Perfect Diver Magazine 28 issue

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Wojciech Zgoła Editor-in-Chief

Where from and where to did the common threshers come around the Philippines?

In this edition we have two articles on that subject and both are very interesting. While diving in a given dive spot, these beautiful and majestic fish changed the place and even the depth at which they could be found.

The warmest period in Europe continues, and in the middle of the holidays we put into your hands the 28th edition of our bimonthly magazine. You will find a lot of interesting subjects in it.

A few pages further, once you have finished your trip to the Philippines, Japan is waiting for you in a macro lens, but with the full of humour and culture clash story by Marcin Trzciński.

If you want to get to know the diving side of Karolina Gorczyca, a theatre and film actress, you are welcome. Karolina started diving recently and that passion really drew her in. In that conversation there are both a fascinating encounter with a shark and a look at your own traumas.

Przemysław Zyber is still fascinated by caves of Mexico, and Łukasz Metrycki shows us Horka and its secrets. We also have another view of UK dive spots.

More and more companies celebrate their round anniversaries. We managed to talk to Dennis Stivala – the director of the Bare Dry Suit Factory in Malta.

Another material is presented to us jointly by authors gathered around We Well Diving. We are en-

couraged by the title "Diving, or how to get to know yourself better". This text corresponds to Isadora's article "Diving and self-confidence", which is another one in the so-called "Women's corner".

Dominik Dopierała, with whom we will stay together for some time, makes his debut on our pages. Dominik has prepared short and informative articles for us relating to training, courses and diving programs. We start the cycle with the material "Where do the boundaries of adventure end?".

I don't know about you, but I really like puffins. I managed to admire them in the distant Lofoten, and in this edition Wojtek Jarosz brings them closer, in his own style. It gives us a fun look – be sure to find it out in person :)

Finally, a pinch of knowledge about adhesion and cohesion and why we feel we want to go to the toilet during diving.

The issue closes with a comprehensive (not to be confused with long!) article by Wojtek A. Filip about peeing during diving.

And this edition is completely closed by the cover on which you will find information about Cleaning the World on September 16th in Wągrowiec – we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the action and we cordially invite you to join us and help us collect litter from the bottom of Lake Durowskie.

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Publisher PERFECT DIVER WOJCIECH ZGOŁA ul. Folwarczna 37, 62-081 Przeźmierowo redakcja@perfectdiver.com

ISSN 2545-3319

editor in chief

photographer

world geography & travels

underwater archaeology

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english language translators

Wojciech Zgoła

Karolina Sztaba

Anna Sołoducha

Szymon Mosakowski reklama@perfectdiver.com

Agnieszka Gumiela-Pająkowska

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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 750 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 over 4 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;

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.

Student of archeology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. A beginner diver starting his adventure with underwater archeology. A lover of photography, nature and basketball, and recently also diving.

ANNA SOŁODUCHA

WOJCIECH ZGOŁA

KAROLA TAKES PHOTOS

SZYMON MOSAKOWSKI

Has more than 8000 dives on his account. He has been diving for over 30 years, including over 20 years as a technical diver. He is a professional with great theoretical and practical knowledge. He is an instructor of many federations: GUE Instructor Mentor, CMAS**, IANTD nTMX, IDCS PADI, EFR, TMX Gas Blender. He participated in many diving projects and conferences as a leader, explorer, originator or lecturer. These included the Britannic Expedition 2016, Morpheus Cave Scientific Project on Croatia caves, GROM Expedition in Narvik, Tuna Mine Deep Dive, Glavas Cave in Croatia, NOA-MARINE. Professionally, he is a technical director at TecLine in Scubatech, and a director of training at TecLine Academy.

PADI diving instructor and videographer. She spends most of his time in the water documenting a fascinating underwater world. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in the field of Fashion Design in Łódź and Film studies at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, trained as a tailor, and with a love of nature and a large dose of adrenaline. She loves everything related to water. Her diving adventure began with a backpacking trip in 2016. During her stay in Thailand she dived for the first time and from then on she got hooked on at this sport. Spending the last years and most of her days under water, teaching and showing the beauty of the underwater world in Asia, she believes that diving means unity – unity with own mind, nature and unusual creatures.

@waterographyk

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.

A diver since 2007. I always choose holiday destinations by asking myself: okay, but is there anywhere to dive?. Underwater photography is still new to me, but with each dive I learn something new.

"From the moment of birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders [...], but he only has to dive under the surface of the water and becomes free" – J.Y.Cousteau

Laura Kazimierska is currently working as PADI Course Director at TrawanganDive Center on the Indonesian island of Gili Trawangan. Founder of the Divemastergilis portal.

www.divemastergilis.com @divemastergilis

For over 7 years she has lived and discovered the underwater world of Indonesia. She is not only an avid technical diver, but also the face of the Planet Heroes platform and the ambassador of the Ocean Mimic brand. She actively contributes to the promotion of the protection of corals and the natural environment of fish and marine animals by taking part in scientific projects, campaigns against ocean littering and cooperating with NGOs in Indonesia.

@laura_kazi

Belgium Military, underwater cave explorer and active technical/ cave/ rebreather diving instructor for IANTD. He started his diving career in Egypt on vacation, and his passion continues. Kurt is also the founder and CEO of Descent Technical Diving.

He dives on several CCRs such as AP, SF2, Divesoft Liberty SM. Kurt is involved in the creation of the document about the new salt mine in Belgium (Laplet). This project was featured in the news on Nationale TV.

Privately, Kurt's true passion is deep cave diving. His wife (Caroline) shares her husband's passions and also dives in caves. In his free time, he visits Belgian slate mines, and when he is not exploring, he takes his camera to document the dives.

WOJCIECH A. FILIP SYLWIA KOSMALSKA-JURIEWICZ

LAURA KAZIMIERSKA

KLAUDYNA BRZOSTOWSKA

KURT STORMS ŁUKASZ METRYCKI

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.

Diver from 2008. Passionate of the Red Sea and pelagic ocean predators. Devoted to the idea of protecting dolphins, sharks and whales. He dives mainly where you can meet these animals and monitor the level of their well-being. Member of Dolphinaria-Free Europe Coalition, volunteer at Tethys Research Institute and Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit, associate of Marine Connection. For 10 years he has been involved in research on wild dolphin populations and audits dolphinariums. Together with the team ”NO! For the Dolphinarium” he prevents dolphins from captivity and promotes knowledge about dolphin therapy unsaid or concealed by centers which make money on this form of animal therapy.

Since I was a child, I had dreamed of becoming a marine biologist and I managed to fulfill that dream. I did a degree in oceanography, where I recently started my doctoral studies. My diving adventure began when I was 12 years old. I love observing the underwater life up close and I try to show other divers how fascinating the underwater, Baltic creatures are.

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...

Enthusiastic diver, scientist, and wildlife conservationist. Isadora is researching the biological significance on shipwrecks for marine ecosystems. Driven by curiosity, she wants to learn about nature, as well as “how to become a better diver”. Being still in the beginnings of her diving-career she is enjoying the path of overcoming obstacles by learning from more experienced divers, using adequate configuration and practicing.

@isa_diving_nature

A graduate of the University of Warsaw. An underwater photographer and filmmaker, has been diving since 1995. A co-operator at the Department of Underwater Archeology at the University of Warsaw. He publishes in diving magazines in Poland and abroad. The owner of the FotoPodwodna company which is the Polish representative of Ikelite, Nauticam, Inon, ScubaLamp companies. www.fotopodwodna.pl, m.trzcinski@fotopodwodna.pl

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

TOMASZ KULCZYŃSKI ISADORA ABUTER GREBE MARCIN TRZCIŃSKI ALDONA DREGER

AGATA TUROWICZ-CYBULA

JAKUB BANASIAK WOJCIECH JAROSZ

A multi-task unit: she combines passion for literature, skiing, diving and psychology. In Nautica since the Big Bang. In the company, she deals with everything, and in addition, she is a diving guide, an expert on human needs – that is, the head of marketing, she initiates and leads long-distance expeditions. He still thinks that Croatia is the most beautiful in the world. Works at Nautica Safari. nautica.pl

Dominika.Aleksanderek@nautica.pl

Photographer, biologist, storyteller, SSI Instructor Trainer. He considers it his duty to teach diving at every level. Since the dawn of time, he has been associated with Nautica with an inseparable umbilical cord of co-ownership. He nests on the Croatian island of Vis, on safari boats in Egypt and where under water it is beautiful as the world long and wide. He works at Nautica Safari.

nautica.pl

Piotr.Stos@nautica.pl

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

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 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.

...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 :)

Professionally, I am a long-term practitioner in the field of human resources management with 25 years of experience in renowned corporations, 8 years in Singapore. I have also lived and worked in Europe and the USA. For many years I have been passionate about psychology and psychotherapy, the problems of professional burnout and coping with change. I completed postgraduate studies in psychotherapy and obtained a Professional Diploma in Psychotherapy from The School of Positive Psychology in Singapore.

Aquarius by birth. Underwater photography enthusiast.

Sailor, lover of underwater archeology and wreck diving. TDI SDI diving instructor. Professionally, he builds housing estates and holiday homes.

Partner of the diving school: https://wewelldiving.pl

DOMINIKA ALEKSANDEREK

PRZEMYSŁAW ZYBER DOMINIK DOPIERAŁA PIOTR STÓS

MICHAŁ CZERNIAK PIOTR KOPEĆ

AGNIESZKA ROMAŃCZUK JACEK TWARDOWSKI

PHILIPPINES

O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, JUST BEFORE CROWING OF COCKS

The bell towers of churches shoot into the sky among rice fields. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia outside East Timor, and the only one in the world (outside the Vatican) where divorce is prohibited by law. In San Pedro Cutud on Good Friday, the faithful crucify themselves in remembrance of the Lord's Passion. And on the same day, on the other side of the Philippines, on the tiny island of Siquijor, a healing festival takes place, during which animistic shamans gather and perform their rituals at the highest point of the mountain.

Acountry full of contrasts. It is crowded, colourful and loud. Getting off at the airport in Manila you can get Asia in the face. Silence lasts only on empty beaches and under water... This is where the incredible abundance of

life hides – just plunge into the ocean a few meters from the shore. When preparing the trip, we wanted to show the diversity and FEEL the places visited, knowing in advance that such an archipelago of different worlds is impossible to grasp during

Text Dominika Aleksanderek Photos Piotr Stós

FOUR

a short journey. For years, the Philippines was thought to consist of 7,107 islands, but in 2013, thanks to the newly formed government organisation NAMRIA, dedicated to creating maps and statistics, another 500 were discovered, scattered over a huge area between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. There is a good word that describes the Philippines – immensity. So – to the point. Let's get a taste of the Philippines.

More than 7,500 islands spread over a huge area means very different weather – quite different weather is on Romblon, and different on Luzon. Typhoons most often land on the eastern Visayas islands. The best period to travel to this part of Asia is from November to April. Then the air humidity is relatively low, there is rarely rainfall, at night the temperature does not exceed 28 degrees, during the day 27 to 36. So if you want to spend part of the winter somewhere where you do not need to collect brushwood, a trip to the Philippines is the best choice.

In the Philippines, diving is a standard item on the menu. When preparing the trip, we were like children in front of a confectionery exhibition – what to choose from this menu? We knew the Philippines wasn't a one-time thing. So we tried the top ranking – the three best places between which you will not have to travel for a long time. The winners were the common threshers from Malapascua, the clouds of sardines from Moalboal and the volcanic island of Apo.

Armed with what seemed to us –complete – knowledge, we flew to Manila in late autumn. And then we remember a series of lush landscapes, unknown smells and chaotic associations. Because pitifully little we usually remember, despite the photos and the exchange of memories...

First there were common threshers. Nobody thought that after a tiring journey we would be eager to get up at 4 am. In the deep darkness, som-

nambulist figures emerged from the beach houses onto the square under the palms. Our guide, flashing his teeth dazzlingly in the light of the flashlight, presented a short briefing. It sounded more or less like this: the weather is not favourable, we are sailing for about an hour against the waves, we are heading to the Monad Shoal spot to watch the common thresher and there is a chance that we will be the only boat there. "So

The usually skittish common threshers swam close, making circles around us, leering at us and letting us watch them for almost 40 minutes!

it's going to swing a lot?" – someone asked miserably. "Yes, and you should drink plenty of water." "And will this help?" – we asked. "No," he said, and sent us a friendly smile.

Oh, still, it was worth it! The usually skittish common threshers swam close, making circles around us, leering at us and letting us watch them for almost 40 minutes! We admired their silvery skin and grace, with which they curled their long tails and disappeared into the distance, only to emerge literally a meter behind us after a while. This dance was repeated during the morning dives only once. Other dive sites around the island, although of course they could not match it, provided us with the first satisfaction in searching for colourful nudibranchs, of which there is abundance in the Philippines. Although Malapascua seemed to be a complete paradise, it soon turned out that you could raise the stakes by adding the island of Kalanggaman to the pot. Stunningly beautiful! The photos are just a substitute, but – we tried – with a drone, a phone

and all the senses to capture at least a little of this splendour. In the Malapascua area, we did 4 dives a day, and because we still didn't have enough, we moved to Cebu, to Moalboal, on the north side of the island.

