Winter is slowly fading into memory, and we eagerly welcome warmer days and new diving adventures. But before we fully dive into spring plans, we take a moment to reflect on ice diving –a unique and demanding experience that offers incredible sensations. In this issue, you’ll find articles dedicated to this extraordinary form of exploration – our farewell to winter, even though our thoughts are already drifting towards the sun and warmer waters.
We open this edition with a journey to North Macedonia, where the crystalclear waters of Lake Ohrid and the pristine springs of the Crn Drim River near the Monastery of St. Naum await us. A place where history and underwater beauty come together in perfect harmony.
Next, we move to the Revillagigedo Archipelago (better known as Socorro) –
a true paradise for lovers of large pelagic creatures. We also take a practical look at the Maldives – when to go and how to prepare to make the most of this diver’s paradise.
For those seeking even more thrills, South Africa in this issue brings realism and adrenaline. Waves, currents, and sharks make it one of the most challenging yet exhilarating diving destinations.
In the tips and curiosities section, we explore the importance of an argon bottle, take a closer look at another "diving bird," discover the lesser-known but fascinating Lake Ołów, and admire Crinoids.
And that’s just the beginning – there’s much more to explore. We invite you to read on and dive in digitally!
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Farewell Winter, Welcome Spring!
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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 800 dives in various regions of the world. He wrote and published many articles.
Co-author of photo exhibitions. An advocate of leaving the place of residence clean and unblemished. Diving promoter. Since 2008 he has been running his own website www. dive-adventure.eu. Based on extensive experience, in 2018 he created the new Perfect Diver Magazine, which has been successfully published regularly every two months in Polish and English for 7 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;
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.
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...
Infected with a passion for diving by Perfect Diver. She continues to expand her diving skills. Although she definitely prefers warm waters, she dons a dry suit and explores colder bodies of water as well. Her favorite dives are those with plenty of marine life! Recently, she’s been taking her phone underwater in a protective case, trying her hand at amateur photography. She’s also curious about diving medicine. Professionally, she’s a Master’s degree nurse and a surgical scrub nurse.
Zoopsychologist, researcher and expert in dolphin behavior, committed to the idea of protecting dolphins and fighting against keeping them in dolphinariums. Passionate about Red Sea and underwater encounters with large pelagic predators. Member of the Dolphinaria-Free Europe Coalition, volunteer of the Tethys Research Institute and Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit, collaborator of Marine Connection. For over 15 years, he has been participating in research on wild dolphin populations, auditing dolphinariums, and monitoring the quality of whale watching cruises. As the head of the "Free & Safe" project (formerly "NO! for a dolphinarium"), he prevents keeping dolphins in captivity, promotes ethical whale & dolphin watching, trains divers in responsible swimming with wild dolphins, and popularizes knowledge about dolphin therapy that is passed over in silence or hidden by profit-making centers. on this form of animal therapy.
WOJCIECH ZGOŁA ANNA METRYCKA
TOMEK KULCZYŃSKI
DOMINIKA ABRAHAMCZYK
JAKUB BANASIAK
SYLWIA KOSMALSKA-JURIEWICZ
He has been diving for 35 years. He has spent more than 16,000 hours underwater, most of them diving technically. He has been an instructor and mentor instructor for many organizations including CMAS, GUE, IANTD, PADI. He co-created the training programs for some of them. He is a professional with vast knowledge and practical experience. He has participated in many diving projects as a leader, explorer, initiator or speaker. He was the first Pole to dive the HMHS Britannic wreck (117m). He was the first to explore the deep part of the Glavas Cave (118m). He made a series of dives documenting the wreck of ORP GROM (110m). He has documented deep (100-120m) parts of flooded mines. He is the creator and designer of many equipment solutions to improve diving safety.
Technical Director at Tecline, where, among other things, he manages the Tecline Academy a research and training facility. Author of several hundred articles on diving and books on diagnosis and repair of diving equipment.
He dives in rivers, lakes, caves, seas and oceans all over the world.
WOJCIECH JAROSZ
A graduate of two Poznan universities, the Academy of Physical Education (coaching specialization –handball) and the University of A.Mickiewicz, Faculty of Biology (specialty of experimental biology). He connected his professional life with this first university trying to influence the direction of development of future professionals on the one hand, and on the other planning and implementing research, pushing laboriously in the right direction of the stroller called science. In his free time he spends his time actively – his main passions are sailing (sea helmsman), skiing (downhill skiing instructor), riding a motorcycle, recreational diving and many other activities, as well as photography, mainly nature.
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was chaos...
…that is, the multitude of thoughts and delights after my first immersion under water in 2005 in the form of INTRO while on vacation in Egypt. By then I had completely immersed myself in the underwater world and wanted it to have an increasing impact on my life. 2 years later, I took an OWD course, which I received as a gift for my 18th birthday, and over time, further courses and skills improvement appeared.
