't have to study guides or identification keys. We can focus on morphological details instead. Since we started talking about morphology, what does a snipe look like? In fact, it fits beautifully into the series about long-billed plovers, which has been continued in several issues of PD. Well, maybe its legs are a bit too short to match the proportions of curlew and black-tailed godwit, but its beak is as impressive as theirs. In a similar way, it obtains food by immersing this instrument in mud or soft soil like a sensitive probe (this is why it is found by water and in wet areas – the bird can't stick its beak into hard soil) to pick up various invertebrates from it. Coming back to the snipe appearance, apart from the long, pencil-shaped beak, light brown at the base and black at the tip, its plumage
is quite dark – flaxen, brown and even a bit black. It's on the top, and it's completely white on the bottom, with the addition of brown stripes. Characteristic are the light stripes on the head and on the back, resembling dry grass, which, in addition to cryptic darker patterns, provide excellent camouflage. Interestingly, there is no noticeable difference between summer, winter or juvenile plumage. Its legs are greenish. In terms of size, it will be more or less a league of thrushes, blackbirds, starlings, although the long beak and legs give the impression that we are dealing with a larger bird. There will be about 100 grams of everything. Yes, birds can be surprisingly light, after all, it is one of the adaptations to flight, almost as important as having wings. Once the males have enough of flying and bleating,
they will most likely receive the go-ahead light from at least one female. After securing a safe place and a few moments of love ecstasy, the couple expects four eggs. Almost always, eggs appear in such a number – seemingly, this is the only family model preferred by the snipes. The brood, which takes less than three weeks, is incubated only by the female. Once the chicks have arrived, the parents share them fairly. The male takes care of the two eldest, leaving the two younger ones under their mother's wings. After another three weeks, the young are already able to fly. If the season is still early, the pair can start another brood, and if the days are already getting shorter, they start preparations for departure. Not all common snipes fly far. Those from central Europe sometimes fly "only" to the
western or southern parts of the continent, but there are also populations that fly much further. This is especially true for birds from the far north. During flights, it may be easier to spot snipes. Similarly to other waders, they can form flocks and feed in groups on the banks of stagnant and flowing waters, fresh and salty, on drained fish ponds, etc. Then, unfortunately, they don't bleat any longer as their courtship is over, but they still look the same and are maybe even a little less secretive. Sometimes they have to pay the price for it. Although in Poland they are already under strict protection, still in many countries, including Western Europe, a shot at a flying snipe is considered a reason for pride among hunters (however, no one shoots these birds for consumption) and it is
a proof of shooting proficiency... And meanwhile, the number of snipes is decreasing. Of course, it's not just the hunters who are to be blamed. In our part of the continent, it is rather about the loss of breeding habitats, for many different reasons. From hydrological changes, through the abandonment of mowing meadows in river valleys to the growing pressure of flying predators (e.g. crow birds) and those running on the ground (including fox, American mink, raccoon).
Common snipes have many relatives, scattered around the world, to name just a few: a pin-tailed snipe (G. stenura), African and Madagascar snipes (G. nigripennis and G. macrodactyla), Wilson's snipe (G. delicata) and Latham's snipe (G. hardwickii). Some even have, in Polish, names associated with large mountain ranges: Andean snipe (in eng. Jameson's snipe, G. jamesoni), Cordillera snipe (eng. Fuegian snipe, G. stricklandii) and Himalayan snipe (eng. Wood snipe, G. nemoricola). The list of species in Gallinago genus is much longer, but they are all very similar to each other, although they can differ significantly in size. Wherever you get carried away, take a look towards the wet habitats – maybe you will be lucky to see the long beak of the snipe at close range?
Photo Jon Borg
YOU DON’T NEED TO TAKE A DEEPER BREATH, NOR RISE YOUR HEAD UP IN ORDER TO CLEAR YOUR MASK OF WATER.
HOW TO CLEAR YOUR MASK CORRECTLY?
By breathing calmly – just like you did before it got flooded, and exhaling through your nose while gently pressing the upper part of the mask against your forehead.
After the first breath leaves your lungs as you exhale, see if you remained on the same depth – as a bit of practice, you may ask your partner to hold their hand still, some 20 cm above your head, so that you would feel, if your depth changes. If you touched your partner’s hand, you know your breath was too deep. For those buddies whose hand is too small or whose head is too big, your partner can extend their hand above your shoulder (or both hands above both shoulders), then you’ll feel more confident, because should your buoyancy be disrupted, your ascent will be interrupted from two sides.
WHAT CAN HELP YOU?
Realize that as long as you’re holding the regulator in your
mouth and can breathe through it, a mask isn’t such a big deal as it may seem.
Repeatedly, calmly (don’t rush!) clear your mask of small amounts of water while trying to observe the water level inside your mask.
Put together a contest to find out who can clear their mask the slowest – with the shallowest possible breath. Practice naturally buoyant (not kneeling) with your head straight.
Practice with your usual amount of air in your wing/jacket, so you can easily see how your breath affects your buoyancy.
WHY AM I ALWAYS GOING UP? IS IT ALL BECAUSE OF THE MASK?
What am I doing wrong?
Still before your mask gets flooded, you instinctively take a deeper breath.
Secondly, you rise your chin up to clear water from your mask. Then, thirdly, you flex your hand muscles, pressing your mask harder against your forehead.
Doing the above almost guarantees that the beginner diver will fly towards the surface: a raised head puts you in the “rocket” position, while inhaling strongly acts as it’s engine.
Photo Tomasz Płociński
WHAT MAKES IT HARDER TO GET GOOD RESULTS?
—Practicing in cold water
Unconscious breathing (taking a deep breath in order to get as much air as possible to clear your mask)
Using too much force to press your mask (for example doing it with the base of your hand)
Poorly fitted, constantly leaking mask
Good luck!
P.S. A quick GUIDE ON HOW TO FIT YOUR MASK
A mask is selected for the specific individual, making sure that face width is not greater that the mask skirt. A mask needs to fit your face at first touch, without any, even minor, stretching the mask to the sides.
What’s very important, you should not heed any opinions of your colleagues on whether a given mask is “the best” or not. The best mask is the one that fits your face perfectly.
Once your’re done fitting the mask, the strap should be only slightly tensed. If you need to use both hands each time to put
your mask on (tighten the strap) or if you have to adjust it every time, it’s almost certain that your mask is not fitted properly.
NOTE!
While fitting your mask, don’t inhale through your nose to see if it holds on to you face. The silicone skirt of a mask that is even much too small for you will likely mislead you to thinking that it is fine.
Do you want to learn how to fit a mask properly?
Join the 8 minute Tecline Academy seminar on “How to fit your mask?”