A real rarity awaited us here – Sardine Run. It is a phenomenal dance of huge shoals of sardines wandering along the coast in search of food. Such an event can be witnessed in South Africa. But, although South African Sardine Run holds the title of the largest "sardine run" in the world, Cebu's Sardine Run holds a strong second place. In addition – unlike South Africa, where the phenomenon only occurs for a few weeks in the period from May to July, when the temperature is around 19°C, sardines in Moalboal stay on the beach all year round. Originally, sardines lived off the island of Pescador, 20 minutes from the mainland, but migrated to the shore about five years ago. Nowadays, sardines swim literally a stone's throw from the beach! Here, everyone perfectly understands the income it brings from tourism and fishing tamban and tuloys – because that's what the locals call them – is strictly forbidden. Millions of small fish form powerful shoals that float in the sun's rays, just below the surface of the water. Diving into this rippling mass is like entering an-

other dimension. Sardines form a compact front, protecting themselves from predators, and their synchronous movements are always one fin movement ahead of us... They owe their silvery colour to the presence of stratum argenteum – a layer of skin located under transparent scales, consisting of light-reflecting guanine crystals. Crystals come in two different forms, each polarising light from a different angle. So the fish becomes the perfect mirror! The scales on the back of each sardine, in turn, are a reflection of all the years that the fish has lived – the ones squeezed together means a harsh winter, larger and more loosely distributed – abundant summer. On the heads, each "bunch" of sardines has a specific pattern, composed of black spots, thanks to which the fish in the shoal can be more easily recognised. And this whole perfectly synchronised team is circling around, teasing

us with a wave of tides. I admit that our hunting instincts were arouses – we chased them between three and ten meters, until total air consumption, finishing of memory cards in the cameras and calf cramps…

As the third dive site, we chose Apo Island – a tiny island off the shore of Negros. The waters around it were established in 1982 as a marine reserve, closed to fishing. Thanks to this, we have a perfectly healthy, spectacular reef with over 400 species of corals, a multitude of fish species, two species of sea turtles, several species of clownfish, a lot of nudibranchs, mantis shrimps and sea snakes. This dry information, obtained before the trip from Internet forums and in guidebooks, completely does not reflect the wealth that we were lucky to come across. We watched countless coral formations and structures, in shades ranging from cream to yellow, beige and brown, the reef seething with bright anemones (yes, here they were in truly fluorescent shades). Every now and then turtles passed us unhurriedly. The guides flawlessly led us to the places where boxing shrimps and octopus pulsating with colours lived. They signalled each attraction by tapping the pointers against the cylinders, and after the photographers had gathered, one could enjoy communing with all these mysterious creatures. The next dive we did on Coconut, supposedly the most difficult dive on Apo. At the briefing, we received information that the current

would be ranging from strong to very strong. Negative entry and after a while we hit the highway. When flying over the reef, we noted the presence of shoals of horse mackerel and mackerel swimming with open mouths against a strong current. They looked like metal, polished trinkets. Pathetically, we tried to take pictures of a large snake in black and white stripes, but it only flew past us, and we glided, almost without moving our fins, like in a big roller-coaster, the landscapes appeared in front of my eyes and disappeared around the corner… However, I experienced ecstasy over "Jacuzzi" spot, where the paradise reef suddenly breaks off and passes into a patch of undulating black sand, from which small bubbles of gas emerge – the effect of the action of the nearby volcano. I swam in this veil of bubbles, falling into a state close to hypnosis, catching bubbles and laughing until the regulator fell out. "Adults" – I thought (in complete contradiction to what we have known for centuries about the behaviour of adult people) – "do not behave this way".

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Almost every dive in the Philippines is done from a boat. The boats from which we dived are traditional Filipino bangka, a symbol of the warm waters of the Pacific. They are narrow, long and equipped with stabilising bamboo floats on both sides, giving them the appearance of blue spiders. The Filipinos call bangka water butterflies. These boats do not reach the shore, so getting on the boat is usually "wet". However, at the prevailing temperature of 34 degrees, this is not an inconvenience. First, in diving shoes, you need to walk a short distance (in the water reaching the belt) to the gangway, and then – leaning on a bamboo stick held by the staff like a handrail – climb neatly on the deck. All equipment and even personal belongings are carried by the crew. They also change the cylinders after each dive. At greater waves, the bangka stand quite far from the shore on the buoy and are reached by small, flat-bottomed "taxis". On the boats there are comfortable benches,

space for photographic equipment, water dispensers and toilets with quite low walls, but with a beautiful view of the ocean. After a limited briefing, you jump into the water from the bow. The jump is made from a higher height than on Egyptian boats (about 1.5 meters), but after two entrances it does not make any impression.

Guides, as everywhere in the world, are different. When they know what interests us (it is enough to say that we are looking for macro objects or – that we are not interested in them at all), they look for various creatures and rejoice like children when they manage to show, for example, a miniature snail in sapphire colour. There are real specialists among them who can find the only gorgonia with a seahorse on the whole wall. And sometimes we come across beginner guides, and we show them the specimens we pass. However, without exception, everyone is smiling and tries to be as helpful as possible. In Asia, in dive bases, cylinders mainly have INT

valves, keep this in mind when packing equipment and take the adapter with you.

Finally, a warning: once you get to the Philippines, you will inevitably return there. There are more places than we will be able to visit in our lifetime. Such a journey allows us for internal calibration and increases mindfulness, but above all, it joyfully vibrates our hippocampus. Let it vibrate , we are not going to cure it !

ENCOUNTER WITH A THRESHER SHARK

Change is the only constant in life

The sun was setting as the blue and white trimaran unhurriedly approached the coast of the tiny Philippine island of Malapascua. The easterly wind carried a refreshing breeze that tangled our hair and offered solace after a hot day's journey. It is low tide today, the captain is mooring the boat a considerable distance from the shore, blades of sea grass are sticking up above the surface of the water. We continue on in the small boat sent to pick us up from the resort.

Heraclitus

Text Sylwia Kosmalska-Juriewicz Photos Adrian Juriewicz

The island of Malapascua, located in the Visayas Sea, is only 2.5 km long and about 1 km wide. There is no harbour, but there is white coral sand onto which you step straight from the boat.

In addition to the coconut trees on the first shoreline, which give the place a truly exotic feel, comfortable poufs and wooden tables have been laid out on the sand. This is what local restaurants look like in this beautiful place. After successful dives, divers can relax on the comfortable poufs while enjoying delicious dishes served by a local chef, seasoned with a pinch of stories about the underwater world.

Our cosy hotel is also situated on the beach, with stunning views of the sea and coconut trees, whose jagged leaves peek through our windows.

Malapascua is not the typical 'instagram' island that influencers will choose for holiday just to take iconic snaps in some popular celebrity-famous location. Tourists choose this location for a completely different reason. Namely, Malapascua Island is visited by divers from all over the world to dive in the area with a special species of shark, known as the thresher shark. This unique shark is found in tropical seas and can be found in various parts of the world. However, nowhere in the world have I seen it as up close while diving as here.

This is the fifth time we have returned to the Philippines, and each time we have visited Malapascua Island to experience diving with these beautiful animals. I have seen the outline of the silhouette of a thresher shark a few times, for example in Egypt during a diving safari. However, this encounter lasted only a few seconds.

Thresher sharks are excellent swimmers, they are extremely agile and have a great endurance. Their beautiful, sleek,

streamlined bodies can weigh up to 250 kg and measure up to 4 m in length. Almost half of the fish's length is made up of a long, slender tail, shaped like a scythe. This extremely beautiful part of the shark's body is not used for decoration, but for hunting. Using the tail, which acts like a whip, it stuns its prey (small fish) before eating them. Although the shark ventures into the depths of about 500 m below the water surface, it usually stays between 15 and 30 m deep.

Until recently, to dive with thresher sharks you had to get up before dawn; at 4.30 am there was a gathering at the dive centre, followed immediately by a trip out to sea.

We arrived at the dive site called Monad Shoal (underwater plateau) at around six o'clock, on our way we could admire a beautiful sunrise.

The captain would moor the boat to another boat that had arrived earlier, and one by one we would jump into the water, dive down to thirty metres deep, and there on a specially designated rock shelf wait for the shark to come by. Each time we visited Monad Shoal, where the sharks would swim in to indulge in the grooming treatments offered by the little fish cleaners, we were very lucky and saw not one, but several thresher sharks.

Sometimes they would circle in front of us, and sometime they came out of the depths and swam over our heads.

As with any shark dive, there are certain rules to follow. It is not allowed to interfere with the 'cleaning station', also the use of flash and constant light is forbidden. Sharks are very timid and artificial light could scare them away.

Filmmakers of the underwater world will agree with me that, without strong light, it is difficult to record or take good

The thresher shark appears and disappears, circles and swims away, only to reappear a moment later. (...) He comes very close, he is at arm's length, I can get a close look at his beautiful, dark, round eyes.

pictures at a depth of thirty metres. That's why, until now, we have not been entirely satisfied with our filming efforts involving thresher sharks. Until now...

What a huge surprise we had during our stay on Malapascua Island in May, when it turned out that the thresher sharks had changed their location and were no longer coming to Monad Shoal. According to the information given to us by the dive centre manager, the reason for their disappearance was the arrival of the tiger shark, which is the largest representative of the requiem shark family. Its presence effectively scared off the timid thresher sharks.

Thresher Sharks have found themselves another location called Kimud Shoal which is also visited by other large animals such as manta rays and hammerhead sharks. The dive centre

manager assured us that there was no need to get up at four o'clock to dive with the thresher sharks. All we need to do is head out for a dive after breakfast to encounter these majestic creatures. It will certainly please all those who like to sleep longer.

We arrived at Kimud Shoal at eight o'clock in the morning, jumping into the water with a slight concern as to whether the sharks would actually show up. Is it too late to dive with thresher sharks, given our previous experience and dives at Monad Shoal?

We arrive at the 'cleaning station' located at the depth of 15 m after 10 minutes of swimming in a gentle current. We swim over a sandy bottom with corals growing out of it, the reef is healthy and hides an abundance of life.

We arrive at what looks like the end of a cliff, below which only the immensity of the ocean is visible. We hover on the reef hooks and wait, swayed by the gentle current. Visibility is very good, exceeding 30 m. After a while, a shark emerged from the depths, its beautiful, slender body shimmering in the rays of the morning sun. Enchanted by what we see, we almost stop breathing and behold the shark as if hypnotised. Some shout out of happiness into the breathing apparatus others

wave their arms in a sign of triumph. It is an immense happiness to be able to observe these beautiful creatures from so close up in their natural habitat. The thresher shark appears and disappears, circles and swims away, only to reappear a moment later. The sun's rays dance on its skin, creating a rainbow glow. He comes very close, he is at arm's length, I can get a close look at his beautiful, dark, round eyes.

He swims towards us and rubs against the camera, the light is good for taking photos and videos. Suddenly a second and third individual appears, circling and coming from different directions. This magnificent shark show lasted over an hour, our calm breathing and shallow depth resulted in us staying a little longer under the surface than we had planned. Immensely happy, moved and, above all, surprised by so many sharks, we returned to the boat.

The new location of Kimud Shoal, where the sharks have now appeared, is much better than Monad Shoal because we can see them here not only at dawn, but also later in the day. We have the opportunity to observe the sharks between at a depth of 10 to 15 meters which makes it possible also for people with an Open Water Diver level to participate in the dive, which was not possible before. We are also able to take better pictures with the ambient light.

Off the coast of Malapascua Island, there are plenty of dive sites to visit during your stay on the island. Both large animal and macro diving enthusiasts will find something to enjoy here.

This journey was full of encounters with both long-lost friends and the magical creatures that inhabit the Visayas sea. Being in their realm has been a real privilege for which I am immensely grateful.

DIVING

A DIFFERENT STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS

INTERVIEW WITH KAROLINA GORCZYCA, A THEATRE AND FILM ACTRESS, GRADUATE OF THE PWST IN KRAKOW, WOMAN OF THE YEAR GLAMOUR, ALSO A DUBBING ACTRESS, AND RECENTLY A WOMAN DIVING AND DISCOVERING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER SURFACE

Interviewed by Wojciech Zgoła

Wojciech Zgoła: I found out that you dive, I wrote to your Agent, who passed my message to you, and you promptly replied that you could talk about diving for hours. Karolina Gorczyca: That's true, I like diving and I can talk about it for hours.

WZ: I would like to thank you here, Karolina, for your quick response and for the meeting, and also I'd like to give you the latest edition of our Perfect Diver Magazine. Have you heard of us?

KG: I haven't heard yet, but I'd like to read it.

WZ: Enjoy reading! Tell me, when did you start diving?

KG: Not a long time ago. Less than a year. But I loved it. I started at the beginning of last year's holidays. First in Deep Spot, then I finished a course in the Baltic Sea, but I did not like it very much. There I descended to 30 meters ending the AOWD course. It was grey and green all around, without animals, only some transparent, single fish. And the temperature 4 degrees C! Somehow I was so sad that our Baltic Sea is so uninteresting.

WZ: But in the Baltic Sea we have a lot of wrecks and the population of grey seals is reviving...

KG: I am not interested in the wrecks yet, I think I have not yet matured to do the wrecks, and I have not met the seal, although I have read that there are indeed more and more of them, which is comforting. However, I am the diver for whom nature and visual effects are important:)

WZ: Did you dive somewhere else in the world after the course?

KG: Yes, I was on a diving safari in Egypt and stationary in the Maldives. I am fascinated by reef gardens. I have recently

heard the question what 5 places I would visit if I could, regardless of the money.

WZ: And what did you answer?

KG: You know, since I started diving, I only think about places where I could go underwater. (laughs) And it's a bit scary, because diving wins over works of art, monuments, etc. But I guess that's the passion of diving...

WZ: It got into your blood :)

KG: Exactly. Before that, I did triathlon for 6 years. I swam, cycled and ran. I ski. I walk in the mountains, I did yoga, I even jumped with a parachute twice. I'm an athlete type. But I do not know such any other sport that would so quickly "cut you off" from everyday affairs, as diving. It takes you “here and now” into the Zen zone.

WZ: And here the natural question arises, why did you start diving?

KG: I started diving because my friends persuaded me to. One of my close friends told me about diving as a different state of consciousness. Breathing and meditation, how it is done underwater in another reality. That's why diving always seemed so magical to me. And last year, Anka Kazejak, my friend director , started training and she said: come to Deep Spot, why don't you take a dive. I was at such a point in my life that I needed to calm down and cut off from the problems of this world, although I was damn afraid of it. For me, being cut off from the air meant suffocating and dying. Although I swim well, it does not matter in diving. Another thing is that I had always been afraid of what is underwater, of the depths and of the sea animals. Maybe it's childhood traumas and the result of watching shark movies?

WZ: Well, the movie "Jaws" and the like, did a lot of harm by threatening us with sharks. And did you watch it as a little girl or as a teenager?

KG: Actually, as a little girl. I was a few years old. And probably this trauma remained in me and that was my attitude. One of my three biggest traumas is sharks (along with my children's illness and war). I have no control over the fear of war and children's illness, but I can overcome the fear of sharks. So I set myself the goal of dismantling this trauma. Cross the border of anxiety.

WZ: It should be easier for you, you're an actress. Theatre and film seem to help with such things. In overcoming yourself and your weaknesses.

KG: I think that fear is fear and it does not matter if I am an actress, I would not look for any relationship here. I think that every person has their own fears that they face and try to deal with them. Returning to sharks, I thought to myself that when I look into the eyes of such a shark in the natural environment, which I had been so terribly afraid of all my life, nothing in my life would break me or would frighten me anymore. And diving came to me right then, at a more difficult moment in my life.

WZ: You decided to dive in the pool. Did you do an OWD course?

KG: Yes, I decided and did two courses in the Baltic Sea in total. I have a license to dive up to 40 m. At the very beginning, I wondered how it is possible to change the way you breathe. How can you breathe through your mouth when you've been

breathing through your nose all your life? What if you choke there if you accidentally take a breath through your nose? The first 5 meters was a big event for me. However, what was amazing was what I started to observe next. Humans and their brains are something so incredibly flexible that the second time (after the first experience of 5 meters) it suddenly allows you to descend to 10 meters. The border of fear suddenly shifts to another place. And with each subsequent step, it moves further.

WZ: I'll make an interjection here. When you swam during a triathlon, you swam crawl and probably a classic breaststroke. So you didn't have a problem with submerging your head under water?

KG: No, I didn't, but I didn't particularly look into this dark abyss either.

WZ: I ask this because there are people who have a mental block with putting their head under water. You didn't have such a blockage.

KG: No, I didn't. I swim well, I was taught by Sebastian Karaś himself! I feel very good swimming.

WZ: And then what?

KG: Another descent on Deep Spot. Discovering that I have an impact on my traumas. That really turned me on. Of course, it's about the traumas that we can control somehow. Diving showed me that I can control my head, and not vice versa. After the discovery and mental breakthrough, I began to dis-

Photo Franek Przeradzki

Photo www.instagram.com/ karolinagorczyca_official/

cover other things that diving gives. It is this cutting off that we have already talked about, calming down and taking advantage of this state of isolation from all external stimuli.

WZ: And do you happen to feel that when you go under water and even if you want to think about what is on land, you just can't? An unpaid loan, a stressful conversation...

KG: Yes, I don't think about it underwater:)

WZ: This is amazing. I've been diving for several years and I still have the same.

KG: That's what's so addictive about this sport. Once you experience it, you want to go back to it, quiet your mind, hang in the water and feel freedom. Passion is something that you do for yourself and experience it spiritually. In diving it is delightful that there are no mental compulsions underwater. You achieve, you can say the Zen state.

WZ: And is this peace destroyed when meeting a shark? Did you manage to look the shark in the eye?

KG: In Egypt, I felt freedom on the reef. It occurred to me that I could use it all. The group was swimming by, and I, like Nemo, swam on the reef, plunging into the reefs, watching these Disney-like images, feeling the freedom...

WZ: I already know why you were born in the Zodiac sign of Pisces ;)

KG: Yes, precisely. Maybe that's why it suits me so much. Water has always accompanied me in my life. I was afraid of it but it attracted me.

WZ: Well, I just read that you have always wanted to be an actress since you were a child. Truth?

KG: That has never changed.

WZ: Is it fun to discover diving at some point? As you are an actress, you have already had a good track record of various roles and among them there were those related to water, for example in "Swing" or "Love on the catwalk". Did the fact that you were swimming and liked water in this sense help you in your roles?

KG: It is great fun. In childhood, I lived opposite the pool, so it was there that I learnt to swim. I believe that this is one of the most important human skills and I repeat this to my children. When it comes to professional work, I am waiting for a role offer in which I will dive. I will have a limited number of competitors :)

WZ: Going back to the shark... When did this face-to-face encounter take place?

KG: I took my first course on holiday, and in December I met sharks in the Maldives.

WZ: Where those nurse sharks or others? Because sometimes you can dive in a place where you expect a shark of a particular species, but id does not always work.

KG: They were Tiger sharks. In my case, we dived in a place where tiger sharks were supposed to be. In that spot , the locals throw out some fish leftovers. Previously, I'd watched a lot of videos on Instagram, about sharks and how to behave in their presence. Such a tiger shark is really a killing machine. 2 seconds and you're done. We went underwater, minutes passed, we were actually finishing our dive. The instructor had even unfastened the buoy, and suddenly we saw a huge tiger shark. It could have been about 5 meters long. It swam slowly, grandly. It was beautiful. Fortunately, I did not die. I had rocks behind me, to which I stuck. There was another smaller shark circling above us. All the other divers were full of delight, holding webcams, cameras, they almost went crazy, and I was totally petrified. The shark was not pleasant. It made a round, circled and devoured the leftovers dropped. It seemed aggressive and excited. I looked at the instructors. They were calm. The shark wasn't swimming away, and I wanted to look it in the eye. It made another round and the moment it started swimming at me, for a short while before it turned, I had eye-contact with it. For me it seemed like a very long moment, and it was maybe a second, maybe two. It was amazing! I'd been waiting for this moment. It was almost a spiritual experience for me.

WZ: If you have trauma and you break it, it's actually easier to face problems.

KG: Exactly. You remember that difficult moment and you know that overcame it. You control your own head.

That's what's so addictive about this sport. Once you experience it, you want to go back to it, quiet your mind, hang in the water and feel freedom.

WZ: And did you meet other sharks afterwards?

KG: Yes, I saw nurse sharks on the second day in the Maldives. There were many of them, practically on every dive. My breath increased, my heart rate increased, and the instructor began to jump in the water with laughter. Especially since on the boat I was the first willing to watch sharks.

WZ: I'm glad you keep diving, that you managed to overcome the trauma. In the pages of our magazine we wrote about the fear of sharks. I'll send you a link to the specific article afterwards. Are you interested in diving in lakes?

KG: At the moment, no. Now warm waters. Maybe it will

come. First, a dry suit course. Now I'm diving in Mares gear and for now only in wetsuit. And do you recommend lakes?

WZ: Well, to see pike at close range or catfish, it's also nice. The more so because large pikes do not run away from divers too much.

Concluding, as we could talk like this until late in the evening, I have to tell you, Karolina, that it is very nice to listen to you. I can immediately see that you have recently started diving and that you are passionate about this underwater world.

KG: That's true. Now I'm looking for quick and not too expansive destination.

WZ: I recommend the Perfect Diver magazine. We write about and show cool diving spots. Finally, tell us about your diving dream or dreams.

KG: Certainly Australia and Indonesia. I would like to dive with whale sharks. Poland somehow does not turn me on yet.

WZ: Thank you very much for the meeting and for the conversation.

KG: No problem, thank you too.

Photo www.instagram.com/ karolinagorczyca_official/

Photo www.instagram.com/ karolinagorczyca_official/

JAPAN IN MACRO LENS

Text & Photos Marcin Trzciński

But Ofuna did not forget about me, and as soon as the situation improved a bit, the topic came back like a boomerang. But to tell the truth, almost 13 hours of flight in one direction, a jet lag and huge costs, just to disassemble a few lamps, solder some circuit boards and calibrate optics for five days seemed like a bit too much, but I had no other choice. Help came from the least expected direction. From Inon itself, which, of course, offers not only lamps and lenses but also underwater camera casings. Completely unknown to us, but why shouldn't I test them as part of the training? And, since it also involves diving in the warm waters of the Pacific? I was

I WAS SUPPOSED TO FLY TO THE JAPANESE INON COMPANY FOR TRAINING IN THE SPRING OF 2020. AND I WOULD HAVE FLOWN THERE, IF IT WERE NOT FOR A CRACKED TEST TUBE IN A LABORATORY IN WUHAN... AS A RESULT, EVEN GOING TO THE FOREST WAS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED, SO I COULD FORGET ABOUT TRAVELLING TO JAPAN.

ready for such a sacrifice. Pressing ENTER on the LOT website became much easier thanks to this.

***

From further email correspondence with Takuya-san, who was responsible for my training with the Inon people, it turned out that I exaggerated a bit about those warm, oceanic waters. Apparently, in April, the water in Suruga Bay rarely exceeded 16 degrees, which required the use of a drysuit. Fortunately, Santi had already invented a super lightweight Avatar suit, suitable for air travel, so I managed to manage that problem

somehow. Now, only long hours on a Dreamliner separated me from the days of training, and another two hundred kilometres from Ofuna, where the Inon office is located, to Cape Ose – a Japanese paradise for macro underwater photographers.

***

A wide, gravel beach stretched along the central part of an extensive bay, where over twenty diving centres had been set up. For years, our underwater photography focused Hamayu Marine Service had served as a testing base for Iona. It was precisely here that all their products received their finishing touches before being introduced to the market. And Takehiro-san, who led the dives, could not imagine going underwater without his camera. I could not envision a better place.

Due to language barriers, our conversation did not flow smoothly, so after exchanging smiles and deep bows several times, we began sorting out the equipment. It went smoothly because I had taken care of the most challenging part the previous evening – customising the camera settings. Now, all that remained was to choose which lens to take for the first dive and assemble everything. After a short debate with Takehiro (with Takuya acting as our translator) and a series of deeper bows, I decided to go with the RF 100 f/2.8 macro lens. Just a few more minutes, and we finally entered the water from the beach.

The air escaped with a hiss through the inflator, and the water closed over me with a quiet splash. Finally! It began. We floated for a while above the grey, monotonous gravel bottom, reminiscent of the book "Nad Niemnem" until an enormous boulder field blocked our way, stretching in both directions up to the limits of visibility. The visibility itself was not impressive, fluctuating within 10-12 meters, and the white, tiny particles floating in the water effectively spoiled the quality of possible shots. Takehiro, leading our trio, swam over the line of boulders, and finally, we started to descend. However, at the bottom, small stones still dominated. It seemed that the entire promised macro world would indeed be very small here, hidden among the rocks and sporadically scattered patches of vegetation. Some movement from the left distracted my attention from gloomy reflections on my innate "macro-blindness". A fairly large, maybe even 30-centimeter tubfish, was rummaging at the bottom in search of breakfast. An incredible fish. Its first three pairs of pectoral fin rays had transformed into imitating limb-like protrusions, allowing it to run smoothly along the bottom. However, as soon as I approached a bit closer, the irritated fish spread its previously arranged, blue-spotted fins along its body and swam away to a safe distance in its opinion. I had to approach it differently to get a good shot...

I had just finished with the tubfish, which finally agreed to somewhat politely pose (although remained distrustful throughout), when Takehiro, who was waiting nearby, beckoned me with a wave of his hand. He pointed to something that initially I could not locate at all. Well, the rapid switch of scale was enormous, as the little yellow frogfish was perhaps only 4 centimetres long. Its dorsal protrusions swayed rhythmically in the water, imitating the movements of a leaf shielding it from above. At least it did not flee, so I could easily frame the shot. I had been observing it for quite a while when suddenly it became motionless, and only its eyes betrayed that it was still alive. They stopped darting around like Howard Wolowitz's at the sight of a "skirt" and focused on an unsuspecting shrimp approaching from the right. The yellow fish's body bent slightly, adjusting its position, and then with a sudden, fraction-of-asecond leap, it lunged forward in a silent attack. The moment of opening its mouth and capturing the prey merged into one brief, practically imperceptible blink of an eye. There was no trace of the shrimp; only the frogfish shuddered slightly and belched three times. Apparently, it was in a fishy counterpart of my favourite Tuscan "Podere dell’ Anselmo", and it seemed to have enjoyed it.

The bag with local "treasures" had opened for good, and Takehiro was sending me from one place to another, indicating increasingly intricate objects. I somehow managed with the seahorse, but I could not manage its pygmy cousin hiding in the shadow of the rock. I simply could not spot it, even though our guide was showing me its current position with a long pointer. The pygmy kept moving instead of staying

The moment of opening its mouth and capturing the prey merged into one brief, practically imperceptible blink of an eye.

in one place. Embarrassingly, it was too fast for me. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to devote to it sufficiently. Instead, I focused on a two-centimetre squid clinging to the underside of a leaf. Apparently, the very hungry little creature was swaying with the rhythm of the water's movements, trying to catch something in the surrounding oceanic soup.

In a mysterious way, the air pressure dropped to a level indicating it was time to head back. We slowly ascended to the surface when my attention was drawn to a rhythmic movement below. After a moment, I located it. A fairly large, maybe an eight-centimetre long tunicate was bouncing amusingly in place, attempting to break through an obstacle in its way. Unfortunately for it, it was the seabed, so it had a lot of work ahead. However nonsensical its efforts were, it looked fascinating. The transparent "bag" revealed its interior with a clearly visible "skeleton" string running the entire length of its body, along with internal organs that I could not recognise at all.

Finally, I broke the surface of the water with my head, but only a moment later, stunned by the richness of the under-

water world, did I notice clouds increasingly shrouding the peak of Mount Fuji visible beyond the cape. As predicted earlier, the sunny weather started to deteriorate, although the sun still occasionally broke through, illuminating the greenery surrounding the bay of the forest with narrow beams of light. Somewhere at the very end of the peninsula lay a small temple, hidden and invisible from this spot. I had planned to visit it before my second dive, but first, I needed to eat something. Watching all these underwater creatures hunting, I realised that since morning I had only eaten two sandwiches with egg paste, bought at a 7Eleven on the highway. They were particularly good, but now it was already afternoon, and my stomach was growling louder and louder. Luckily, our centre shared premises with a tiny restaurant, where a lady named Youko cooked various dishes. The choice was not easy because instead of the pictorial menu I had become accustomed to in recent days, there were pieces of paper with the names of the dishes written on them, hanging vertically to separate the kitchen from the dining area. The letters

looked like bushes. And to top it off, they were in a vertical orientation, but that did not make much of a difference to me anymore. I still could not understand anything.

Takuya accepted my categorical opposition to seafood with stoic calmness. He ordered me カツカレ the Katsukare dish. A bowl of rice covered in curry sauce topped with large grilled slices of sirloin. Damn, it was good! I would have had seconds, but the portion was so enormous that I could not fit even a single more grain of rice. Maybe if I had about twenty more minutes to catch my breath, I could manage a small second helping, but soon we were going to hit the water. We planned to dive at the eastern end of the bay, the only place where vegetation won over the volcanic terrain, and it was said to be very green...

And yet, I wanted to go and see the little temple. This day definitely did not have enough hours. And they were passing by too quickly. I do not know what some normalisation centres would say about it, but at Cape Ose, there was definitely some kind of spacetime curvature.

MEXICAN CAVES

Well-known worldwide for their beautiful underwater topography, which includes extensive corridors, narrow passages, wells, tunnels and chambers, numerous rock formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, stalagnates, creating beautiful and picturesque underwater landscapes. But let’s start from the beginning.

THE NEXT STAGE OF INITIATION

The first time in Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula I was soon after I started my adventure with diving. Having AOWD qualifications, I was delighted to penetrate the wonderful cenotes and savour the Mexican atmosphere. However, every time we passed by the plate with the skull and the inscription "CAVE DIVERS ONLY" I felt that one day I had to acquire enough skills and practice that this plate would only be information, and not a warning. It took 3 years, 600 dives and a whole lot of

Text & Photos Przemysław Zyber

certificates, until I finally got back to Mexico as a cave diver and started a new chapter of visiting Mayan cellars.

The cenotes are fantastic, but being able to go deeper, further and explore narrower parts, I had the impression that I was discovering Mexico anew.

In the previous article I illustrated the phenomenon of Mexican cenotes, a beautiful play of lights, powerful crypts and half-flooded corridors. In this issue we will descend into the abyss deep, much deeper, exploring the caves where the

rays of the sun no longer reach, and the fauna practically does not exist.

LET'S GO :)

The routes in the cenotes are visited by dozens of divers a day, so the visibility is not always perfect, although the local waters are famous for their clarity. So how will it be in the cave?

I pass a plate with a dead skull and the inscription: "CAVE DIVERS ONLY" and a smile on my face. I say goodbye to the

last rays of the sun disappearing behind my fins, because what calls me louder and louder is in front of me.

My eyes open in amazement! I have already swam in many places and I know, what a good visibility is, but the crystal clear water in the caves of the Yucatan knocks down. You don't have the feeling that you're swimming – you have the feeling that you're flying in the air.

Absolutely crystal clear water without a single speck is stunning.

I look around and I can't believe my eyes! Dripstone forms – stalagmites, stalactites and already connected columns, create a fairy-tale landscape. The purity of the limestone rock and the reflected light of the flashlights – intensify the feeling of delight.

I already know why it is the Mecca of cave divers.

The pleasure of penetrating these places makes time fly inexorably and you do not even notice when an hour has passed and 1/3 of the gases in the cylinders are consumed hurrying you to turn back.

After a blink of an eye – another hour passes and you see the first rays of the sun realising that this is the end of this dive.

IT'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL!

Dive sites are usually located deep in the jungle, so experiencing the amazing, tropical fauna and flora is an additional bonus in the package! Diving in crystal clear water, with a very comfy temperature, significantly improves exploration. If you add to this unique rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites or underground rivers – you will admit that it is worth trying it at least once.

I will also mention that it often happens that Mexican caves have more than one entrance, which allows divers a variety of routes and the opportunity to dive from different points. This opens up the possibility of exploring different zones of the cave and discovering new beautiful places.

HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A PLAYGROUND!

Beautiful rock formations, crystal clear water and the unique atmosphere of the caves create an exceptional environment for exploration. However, you should always be aware of the safety and risks associated with diving in this type of environment, so it is extremely important to have the right experience and certification before starting your adventure with cave diving. Cave diving is one of the most demanding types of div-

(...) it often happens that Mexican caves have more than one entrance, which allows divers a variety of routes and the opportunity to dive from different points.

ing. Narrowed spaces, lack of access to surfaces – a ceiling overhead at all times, loss of visibility and potential traps are factors that make cave diving should always be done according to procedures. Safety should be a priority, so it is important to follow procedures, properly plan dives and prepare for various emergency situations.

Therefore, inonly trained cave divers have the right to enter the caves. This type of diving belongs to the so-called technical diving, which includes advanced skills, knowledge and equipment. Cave diving is a serious undertaking, so it is important to be properly trained and prepared.

MY DIVISION OF CAVES

Swimming in many Mexican caves, I personally see the division into 3 types of caves:

THE FIRST and at the same time the most beautiful for me photographically is a cave with fresh water, to the depth where the halocline is located.

The halocline, depending on the cave, is located at different depths. Sometimes it is already at 9 meters, and sometimes at 13. The water to the halocline is sweet and you can drink it with confidence. Anyway, the Maya still use cenotes and caves as a source of drinking water.

Why do I like to swim to the depths of the halocline the most? Because fresh water does not dissolve dripstone formations. In fresh water, the variety of rock formations is incredibly abundant. The ceiling is decorated with thousands of icicles, the columns poured like wax dripping from a candle, the bottom like a fighting porcupine.

During these shallow dives, I practically do not move the camera away from my eye. The most difficult decision is: make a film or take a picture? There is no end to the euphoria.

THE SECOND type of caves are those in which the halocline passes through the centre, as e.g. in a cave called Eden. When swimming on the border of fresh water and salt water, there is a feeling of blurred, unfocused vision. Every slightest movement at the interface of fresh and salt water causes a domino-like reaction. The water begins to mix, deteriorating visual acuity. The feeling is unusual and interesting at the same

To dive in caves, you absolutely must have a cave diver certificate and appropriate cave diving experience.

time. The more that salt water is 2 to 3 degrees warmer, so the jump from sweet 24 degrees to salty 26 degrees gives a huge difference especially in a wetsuit.

Playing with halocline is great, the only downside is the difficulty of taking pictures caused by mixing waters of different density and temperature.

Unfortunately, below the halocline, the dripstone forms are already poorer. Both fresh water and salt water are crystal clear, only the moment of entering the halocline significantly limits visibility.

THE THIRD type of caves are those under the halocline with only salt water. Dripstone forms practically do not exist there because salt has dissolved them. The water is warmer and as clear as fresh water. The rocks look like pumice stone. They are sharp and often perforated like a sieve. Smooth white walls and ceilings dominate. Sometimes there are some interesting places, but there is no comparison with shallow, fresh water.

Each of the types I listed above has its own charm and advantages.

I recently encountered a surprising division that has not occurred to me so far. I called a friend who had also been to Mexico a few times. The difference between us is that he dives in a rebreather and I dive in a sidemount. I asked him

"Seba (it’s his nickname), and how would you divide the caves in Mexico?" Without thinking, he replied: into the backmount caves (i.e. it is high enough that you can swim in the rebreather mounted on your back) and sidemount caves (where the ceiling is too low for the back set). After this conversation, I found that there are probably more such divisions, because everyone looks at the caves explored a little differently, always from their unique perspective.

LET'S SUMMARIZE

To dive in caves, you absolutely must have a cave diver certificate and appropriate cave diving experience. If you have one, I highly recommend Mexican caves.

To fully enjoy Mexico, I recommend a minimum stay of 2 weeks. Then you will find time not only to explore the caves, but also to dive in the Caribbean Sea (e.g. with sharks) and explore the extremely interesting remnants of Mayan culture. Maybe you will succeed and get a taste of Mexican "maniana". ("Maniana" – a relaxed, calm and slow approach to life; completely different from the European approach). That is why it is worth planning a few days to relax – this place is simply conducive to this. In addition, Mexico offers so many activities besides diving that there is certainly something for everyone.

HORKA QUARRY

Alles klar (?)

Saxony abounds in beautiful dive sites, and due to its attractive location, it is a frequent choice of divers from Polish.

Many well-known quarries, such as Wetro (described by me in the 25th issue of Perfect Diver), Prelle or Wildschutz, are undoubtedly second in popularity to Horka, called the pearl of Lusatia.

It is located about an hour away by A4 motorway from the Polish-German border in Jędrzychowice, so the distance from Lower Silesia is more than acceptable. According to assumptions, the infrastructure itself is at a high level. A large parking lot with several shelters randomly arranged, neat sanitary facilities with a shower, a bar where you can order hot drinks, soup, as well as standard sweet and salty snacks. On a day like this, falling on our visit, where the sun had no mercy, the amount of shade may not be enough and, on top of that, I heard from a regular visitor that the number of visitors on that day was very small compared to how it can be there. Therefore, dressing in warmers and dry suits, I think, is not the most pleasant thing to do on Horka – at least for those who overslept and did not catch a bit of shade ;)

From the organizational point of view, the entrance for the diver (including freedivers) is €15, the accompanying person €2, and the cost of filling the cylinders varies, depending on the capacity, from €8 for 10 L cylinders to €12 for 15 L. The base also offers accommodation in the form of several rooms in the resort, but also places for camping vehicles and tents.

Text & Photos Łukasz Metrycki

To get to the reservoir we have to cross a narrow and unpaved road leading to the parking lot of the diving base (the sign "pedestrian crossing, with a diver in full gear" warns the driver that a diver, like a doe, may suddenly jump out of nowhere – not at all crushed by the weight of their twinset :)). There are quite steep stairs waiting for us leading to the entrance (interesting fact – separate stairs, in order to smooth the traffic, lead to the exit) to the reservoir with several places where we can relax before entering the water after climbing so many steps.

After descending the next stairs – this time more pleasant, because already in the water – we immediately notice spectacular granite formations. The entrance itself is gentle, and then after a dozen or so meters we get to the pier at about 8 m, where we can check for the last time whether everything in our equipment is okay. This is quite important because, starting the dive along the wall on the left, we very quickly reach a depth of about 30 m.

At first, we saw a long table with... asparagus. There you will find everything and nothing, from various cows or squirrels figures, through mobile phones, to bottles and tableware.

Continuing the dive, we saw a road sign "limited to 30 km/h", as well as the remains of the quarry infrastructure from before the flooding, i.e. the remains of the building and fragments of pipelines. The water temperature at the bottom, at approx. 34 m, was 5–6°C, as expected. Unfortunately, a fly in the ointment that day was the visibility. I must admit that I heard a lot about Horka and its excellent visibility (supposedly reaching up to 15 m), but at the beginning – at the stage of registration in the base – we were brought down to earth. We were informed that due to the increased flowering and yellow dust – which also took its toll in Poland this spring – the visibility does not knock down and is less than 5 m. It is worth noting that despite this, flashlights on Horka are almost unnecessary – which is attributed to the colour of the rocks – and even while we were brushing along the bottom, it was quite bright. After the dive, we took a well-deserved surface interval and took advantage of the beautiful weather catching the rays of the sun in front of our shelter. Of course, we used the break to refill the cylinders, which we transported on trolleys intended for this purpose, which are part of the base equipment. This is especially helpful for two-cylinder sets.

For the second dive, we chose the route with the wall on the right. Holding onto the anchor line, we reached the main

– artificial – attraction for divers, i.e. three sharks located at 18 m. Despite their menacing appearance, they are very friendly, photogenic and willing to pose :) After an extensive photo session, we continued our dive, penetrating the coves on the eastern wall, which with its three "toes", resembled the shape of the Greek Chalkidiki Peninsula. The depth we can reach there is maximum 14–16 m, and the underwater flora is immeasurably richer than that on the western wall visited during the first immersion. Whole formations of dense grasses and other plants were beautifully complemented by the rays of the sun entering the water. Just like during the first dive, we were not enchanted by the richness of the fauna, because apart from a few small perches, we saw nothing more. Until recently, you could meet a pike – a regular visitor, but unfortunately a few years ago it ended its days. It is said that it had visited Horka for several years (!)

To sum up, Horka is a very good proposition for divers from the south-western part of the Poland due to its location. Others – from further parts of the country – will not be disappointed either, because it is an extremely charming place with very good infrastructure. It is worth considering a 2-day stay and taking advantage of several accommodation options, especially since Horka allows us to do so. You can plan dives in

different parts of the reservoir, spend a nice time with family or friends at the barbecue and stay overnight in a rented cottage or pitched tent. In terms of diving conditions – especially as far as visibility is concerned, you can certainly hit better than us and although I think that it was not bad, I hope that one day I will be able to visit this place and see the crystal clear waters promised by so many!

CHEPSTOW DIVING IN GREAT BRITAIN

Unfortunately, the site I am describing is no longer available for diving. I hope this will change in the course of time. I wanted to leave this information for the end, but I figured you'd guess anyway because of the past tense I use... Nevertheless, I encourage you to read on, as it will introduce you to a place that is currently shrouded in mystery, and the activities taking place there could make a good background for a sci-fi movie script.

WELCOME TO THE SECOND ARTICLE IN A SERIES OF DIVE ARTICLES COVERING THE MOST POPULAR AND ORIGINAL SITES ON THE GREAT BRITAIN'S UNDERWATER MAP.

IN TODAY'S ISSUE I INVITE YOU TO THE NATIONAL DIVING & ACTIVITY CENTRE (NDAC), LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST WALES.

The National Diving & Activity Centre at Chepstow lies on the border of England and Wales. The reservoir was famous for being the deepest dive site in Great Britain. Officially, of course, because unofficially there are deeper sites where diving is forbidden – I hope you understand. I will explain more about this in the future articles, so stay tuned. As is usually the case, an old mine has been converted into a diving site. Limestone was quarried there which gives the water its beautiful azure colour. An interesting phenomenon occurs during rainfall, of which there is no shortage in Wales. Rainwater falling into the reservoir becomes cloudy and looks as if someone

Text & Photos Tomasz Kulczyński

has poured milk into the water. There was also a large population of rainbow trout in the reservoir which can only survive in crystal clear water.

The maximum depth of the dive site is 76 m. It varies depending on the season and how deep you can stick your hand into the silt on the bottom �� The relatively great depth attracted crowds of technical divers from all over England. They were able to push the limits of recreational diving there and hone their skills.

On site there was a huge compressor room with air, oxygen, and helium available. As for the diving attractions, there were really quite a few. The most popular ones were Sea King MK4 helicopter, the wreck of a BAE 146 passenger plane, a double-decker bus, armoured vehicles, lots of cars, etc. I can say without hesitation that this was one of the few dive spots where you could come back dozens of times and there was always something new to discover. At the maximum depth of the basin there was a sizeable sea buoy, similar to those you see at sailing races or triathlon competitions.

This quarry was quite specific. You had to drive down to the surface of the water by bus, as there was not enough room for parking at the bottom. There was a narrow road leading down, at the end of which there were a few wooden pallets covered with fabric. It was a place where equipment could be taken out of the bus and further transported into the water. A huge platform floated on the surface of the reservoir. A platform that was so long that I still remember the effort it took to carry the twin set and four stage cylinders from the bus stop to the last station on the platform. It was so tiring that we came up with the idea of going downhill with the equipment immediately after arrival, then returning by bus to the top. After a short rest we would get dressed in

dry suits and head back down. The ride through the narrow paths of the quarry, combined with the thrill of the travellers, was quite an attraction itself.

NDAC Chepstow was growing before my eyes. During my first visits I had the opportunity to observe the fledgling infrastructure. The compressor room, along with a small tin room where you paid the entry fee, a car park and a small shuttle bus taking divers down – that was all there was. However, changes were taking place at a very fast pace. Special huts, so-called wigwams, were created where you could stay overnight. I remember how convenient it was to spend the night by the water. There were plenty of attractions to explore around the quarry, which was a big plus for the families who eagerly visited Chepstow, and the most important benefit of sleeping on site – you are the first on the dive the next day. The num-

I can say without hesitation that this was one of the few dive spots where you could come back dozens of times and there was always something new to discover.

There is information published on websites and social media saying that the entire NDAC complex has been sold to a company whose aim is to develop equipment to enable people to live deep underwater…

ber of cottages in the area grew at such a rate that it is hard for me to say how many there actually were, but it surely was impressive. A huge restaurant with a bar was built, followed by an observation deck that offered a beautiful view of the quarry and the surrounding area. Buses arrived that ran non-stop at 10-minute intervals. The small tin office was replaced by a large and fully equipped dive shop and dive school.

This was topped off by attractions for non-divers such as a zip wire pulled over the entire quarry, or a giant swing (like those found in amusement parks) located at the very top of one of the quarry walls. On a regular basis, a crane appeared on site, where visitors could take a bungee jump. There was also an opportunity to try your hand at flyboarding, a board propelled by water under pressure – very impressive by the way – and an inflatable obstacle course on the water. Add to this all the infrastructure for freedivers. It is truly amazing to see a guy in swimming goggles and a monofin at a depth of 70 m ��! I can definitely say that this was the place for a diver

with the whole family and not just for a diving trip, but for a whole weekend or a longer holiday.

For me it was a very sentimental place. It was here that my adventure with really great depths began. It was here that I became a technical diving instructor, and it was here that I carried out preparations for deeper dives. Before my eyes, the site was changing month by month and this is where some of my best diving memories come from. NDAC attracted a lot of interesting people. Manufacturers doing surveys, testing their dive equipment. Television filming documentary programmes. There was always a chance to see some familiar face, a student, or a friend who, like me, were improving their

diving skills. Sometimes it was hard to leave, you always wanted to have a few words with everyone, to discuss and get feedback on new equipment, or just to chat for a while.

You might be wondering why NDAC Chepstow has been closed. Official reports suggest that a pandemic is the reason for the closure of the Great Britain's deepest dive site. Given the number of people working there, it is no surprise that it happened. There is information published on websites and social media saying that the entire NDAC complex has been sold to a company whose aim is to develop equipment to enable people to live deep underwater... As strange and exotic as it sounds, believe me, on further reflection, in my opinion it is the perfect place to conduct this kind of research �� In my imagination I look into the future and see NDAC reopening to divers, with the possibility of spending a night underwater in a comfortable capsule with a breathtaking view. That would be an amazing experience. I leave the rest to your imagination.

DRY SUIT FACTORY BARE

INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE BARE

FACTORY IN MALTA DENNIS STIVALA.

Bare celebrates 50 years on the market. It's a big piece of experience. But how did you start? I'm interested in those few years or months before Bare was established. Did Bare has that name right from the start? And where did the idea for such a company come from?

The brand BARE was established in 1972 in a small shop on the coast in British Colombia. Two keen and passionate divers, whose surnames were Cartwright and FitzGerald, eventually formed the company FitzWright, based in Langley, British Colombia. FitzWright was eventually purchased by Suunto in around 1994. In 1997, a European manufacturing facility was set up in Malta, called FitzWright Europe Malta, Ltd.and it’s purpose was to manufacture and sell wetsuits and drysuits directly to Suunto’s European BARE customers.

The FitzWright Group of Companies (Canada and Malta) was finally purchased by Huish Outdoors in 2011.

What technological innovations has the Bare factory introduced in the production of drysuits in recent years?

In the last 5 years, there was a huge investment in the latest equipment, with the scope of manufacturing the best quality drysuit worldwide. Below is a list of some of the investments:

´ Purchase of the Gerber automatic cutter for excellent cutting quality.

´ Purchase of material inspection machine.

´ Setting up of a material wash testing station to test new materials.

´ Purchase of a laying / cutting machine for single sizes.

´ Purchase of the latest technology heat taping machines.

´ Upgrading of the leak testing tables, including appropriate lighting and pressurized systems.

´ Upgrading the working environment by (a) installing air-conditioners for the comfort of the employees, and the control of the humidity (b) strengthened the air extraction systems to ensure trhat the air quality is the same or better than the International standards.

What steps have been taken to ensure the quality and durability of the suits in terms of technology?

We have first of all invested in Human resorces, and expanded the Quality department, consisting of a Quality Manager and two Quality inspectors. We have also set up an Engineering department, with the scope of improving internal manufacturing procedures; and also working closely with the design team in Canada and the BARE Brand Manager in the USA on product development and process improvements. Regarding the quality of BARE drysuits, we are recording the pass-rate of all the new drysuits we test weekly, and I am happy to say that 95% of all drysuits tested are leak-free on the first leak test.

What were the main factors that contributed to the development of the Bare brand in the dry suit market?

Durability, fantastic fit, extensive range of sizes, 7 year warranty on seams, and 6 year limited material warranty. Also, effective after sales service, and a sales team that are fully supportive of our clients around the world.

All Bare drysuits and undersuits are made in Malta, why choose a factory location?

In 1997, Suunto and FitzWright were looking for a factory in Europe which already had the skills of working with neoprene products.

DRY SUIT

Interviewed by Wojciech Zgoła

They finally found a factory located in Malta which already had such skills, and employed a General Manager to organize and expand the manufacturing activity.

A few years ago Bare was acquired by Huish Outdoors, did this move make a lot of difference and how did it influence the development of Bare in the world?

BARE was purchased by Huish Outdoors in 2011. The CEO of Huish Outdoors was very determined to improve and expand both BARE brand as a world player, and the Malta manufacturing facility. Therefore the aquisition of BARE by Huish has proved to be a very positive step, which has strengthed the company in Malta. It is today called BARE Sports Europe, Ltd.

How do you assess the Polish market and the development of Bare in our country?

BARE Sports Europe began selling BARE products into Poland around 23 years ago. We are very happy to have choosen, from the very start, very reliable partners ECN, and this has enabled the BARE brand to expand rapidly, and establish a dominant position in the Polish market.

Privately, do you ever dive in a wetsuit or a dry suit other than Bare?

I only wear BARE products, because I trust the quality and performance. The BARE DNA is the best in the diving industry.

I recommend watching Perfect Diver. You are already 50 years old and we are only 5 :)

I look forward to watching Perfect Diver!

DIVING A WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF

THIS ARTICLE IS AIMED AT BEGINNERS WHO ARE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DIVING, WANT TO PROGRESS IN THIS DIRECTION AND AT THE SAME TIME FEEL THE BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT.

It appears that Polish adults, compared to other Europeans, feel on the verge of burnout (STADA Health Report 2022 online survey). The pandemic has exacerbated stress in us. Add to that the war in Ukraine and galloping inflation. It simply can't get any worse. We are trying to fight our bad mood by taking vitamins, supplements and attending fitness classes. The youngest age group surveyed, 18–24 years old, which represents 36 % of Poles, believes they are on the verge of burnout. In contrast, 41 % of Polish adults say their stress levels have increased significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fifth highest national percentage in the STADA Health Report 2022 (the survey average was 37 %).

https://www.prawo.pl/zdrowie/stres-i-wypalenie-w-badaniach-polakow-na-tle-europy,516388.html

Alright, but what is the relevance of getting to know oneself better here, and what does this have to do with diving?

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” said Aristotle. And to put it in simple language, knowing oneself is the starting point of everything. Development is one of those things, and it is all about expanding one's own resources – and these resources will help us the most with dealing with stress and living the life to the fullest. So, in other words, to cope with stress, to perform better or even to just feel happier – it is worth knowing ourselves better and getting to our resources. Getting to know ourselves is very important in the process of reaching our own ways of coping with life. It presupposes knowing all the positive qualities of one's personality. Unfortunately, the truth is that we know very little about ourselves. Besides, we tend to put more emphasis on the flaws and negative character traits. The consequences then tend to be frustra-

Text Aldona Dreger, Agnieszka Romańczuk Photos Jacek Twardowski

tion, bitterness, lack of acceptance, lack of confidence and self-belief. Excessive focus on faults and negatives makes us lack joy, enthusiasm, harmony, and serenity. It is also a paradox that we value the least what is the most valuable in us. Perhaps this is because we take too many things for granted. Knowing oneself implies accepting one's weaknesses and limitations, but also knowing one's strengths. There is a kind of bipolarity in every human being: good and weak sides. In life, it is especially important to know the weakest points, the weakest link. This is because these are the places where we are most likely to fall. Getting to know yourself is not about changing everything about yourself. Moreover, in life, you cannot change everything. Rather, it is about evolving in the right direction, accepting our own weaknesses, and delighting in our strengths. Each of us has many limitations – often they are self-imposed. When faced with a difficult task, we say things like “I can't, I won't make it” – we lack confidence.

Diving can be a great lesson in overcoming one's limitations and learning to be confident. Those who have decided to take up this form of recreation often feel fear at first. This is a perfectly natural feeling. The new environment and simply going underwater raises concerns. The first breath underwater is a victory of reason over instinct, when the instinct responsible for survival clearly signals us that what we are about to do goes against our nature, that we cannot breathe underwater after all! The pounding of the heart, the rapid breathing, the clinging to 'solid land' are all symptoms of fear. The moment we overcome these barriers; we begin to feel an incredible satisfaction. We even out our breathing, begin to move, look around underwater, and enter a completely different dimension.

IS THIS AN ADVENTURE FOR EVERYONE?

Of course it is! It is also a great idea for group cooperation. In one of the swimming pool facilities, not far from Warsaw, we found out that there are workshops for organised groups, at a depth of about 1.5 metres, which is not much. They involve performing simple tasks using diving equipment, based on cooperation. For example, at this depth there are pipes and other elements that need to be located, moved, and assembled. This work is designed for people who want to dive, but the very fact that they have to go underwater paralyses them. The task-oriented nature of this exercise distracts them from the mere fact of being under the surface of the water.

(...) overcoming one's own limitations as well as learning something new in a natural environment, in the context of communing with nature – that give us something more – our confidence, our self-esteem changes radically.

Plus, it's a fantastic way to work as a group, to communicate non-verbally, to learn to trust" – says Aldona, a diver for seven years, and diving instructor at WeWell Diving.

Diving is also a fantastic way of learning new skills. The water helps us to learn new movement capabilities. Memorising procedures, the language of underwater communication, etc. –all of this is a kind of "overcoming difficulties" exercise, and it is an experience incomparably richer than learning to ride a bike.

It is these two things – overcoming one's own limitations as well as learning something new in a natural environment, in the context of communing with nature – that give us something more – our confidence, our self-esteem changes radically. Sometimes we don't realise or even don't want to admit that we lack confidence. It is only when we experience a sudden change in this sphere that we realise how far we have not believed in our own abilities.

"In addition, conditions underwater, if only because the environment itself has changed, are more difficult than on the surface. If we can see what we have dealt with, despite these conditions, what can we do on the surface? Suddenly these difficult situations on the surface become easier to deal with.

Before I started my diving adventure, I often lacked confidence – something I didn't fully realise, I heard it from the others. Only now do I see that this was true and thanks to diving this

has changed. My self-confidence is on a completely different level and that helps me a lot in life," – Aldona says.

DIVING – A LESSON OF EMPATHY

Diving is a social sport; you usually dive in a group and a kind of bond is often formed between divers. We learn to understand others much better, by looking at them and guessing from their facial expressions or body movements we can sense their mood better.

"I have always been empathetic. But more so towards others, less so towards myself. When you dive, you get a lesson in empathic awareness or attentive empathy (when you focus first on yourself and how your body reacts to being underwater, what you have to control, and you also have to keep an eye on the partner you are diving with). You see your own breathing, and through the bubbles you see your partner's breathing, whether they are nervous or not, you touch their forearm to make them feel calmer. Under water, the level of responsibility for the other person increases. I once heard a mother who was diving with her teenage children say that when they started diving, she felt their children's care for her, something she hadn't experienced before in everyday life. She felt truly cared for by them," – Aldona says.

DIVING AND EXPERIENCING THE STATE OF “FLOW”

The word 'flow' (a term defined by the well-known Hungarian

psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) has recently made a career and became fashionable. 'Flow' refers to that mental state when we feel fully immersed in what we are doing. In psychology, flow can be described as a state of upliftment accompanied by feelings of pleasure and happiness.

Under water we are more careful, focused on the present moment, the here and now.

"By going below the surface of the water there is a literal disconnection from the outside world for a moment. What is so difficult to do on the surface, given the amount and intensity of the stimuli that descend upon us every day, becomes possible underwater. On top of that, weightlessness relieves stress on your joints, you become lighter, you feel as if you were getting wings. This lightness allows us to judge certain situations more lightly, big problems become smaller, easier to solve. In fact, we just look at them from a different perspective. Since I started diving, I appreciate the small things more often, the here and now – I enjoy it more. You could say diving wings me, or perhaps more aptly 'in my fins I feel like I have wings', underwater and on the surface" – comments Aldona.

In summary, diving can help you get to know yourself, to know what makes you happy, to regain balance, to build confidence or empathy. It perfects us in various aspects that boil down to a common denominator – our better mental health and overall well-being. It's worth diving in to get to know yourself better.

WHERE ARE THE BOUNDARIES OF AN ADVENTURE?

I remember watching the Indiana Jones adventures on TV with bated breath as a child. I visited distant countries with him and I couldn't wait to see what was about to happen to him. Adventure films attracted me like a magnet.

Life wasn't that colourful, so I looked for adventures in books. With each new book and film, I wanted more and more. I think that they awakened in me curiosity about the world and endless rush for new sensations.

Diving has always been a big part of my life. I didn't look at it as an adventure, however, but as a way of spending time. It was a natural part of the only holidays my family and I went on. Thanks to my dad, a diving instructor and the president of the local diving club, I had a childhood full of trips, competitions, meetings with people, rescue operations. I met wonderful people who shaped me and trained me to be a diver and then a diving instructor.

Every time I thought I had seen it all, my diving adventure was just beginning. When I look back on these years today, I see what I should have understood a long time ago. My journey will still be long and certainly not easy, and it will probably never end. It is the most fun for me to show this adventure and instil its spirit in my trainees. People often ask me what is so cool about diving? And most often I have to check

myself, because you can't bore others for hours – especially since I never know if they ask out of politeness or if they are really interested.

I don't know what movies or books have instilled in you a curiosity about the world. Each of us has their own story. There is, however, one thing I am sure of, and I've learnt this after thousands of dives, hundreds of trips. And no one can convince me otherwise, as I encounter with this on every day basis in my professional career as a diving instructor. People who start diving are... different. More interesting. More hungry for the world. They are ADVENTURERS.

It's all these wonderful people who drive me to get on a plane again and fly to Egypt for the hundredth time. Often on my way I meet divers on boats, in a diving centre, on a plane. They're going diving. They want to dive. They invested their time in basic training. They bought very expensive equipment. They fly to the other hemisphere. They are looking for adventure.

The saddest thing is when these people don't find it. Very often I hear that some of them no longer dive. I don't have

Text & Photos Dominik Dopierała

to ask why. The answer is almost always the same. These people didn't find what they were looking for. No matter what it was. Often they themselves did not know what they were looking for.

I will try to introduce you to various diving adventures in a series of articles. All diver training organisations offer many specialised courses. Each of them is a different adventure. They were created to make it easier for beginner divers to gain experience, knowledge and give a lot of fun. Some of them are very serious training, others are easy and short. In my training organisation, the advanced program consists of five different "Adventure" dives. As in a drugstore, you would get five different sachets of creams to test them. Try and decide for yourself if this cream is for you.

I believe that you have to make up your own mind. If you have tried something and you know it is for you, then you have a chance to continue it. Conversely, maybe this part of the dive isn't for you or isn't fun. Some are delighted with colourful fish, others, like me, with photography or wrecks. This list is really long. You can combine specialisations with your advanced training, just ask your Instructor about it. The Instructor will certainly present you with all the available options.

I often talk to my trainees about their careers and what they expect from diving. I often cite an example of buying a car. A customer: Good morning, I want to buy a car!

Salesperson: Sporty, sedan, minivan? What colour? What engine?

How about transmission?

The salesperson can ask hundreds of questions, but if the customers do not know what they want, it will be difficult for them to buy a car. Until I bought my first car with an automatic transmission, I had no idea that I needed it for life. This is the case in diving, at the beginning of your adventures you do not know what is for you and what is not. You trust the Instructors and this is the right way. But even the best dive instructor can't

(...) at the beginning of your adventures you do not know what is for you and what is not. You trust the Instructors and this is the right way. But even the best dive instructor can't read your mind and guess what you like or don't like.

read your mind and guess what you like or don't like. I can't imagine diving in a mask with transparent silicone, but you may like the transparent silicone in the mask and the blue frame, and what's more, you will feel more comfortable because more light will fall into the mask. Until the Instructor receives feedback from you, he or she acts on his or her intuition. Sure, you didn't know you wanted a car with air conditioning until you tried it and bought another one now. But are you sure you use a heated steering wheel?

How your career goes depends not only on you, but above all on how many resources you invest – time nobody really has, money and commitment. I have been advising all my pupils in the same way for years. If you are not a lucky per-

son who has all the resources in abundance, you should manage them wisely. Especially developing as a diver. You should start with training during which you will gain experience. You will meet people who share the same passion. Go somewhere! It doesn't matter if it's near or far, just go diving. Preferably with people you met on the course. If you liked it, sign up together for the next training. Go somewhere again. If you want to spend money on your first equipment, then... spend them on a trip.

After a few courses, a few trips, 30–40 dives, you will form your opinion. And you will probably answer the question of what drives you in diving. Maybe only then you will advisedly choose the right training from the rich offer on the market. Or maybe, after all the curses, you will find yourself already equipped with the tools you need in realising your dreams and diving plans.

There are specialised courses that seem essential for development and those that some that seem to be fun. Each of them was created for a specific purpose, was tried and tested by many diving instructors and accepted by a given organisation. They all have one thing in common that distinguishes them from basic training. There were specific skills – passing tests, swimming pool and open waters. Exams. On the basic training, the Instructors have built your foundation necessary to dive. There was a lot of work and knowledge. On advanced, specialised training you will only have fun. You will

get a lot of knowledge from your Instructor and immediately use it in the water. You will go out of water, correct your mistakes, discuss new techniques with the instructor and go diving again. You will learn to dive being over-dived. And each course will be a different interesting adventure.

In the following episodes, I will try to convince you to a specific specialist training. I will try to show you where in your career you will be able to use the skills from this program. Maybe my article will also allow you to decide that the training is not for you. And so I will succeed, you will form your opinion. Of course, I will discuss courses from the "must have" series, which are necessary for every diver who wants to go abroad. But I will take up the challenge and try to convince you to take each course. I conducted each of these courses many times and used the knowledge with my trainees. I will rely on specialisations in my training federation. In other federations training names or programs may differ slightly. But the main idea behind each course is the same, regardless of the organisation or country. You are supposed to have fun diving.

My articles will not replace your training on a specialist course. Their goal will be to motivate you to take an interest in a given issue. And if I can get you to sign up for a specialist course with your Instructor, I will consider it a success. In the next episode, I will discuss then the subject of "Deep Diving". Together, we will see if this is your career path.

BLACK-AND-WHITE, AND YET COLOURFUL DIVERS FROM THE NORTH

Text & Photos WOJCIECH JAROSZ

It all starts with a jump from the cliff into the abyss. Hasty, or even seemingly desperate movements of small wings unexpectedly prevent the animal from crashing into coastal rocks.

What's more, the flight turns out to be effective enough to allow the bird to fly to where it can hunt its victims. It happens that there are kilometres to overcome from a small patch of rock, from which the expedition for prey began, but the cruising speed of the bird can reach 90 km/h, so the aviator is not the worst one. The real fun begins after reaching the destination and landing on the surface of the sea. True, landing is

usually not really the ultimate in elegance, but in a moment the bird will plunge into the depths, where it will turn out to be an extremely efficient and graceful underwater swimmer.

Puffins (Fratercula arctica), like other birds of the Alcidae family, are excellent at swimming and diving. They have developed many adaptations that allow them to hunt effectively underwater. So they have heavier bones than most birds, which is due to the smaller number of air pockets, and thanks to which it is easier for them to immerse themselves after making a quick flip. Under water, they move extremely effectively, because just like penguins they use wings – it looks as if they are flying under water. They use their webbed feet during diving more for steering than propulsion. In immersion they usually remain for several seconds, but if necessary, a minute or even longer. They can go down to 20, 30 or even 40 meters, although there are sources according to which they

have been seen even deeper. They are protected from higher pressure by a long and wide breastbone and a strong chest. Their feathers, protected with a solid portion of oil gland secretions, do not absorb sea water. Speaking of salt water, it is worth mentioning that, like many other seabirds, they are great at removing excess salt with the nasal gland. All these features make puffins function perfectly in the aquatic environment. If we add to this the ability to fly and the need to be on land during breeding, it turns out that we have "three-environmental" animals – water-air-land! The order is not accidental. On land they spend the least time. They need a place to lay an egg. Yes, it's not a mistake, puffins lay only one egg per season (so applying a human scoop, all puffins in the world are only children!). They do this in places where there is an opportunity to dig a burrow. So they look for cliff coasts, where there is a layer of earth in which they can drill corridors a meter long. All this to ensure the safety of their chicks. Access from land to nesting sites is very difficult, but there is no shortage of sea pirates lurking for unprotected chicks. Usually, areas close to puffin colonies, and other seabirds as well, are closely patrolled by skuas, which Dear Readers of Perfect Diver could read about in the debut issue 1 (anyway, they still can – by the way, it is worth mentioning the

new functionality of the PD website, where searching for articles from any issue has become a pleasure – be sure to check it out!). Skuas also often bother puffin parents returning with food for chicks. These thieves fiercely attack birds returning from their hunting grounds until they either flee away or give back their prey. If you are not going diving or are not planning a cruise on the coastal waters of the North Atlantic, where puffins can be met and cheered on when they try to escape skuas, take a look at one of the episodes of the beautiful series Blue Planet II, in which David Attenborough talks about this practice beautifully. Puffins during the dive chase, and even heard in a group, small fish. They are great at catching, for example, herring, but they will not despise eel either. They can catch more fish, despite the fact that they already keep a few in their beak. The special design of the beak, which is large for the size of an animal, with appropriate grooves, allows it to cope with keeping 10 or more fish across. There were more than 60 of them at the record holder!

After incubating their egg, although the puffins do not sit on the egg, but cover it with a wing, and after rearing the young, they leave the land and switch to life at sea. Young birds spend even a few years like this before they mature. They try to place their first broods in the area where they

In the mating season, i.e. in summer, it has a very colourful beak (...) By the way, I will add that this beak is fluorescent – it glows in the dark, which has recently been discovered, but it is not yet known what is the reason for the development of such a feature, although there are a few theories.

were born. Returns to permanent places apply to more than 90% of all puffins. It is worth mentioning that these birds are constant in their feelings and every year, after many months of "separation", they find their partners in the same colonies and try to reproduce again. This can take many years, as puffins can live up to thirty years. Social behaviours and conventions apply not only to the partner, but also to neighbours in colonies with a high density. Observations have shown that puffins take their neighbourly relations seriously and can take care of them in sometimes complicated ways. Of the interesting behaviours of these birds, it is worth mentioning their ability to use sticks when they want to scratch when their back itches. So far, they are the only seabirds in which such abilities have been noticed.

Where is it easiest to meet puffins? Where they form their colonies, that is, on the cliff coasts of northern Europe. The largest population is known from Iceland (this bird has become an element of culture and a national mascot there, on which Icelanders also try to make money in various ways), but it can also be found in the Faroe Islands, the Scandinavian Peninsula, Svalbard, Greenland and North America, and a little closer also on the British Isles and the northern coast of Brittany. Will you be able to recognise them? Look at the pictures. It is impossible to confuse a puffin with another bird. In the mating season, i.e. in summer, it has a very colourful beak, which definitely dominates its face. By the way, I will add that this beak is fluorescent – it glows in the dark, which has recently been discovered, but it is not yet known what is the reason for the development of such a feature, although there are a few theories. Also, the legs become very orange in the summer season, which is clearly visible even from a distance, especially during landing. Due to the unique proportions and colours, absolutely everyone irrevocably falls in love with puffins as soon as they see them. I observed them several times during a cruise in the North Atlantic, and as soon as they appeared on the side of the yacht, there were signs of a smile, or even a sullenness, on the faces of familiar Sailors, truly

tough sea wolves. Taking this opportunity, I send best regards to all sailors, especially those with whom I enjoyed watching puffins together. Speaking of sea people, it was once believed (or is it still believed?) that puffins are the incarnation of sailors and seamen killed in the sea. Returning to the birds themselves and their funny look, the Latin name is also associated with their appearance. Fratercula arctica is an Arctic brother translated from Latin. The described species is sometimes called the common puffin. It has close relatives belonging to two species of the same genus. These are the crested puffin (F. cirrhata) and the horned puffin (F. corniculata), which occur in the North Pacific.

I wish you to meet puffins on your way. Delight guaranteed!

A DIVE INTO CONFIDENCE

In the modern world, women and girls face numerous challenges that can significantly impact their self-love and self-confidence. The rise of social media, the influence of celebrities and the emphasis on selfoptimization have contributed to an environment where comparison and unrealistic standards prevail. measure their worth based on external validation, and feel a constant need to meet unrealistic standards. These challenges can negatively affect one's self-esteem and self-confidence. But… Where is the link to scuba diving?

Social media platforms often showcase the perfect life, flawless and shiny appearances, and unattainable beauty ideals, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. The constant exposure to these images and the pressure to conform to societal expectations can harm self-esteem and undermine a woman's sense of self-worth.

Wanting to achieve perfection and the culture of self-optimization can create an atmosphere where women and girls may feel the urge to constantly compare themselves to others,

Scuba diving is an experience that can transform our lives by embracing our inner strength, cultivating self-confidence, and fostering self-love. This article will explore the empowering effects of scuba diving on women.

Text Isadora Abuter Grebe

Photo Mocean Images

*Disclaimer: It is important to note that while this article focuses on the experiences of women, it is to acknowledge that scuba diving has transformative power for both men and women when it comes to cultivating self-confidence and self-love. As this article is an episode of the “girls-corner” it focuses on women. Nevertheless, the impact of scuba diving on men shall not be undermined.* Scuba diving serves as a powerful catalyst for women to build confidence and conquer personal limitations. Engaging in this underwater adventure requires us to face our fears, step out of our comfort zones, and develop new skills.

Here are several key factors that contribute to the boost in confidence for women in scuba diving:

SKILL MASTERY

Learning the technical aspects of scuba diving empowers women with a sense of accomplishment and mastery over a challenging skill set. Overcoming the initial learning curve and successfully navigating underwater environments builds confidence in our abilities.

OVERCOMING FEAR

Encountering the unknown can be intimidating. By confronting fears, women become more resilient and gain a renewed sense of courage. The triumph over fear serves as a powerful reminder of our ability to overcome obstacles in other areas of life.

INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RELIANCE

Scuba diving encourages self-reliance and independence, as divers must take responsibility for their, and their buddies safety and well-being underwater. Mastering skills such as equipment setup, buddy communication, and problem-solving builds a strong sense of self and fosters personal growth. From planning dives to managing equipment and ensuring safety, women who engage in scuba diving develop a sense of autonomy and self-reliance. This independence extends beyond diving into other aspects of life, fostering personal growth, and a belief in one's capabilities.

EMBRACING SELF-LOVE

Scuba diving provides women with a transformative experience that fosters self-love, acceptance, and appreciation. Through the depths, women discover the following aspects that contribute to their personal growth and self-fulfillment.

BODY POSITIVITY

Scuba diving offers a unique opportunity for women to shift their focus from societal beauty standards to appreciating the capabilities and wonders of their bodies. Underwater, buoyancy eliminates the force of gravity, allowing us to move with

grace and freedom, irrespective of our body shape or size. This weightless environment encourages body acceptance, empowering women to embrace their bodies for their functionality and resilience rather than external appearance. By fostering body positivity, scuba diving helps us develop a stronger sense of self-love and appreciation.

MINDFULNESS AND TRANQUILITY

Scuba diving encourages a state of mindfulness as we focus on our breathing, surroundings, and the present moment. This mindfulness practice promotes mental well-being, reducing anxiety, improving mental clarity, and enhancing self-awareness. Through diving, women can develop valuable coping mechanisms, self-care routines, and emotional resilience.

Scuba diving communities provide a supportive and empowering environment for women to connect, share experiences, and inspire one another. The sense of camaraderie and unity within these communities can contribute to personal growth and self-empowerment.

SHARED EXPERIENCES

Women divers bond through shared challenges, triumphs, and breathtaking encounters underwater. These experiences create lasting connections, boost self-confidence, and foster a sense of belonging.

EMPOWERING ROLE MODELS

Female divers, instructors, and leaders serve as examples of strength, courage, and determination, challenging societal norms and breaking barriers. This can inspire women to embrace their own capabilities, paving the way for increased self-confidence and self-love.

COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK

Scuba diving involves being in a group, where teamwork and cooperation are crucial for safety and enjoyment. Women develop communication skills, trust-building, and the ability to work harmoniously with others. Through teamwork, we learn the importance of supporting and relying on one another, fostering a sense of unity and connectedness.

Face your fear and change your life. Scuba diving helped me not only to discover underwater life but also to discover myself. I didn't imagine that I could do it. I started by learning how to swim in my thirties yes. Yes, it was difficult in the beginning till I became a good swimmer. I went to Sharm el Sheikh and I was able to snorkel free without a life jacket. At this moment I looked around at the divers and I decided to learn diving. One year later, I became a certified diver and I started a new phase of my life. In the beginning, I faced

many troubles like any new diver, and time by time I became better underwater through practice. Also, I understand that diving is a science and I must know it is good to avoid risk and for more enjoyment. After the 70 dives, I fell in love with diving which helps me to change my habits such as regular exercise weekly, eating healthy and participating in yoga sessions, reading divers stories, and watching documentary movies. All those factors let me love myself, being more confident, being aware of a new field, and have new friends from different nations. Scuba diving is a healthy lifestyle.

Iman Haroun

Diving has definitely helped me build a whole new strong self-confidence. When I started diving in 2019, I was rather shy in every situation in life. I had trouble meeting new people, didn't like approaching new people, and was ashamed to change in front of other people. This changed completely through diving. I started to make diving dates with complete strangers. Posted buddy searches in Facebook groups, for example, and dated there too. I started traveling alone. I spontaneously searched for buddies at new dive centers and joined some group trips to faraway countries. I found more and more buddies, got to know different personalities, and built up a good, diversified, and growing buddy circle worldwide. Nowadays I love to meet new people and new dive spots. You can learn so much from each other.

Moving in front of people was a horror for me. Before I started diving, I couldn't even change in front

of my sister or best friend. I simply had a great sense of shame. I learned to get rid of this quite quickly. Especially at the beginning when you were still diving in a wet suit, you had to change somehow. No matter where you are and who is still standing around. It became more and more relaxed for me until today.

Now we talk openly about sticking the She-P and how to shave and give each other tips. This would also have been unthinkable in the past. On the contrary, we now laugh together if we ever had a leak. I couldn't even pee anywhere in the wilderness before. That was impossible, but today it is one of the best personal developments for me. I no longer have to think and search forever where I can somehow quickly find a toilet. In conclusion, I can only say that diving has definitely boosted my self-esteem and self-confidence and I wouldn't want to miss it.

Alexandra Pischyna

In the photos Iman Haroun, „The difference between the two photos is almost ten years”

In the photos Alexandra Pischyna

I’ve struggled with body image issues and negative self-talk my whole life. Scuba gave me an appreciation and love for my body that I never had before. During my OW course, I noticed I was more than strong enough to lift the tanks; I could haul myself out of the water and up the boat’s ladder; my swim test felt like nothing; and I could effortlessly equalize hands-free. Scuba showed me that there’s no reason NOT to love my body, and it has been the biggest game changer in my self-love evolution.

Lauren Malamala

Our sport has come a long way in the past three decades, with women often leading the way. The journey of becoming a PADI dive professional and working around the world as a photographer/filmmaker in many extreme circumstances has given me great insight into diving and dive training. One of the most rewarding things about teaching women is to get them to take control – of their equipment, navigation, and their own bodies. Women are amazing divers, finding their power builds confidence and self-esteem.

Annie Crawley in "What Every Female Diver Should Know"

AN INSTRUCTORS POINT OF VIEW ON WOMEN IN SCUBA DIVING

My husband (who followed the same path) and I usually teach together. Our main goal in teaching is to pass our passion on to our students. Being older means having more patience with struggling students. In the end, the smiles count!

How do women's experiences during intro dives or Open Water dives differ from those of men?

During introduction dives, I've noticed some differences between males and females. Females often start off more nervous and overwhelmed by the technical aspects. Putting their head underwater is a scary moment for them. Males tend to act tough but pay less attention to skills and lose confidence when they need to repeat them. Females pay close attention, repeat skills carefully, and excel at buoyancy. They are more likely to enroll in an Open Water course and show greater excitement after diving.

Can you share any specific instances where women have had empowering experiences while diving, particularly in comparison to male students?

A young couple came for a Discover Scuba Diving experience. The male had previous diving experience but no certification, while the Russian girl had no diving experience. The male acted overconfident, struggled with setting up his gear, and didn't grasp buoyancy. The girl was timid but attentive and performed

her skills correctly. During the debriefing, she decided to take a diving course regardless of his decision.

What factors contribute to the divergent experiences and outcomes between women and men in the diving realm? ?

Common challenges for women starting diving include anxiety, taking time to adjust, and addressing emotions. Some females dislike getting their hair wet or putting their heads underwater. We help them overcome these challenges by gradually introducing them to water and breathing techniques. Diving is still seen as a male-dominated sport, but we make efforts to make female divers feel more comfortable with colorful gear. Women tend to be more careful with equipment and value their own gear.

Have you noticed any common challenges women face when starting their diving journey, and how can they be overcome?

Picture an Open Water course with three young couples and a mother, whose two sons we certified a month earlier. All

In the photo Annie Crawley

couples did a DSD and were enthusiastic, even though one of the females burst into tears after leaving the water, out of sheer relief. We immediately gave her a group hug (the others joined in) and she was proud as can be. We'll focus on her and her partner. During the confined water sessions he was very helpful and caring towards his partner: carrying tanks, helping her set up the dive set, and doing a meticulous buddy check. All went well, apart from the mask removal and replacement skill, which took an extra pool session for her. At one point we simply said: "Don't hesitate, don't overthink, just take it off. I'm here, so do it". She did and it became the game-changer. During the Open Water sessions (in which she couldn't care less about the mask removal) it became clear to me the dots had connected for her. She floated like a pro and breezed through the course. Keep in mind, the viz was about 3 meters and she dived shoulder to shoulder with me, without any buddyline, as if she was glued to my side enjoying the dive. Her partner, on the other hand, became more and more insecure during the Open Water sessions. His buoyancy was not as perfect as hers, causing him to stir up more silt. Extra time improved his buoyancy but his notorious "can't equalize" (aka "I'm nervous") became a bit of a dread. All divers finished their course and got certified, but the extra attention didn't work for him as it worked for her. End of story: after a short period of time, they split up. It was definitely never our intention, but I wonder if her increased confidence scared him off.

Scuba diving has helped me in my journey of self-acceptance. Among the many ways it has supported my path to self-love, there is one aspect that stands out: scuba diving has nourished

my love for our planet. When I descend into the underwater realm, I feel as if the water is gently hugging me, infusing my soul with a profound sense of love and tranquillity. Bringing that love and peacefulness back to the surface, I feel as if I have grown more grounded and stable in facing the challenges of life.

Isadora Abuter Grebe

You're invited to explore the empowering and inspiring girlscorner on Instagram by checking out @isa_diving_nature

Come join us and discover.

Photo Jon Borg

Photo Mocean Images

ADHESION AND COHESION...

OR WHY YOU SHOULD SPIT INTO YOUR MASK

Text & Photos Michał Czerniak RED

WHO DIDN’T FEEL EMBARRASSED THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD FROM THEIR INSTRUCTOR THAT THEY SHOULD SPIT INTO THEIR MASK FOR THEIR OWN COMFORT?

AS WE GAINED MORE EXPERIENCE, THIS PROCEDURE, INTENDED TO PREVENT THE MASK FROM FOGGING UP, STARTED TO APPEAR COMPLETELY NATURAL FOR US.

However, have you ever wondered why do we spit into our masks? What physical processes occur there?

Out of the factory, a diving mask is covered with chemical coatings from the glass manufacturing process. Regardless of what anti-fogging agents were used, a mask will be highly susceptible to fogging if it is not cleaned. There are many techniques used to prepare a mask for the first dive. In addition to washing it carefully with a dishwashing liquid, divers scrub their masks with toothpaste or even burn lubricant residues using a lighter. I have also encountered methods consisting of soaking the mask in a bowl full of Coca-Cola or mouthwash liquid.

Despite having perfectly prepared your new mask for diving, the fogging prevention procedure needs to be repeated before each use. A fogged up mask not only ruins the joy of diving, but it may also significantly affect the diver’s safety when under water. It physically limits your visibility and capability to control your computer and pressure gauge and, most of all, to communicate with your partner. It also has a negative impact on the diver’s mental state, drawing their attention away

from important events that require their response.

Based on our experience, we are aware that flushing your mask – even at greater depths, where the water temperature is a bit lower – only provides temporary relief.

What makes the mask glasses to become covered with fog?

When diving, the diver delivers warmed up and moist air into their mask through their nose. The mask glass, which touches colder water on one side, usually has a lower temperature then the air inside the mask. This causes the water vapor present in the air to condense on the mask glasses, covering their surface with microscopic water droplets. Over time, the layer of fog residue inside the mask becomes impenetrable for the eye, forcing the diver to stop the dive or use a spare mask.

The invisible force behind the fogging of a diving mask is called the surface tension of liquids. If you want to prevent your mask from fogging up, you need to decrease the surface tension of water. Under the effect of a lower surface tension, water droplets covering the glasses of your mask will start to merge into larger drops

that will be dragged down to the bottom of your mask by gravity, thus clearing your field of view.

You can prevent your mask from fogging by many different means, provided that they will, in fact, decrease surface tension. A substance which is readily available to any diver and free-of-charge at that, is their own saliva, which works excellent as an anti-fogging agent. If you do not fancy using your own saliva, there are many specialist anti-fogging agents available in the market. Rubbing the mask glasses with a raw potato cut in half seems to be a great and effective idea for those divers who want to be “vege”.

However, let us get back to the merits of the case, i.e. water surface tension. This is a physical phenomenon which occurs at the border between a liquid and another substance phase. The tension is created by the adhesion and cohesion forces acting on the water particles, which are made up of hydrogen and oxygen. Water particles (those on the surface and those inside the liquid) attract each other, creating a specific membrane on the surface, which is maintained by the surface tension force. This phenomenon is used by tiny creatures that can stand on the water surface, e.g.

the water strider – a common species of a true bug. The gravity force resulting from its weight is counteracted by the force resulting from the water surface tension.

the water surface. Those who are eager to do this experiment would be advised that the coin should be dry before your try to put it on the water surface. It is also better if the coin is not too heavy, like one Japanese yen from the author’s private collection.

Gravity

You can perform a water surface tension test at home by trying to place a coin on

Water surface tension can be strong enough to pose a danger to divers jumping into the water. This is why, when jumping from a springboard into the pool, the water is put into constant motion, which prevents the creation of excessive surface tension. From a scientific point of view, any substance causing a relatively constant reduction of the water surface tension is called a surfactant. Any means of reducing surface tension by adding a surfactant to the liquid prevents water particles from condensing on the glass inside the diving mask, which prevents it from fogging up. Therefore, the next time you spit into your

mask, i.e. you add a natural surfactant, which boldly counteracts the adhesion and cohesion forces, while the surface tension expressed by a static force to the liquid surface acting on the edges of the surface of this liquid decreases, think how many wonderful physical phenomena occur in front of your own eyes!

We were sitting and drinking coffee, basking in the sun and recalling the dives we had performed that day, when one of our friends carelessly mentioned that, just when she starts diving, she immediately feels the urge to pee, which is ungrounded, as she always remembers to visit the toilet before going into the water.

You want to pee, because your trim is incorrect – said someone accusingly.

TODAY, LET US SUBJECT THIS THESIS TO SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS!

There might be many reasons why a diver feels the urge to empty their bladder. Excluding any diseases that may manifest their presence this way, the reasons may include high water absorption just before diving, water temperature, stress or even individual characteristics of a particular organism. However, there is one reason which seems to be dominant, namely exposing the diver’s body to water pressure, which obviously takes place during each dive.

Let’s assume that a diver decided not to maintain a proper trim during a dive.

The pressure acting on the diver’s head has a value of X, while the pressure acting on their legs is higher and has the value of Y, where X<Y, as mentioned before. Simply put in medical and physical terms, the higher Y pressure causes bodily fluids

from the diver’s legs to be pumped to the higher parts of their body. Blood from their skin vessels and veins moves from their legs to their chest – into their abdomen and heart. This increase of blood volume causes an increase of its pressure, which in turn leads to the stretching of atrial walls in the diver’s heart. The heart contains special sensors, which medicine refers to as receptors, that respond to an increase of heart blood volume and pressure. If the pressure exceeds the assumed normal value, receptors initiate the production of a hormone, called the natriuretic peptide. This hormone is responsible for an entire set of actions, which ultimately lead to the removal of excess fluids from the body, thus restoring diuretic balance. The natriuretic peptide not only increases the urine filtering rate in the kidneys, but also triggers the excretion of another hormone in the brain, which is responsible for the speed of urine production in the body. Under such a mass hormonal attack, the diver can only surrender and their thoughts begin to circulate around the growing problem related to the urge to urinate.

WHY DO I HAVE THE URGE TO PEE WHEN DIVING

Text Michał Czerniak RED, Piotr Kopeć Wąski

Surface tension

I NEED TO PEE...

YOU PEE, BECAUSE YOU DRINK A LOT. YOU DRINK A LOT, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET DCS.

DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU SHOULD PEE WHEN DIVING?

LET'S START FROM DRINKING

You should hydrate before diving. This doesn’t mean that you should drink a bottle of water just before diving in, but you should rather maintain a higher hydration level for several days preceding a diving weekend.

WHAT FOR?

It doesn’t really matter much if you call your dive a “no decompression” or technical one. The name won’t change the fact that every dive ends with decompression.

When you breath using your regulator underwater, quite a lot of different gases move around your body. Gases are transported via your blood vessels. The thinner your blood is, the faster this process will be. When ascending and later on the surface, we try to get rid of as much of the gases accumulated in our bodies as possible (in fact, this is the famous decompression!) and a factor that significantly contribute to this, among others, is good hydration, which means thinner blood.

If you tend to have headaches or be sleepy or tired after diving, insufficient hydration might be the reason for this.

Drinking is good for your health!

PEEING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!

You pee when you feel the urge. What happens if you hold back when you need to “spend a penny”? The longer you hold, the worse it becomes, because you provide better conditions

Text Wojciech A. Filip Photos Tecline Academy

for the bacteria causing urinary infections. I you’re unlucky, you will additionally contribute to the development of bladder stones.

You've never had a urinary infection? That's a good thing, because trust me, you really don’t want to get one. It burns, hurts and forces you to pee every few minutes, even if you do not have any urine anymore

CONCLUSION?

You should pee when you feel the urge, also underwater.

PEEING UNDERWATER

Let's divide this into three categories:

1. peeing in the wetsuit;

2. peeing in a special diaper;

3. peeing using a catheter a special valve.

RE. 1

Peeing in your wetsuit does not require any special equipment or skills. At first, you may have doubts, like “Am I to, just like, take a piss?” Yes, you pee in your wetsuit pants and nobody even notices it.

After the dive, you should definitely thoroughly flush your wetsuit and take care of the hygiene of you urethra, as you were soaking it in a solution of urine and water for the entire dive.

Diving in a drysuit

When using a drysuit, it is better to keep it dry. Of course, wetting it with urine from the inside is possible, but: it will no longer be dry;

your underwear, undersuit and drysuit will need to be washed and dried after the dive;

and your friends... they won’t believe that your drysuit is leaking in such a specific area ��

RE. 2

An adult diaper, also called briefs. You can compare it to a baby nappy. You put it under your underwear and pee in it.

Disadvantages of such solution?

Small capacity – despite various declarations of the manufacturers, the largest capacity usually lasts for one solid piss or two.

Manner of peeing – your should pee carefully and slowly, so the urine can be absorbed by the absorber and does not leak outside your diaper.

Advantages: diapers are available in different sizes and their manufacturers outdo one another when it comes to various extras. Diapers are single-use.

RE. 3

P-valve

Full freedom, you pee when you want and as much as you ��

The most efficient method, allowing for stress-free hydration underwater. During long dives, you can drink without worrying that you will not be able to pee to often

How does it work?

Evacuating urine outside of the suit is not a problem – this happens via a one-way valve located on the leg, approximately at mid-thigh.

It's the screw, usually made of plastic, which protrudes outside of the suit in some divers.

Installing the valve requires making a small hole in the leg of your suit. Inside the suit, the valve consists of a flexible tube, which needs to be connected with your urethra.

P-valve underwater

To put it very simply, the urethra is the spot from which the urine flows outside when you pee. Despite evolutionary changes, our body is not equipped with any typically “technical” connections in this spot. Of course, you may check your urethra with greater attention than ever before, but I do not expect any surprises here – it does not end with any thread nor even a quick connection.

ENHANCING THE URETHRA, OR HOW TO PEE INTO A THIN TUBE IF YOUR AIM SUCKS

WOMEN

Women use the so-called “She-P”. It is an anatomically-shaped, comfortable overlay made of soft silicone.

It precisely and tightly covers the area between the pubic mound and the anus, so the urethra as well. Its position is stabilized with a special adhesive. The overlay ends with a short tube that can be simply connected (using a quick connector) with the tube of the valve evacuating the urine outside. Several versions of the She-P are available. The latest 3.0 version has a wider front part in comparison to the “Classic” version. Current versions that features a special adhesive do not require thorough depilation and putting them on is not troublesome, as the whole can be removed without any problem and have its location corrected despite applying the adhesive. You can

put, or rather stick, the She-P on, starting from the rear side (a bit below your anus) and gradually pressing down towards the front. Practicing it at home is a very good idea. You can practice it all when lying down and, later on, when squatting. Importantly, you can check the leak tightness right away by peeing in a standing position. She-P has its own, female support group. You should join it before you start using the She-P (FB: The Divine Secrets of the She-P Sisterhood).

The She-P is reusable, therefore, it requires thorough disinfection after each dive.

MEN

Men use medical external catheters. This catheter most easily compares to a condom. It has a similar shape, is made of a thicker material and does not cause allergies. Where a condom has a reservoir for semen, the catheter has a tube, which, after putting on the catheter, should be connected to the tube of the valve evacuating the urine outside.

The easiest way to do this is using a quick connection (then, you should shorten the length of the catheter tube by half, so it won’t bend). Although diving can be exciting, the catheter, as opposed to a condom, is put on when you are not sexually aroused – your penis shouldn’t be erect. This means that you should choose the appropriate catheter size for your flaccid penis. This is not a problem, because they are made in dif-

She–P She–P, colors

Photo Heleen Graauw

ferent sizes. Another difference in comparison to a condom is that a catheter should be put on a penis with its foreskin pulled over it and covering the urethra. Do not pull your foreskin off, like with a condom, as putting a catheter like this may lead to it getting stuck together and you will pee in your suit. A well-selected catheter is leak-tight, which is additionally secured by an adhesive on its internal side. A catheter is single-use, so you have to put a new one before each dive.

YOUR SUIT VALVE NEEDS TO BE DISINFECTED

Do this using bactericides (vinegar is not a bactericide). Leaving urine (bacteria) inside a catheter may lead to a urinary infection, which you’d prefer to avoid. Disinfecting the entire urine evacuation system takes a dozen seconds or so. It all consists of pouring a bactericide, which dissolves any sediments along the way, through the P-valve tube and the valve itself. There are a lot of appropriate preparations on the market – just ask at a pharmacy.

Valve outside Extension

Cutting the catheter

Quick coupler

Ready quick coupler

I have asked artificial intelligence for a short text on urinary tract care. Thus, it’s a debut in Perfect Diver! Read the supplementary information ahead �� (the entire text, including the subheading, was made by AI)

KEEP YOUR URINARY SYSTEM IN GOOD HEALTH!

INTRODUCTION

Did you know that the urinary system is one of the most important systems in our body? It is responsible for removing harmful substances and excessive fluids, so it is important to look after its health. Today we are going to talk about how to prevent urinary system infections in women and men.

PART 1: PERSONAL HYGIENE

The first and the most important step is to maintain proper personal hygiene. For women, it is important to always clean themselves from the front towards the rear after urinating or defecating. This allows to prevent the transfer of bacteria from the area of the anus to the urethra. Thorough cleaning of the intimate parts is also important for men.

PART 2: PROPER HYDRATION

Another important aspect is drinking appropriate amount of liquids. Water is the best choice! Regularly drinking appropriate amount of water helps keep the urinary system hydrated and flush away any bacteria. On the other hand, you should limit sugary and caffeine drinks, which may cause irritation of your urinary system.

PART 3: REGULAR URINATION

Do not hold your urine for too long! Regular urination is important for the health of your urinary system. Holding your urine may lead to accumulation of bacteria and it increases the risk of infection. Therefore, remember to regularly urinate when you feel the urge.

PART 4: AVOIDING TOO TIGHT CLOTHES

Wearing too tight clothes, especially over your intimate parts, may limit the airflow and be conductive to the development of bacteria. Choose some more loose, airy fabric, which will help to maintain proper ventilation and health of your urinary system.

SUMMARY

Preventing urinary system infections is very important for your health. Remember about proper personal hygiene, drinking appropriate amounts of water, regular urination and avoiding too tight clothes. Taking care of your health is of utmost importance and these simple steps may help you keep your urinary system in good shape. Look after yourself and enjoy good health!

ANY QUESTIONS?

I will be happy to answer them. Do you want to install a P-valve in your suit, meet Heleen who has invented the She-P, select a catheter or talk about... peeing ��? Come and join us at the Tecline Academy!

https://teclinediving.eu/tecline-academy

Wągrowiec 16.09.2023 (sobota)

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