"Photography" appeared not much later, but initially in the form of a disposable underwater "Kodak" from which the photos came out stunningly blue
I am not a fan of one type of diving, although my greatest weakness at the moment is for large pelagic animals. The Galapagos Islands were my best opportunity to photograph so many species of marine fauna so far.
I share my passion for diving and photography with my buddy, who is my wife IG: luke.divewalker; www.lukedivewalker.com
Laura is a journalist, instructor trainer, CCR and cave diver. She has been developing her diving career for over a decade, gaining knowledge and experience in various fields. Her specialty is professional diving training, but her passion for the underwater environment and its protection drives her to explore various places around the world. From the depths of the Lombok Strait, caves in Mexico and wrecks in Malta to the Maldives, where she runs a diving center awarded by the Ministry of Tourism as the best diving center in the Maldives. Laura actively contributes to promoting the protection of the marine environment, takes part in scientific projects, campaigns against ocean littering and cooperates with non-governmental organizations. You can find her at @laura_kazi_diving www.divemastergilis.com
I photograph because I love it, I film because it excites me, I write because I enjoy sharing, I teach because I support growth, I travel because I love discovering new things. 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.
PRZEMYSŁAW ZYBER
WOJCIECH A. FILIP
ŁUKASZ METRYCKI / Luke Divewalker
LAURA KAZIMIERSKA
DOMINIK DOPIERAŁA
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.
Partner of the diving school https://wewelldiving.pl
The author is biologist by profession, involved in cancer research at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Brno. His profession enabled him to travel around the globe and to visit places which are also regarded as the best dive sites. Underwater photography became a part of his life since he dove the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. His „pet“ is Canon 80D (Ikelite housing, „fish eye“, 60mm and 100mm macro lenses, Subsee diopters and snoot RETRA), as well as the Photoshop editing software. He received an “Honorary Mention” on one of the most the prestigious underwater photo contest, Ocean Art 2020 (Underwater Art). Some of his underwater photos are processed by creative tools, by combination of underwater photography and digital software to create captivating – sometime even surrealist – images.
His photos are regularly published in scuba diving magazines and presented at exhibitions. He believes that exhibiting of underwater photos to the public could increase social awareness towards marine conservation. More underwater photos, as well as information about the author, are to be found on his website http://michalstros.cz
Is 45 years old and married, has been working professionally in the metallurgical industry for 25 years, has been diving since 2009 and diving has become a way of life and passion for him. He lives in Kętrzyn and is associated with the Mazursharks Club.
I am a traveler and a technical diver, exploring the world both on land and underwater.
I have been diving for 16 years. Since I am a professional photographer, a camera has accompanied me from my very first dive. I started with recreational diving, but over time, I obtained full trimix and full cave certifications, allowing me to explore caves, wrecks, and great depths.
Underwater, I find a peace that is hard to experience on the surface.
Every dive is not just an adventure for me but also an opportunity to capture the extraordinary underwater world through photography.
e-mail: barbaraglenc.foto@gmail.com
By education and profession, I am a nurse and a healthcare manager, and photography is my passion, to which I devote every free moment. Since I started diving in 2019, the camera has become an inseparable element of my underwater adventures. Wanting to capture the beauty of the underwater world in all its glory, I reached for the Canon 5D Mark II SLR, and today my main equipment is the Canon R6. I am constantly looking for new places and challenges to improve my skills. However, my photos would not have been created without the support of friends who have been with me from the beginning and often take on the role of models. I am also strongly connected to the mermaid community in Poland. I specialize in their photography, trying to capture the underwater beauty of this community and convey its unique magic. From the beginning of my diving adventure, I have been associated with the Lublin Diving School Napoleon Arka Kowalika, and since 2025 I have had the pleasure of serving as the DivePro Diving Lighting Ambassador. @michalmuciek https://facebook.com/michal.muciek
ALDONA DREGER
BARBARA GLENC
MICHAL ŠTROS
MICHAŁ MUCIEK
JACEK KUBIAK
Macedonian
OHRID Amazes!
Text WOJCIECH ZGOŁA Photos PERFECT DIVER
If someone blindfolded you, transported you in silence to the shore of this incredible body of water, and then set your eyes and ears free, you would be certain that you were standing by a charming Mediterranean bay. THE COLOR OF THE WATER, THE GENTLE BREEZE, THE ROCKS, AND THE SUN SHINING IN A CLOUDLESS SKY… Only when you stepped into the water and tasted it would you realize
It was the year 356 BC. In Pella, the political and cultural heart of Macedonia, where the royal palace stood, a boy was born.
His parents were Olympias, a princess from Epirus, and Philip II of Macedon, the king.
The boy was named Alexander. His mother, Olympias, was ambitious, strong, and influential, which had a direct impact on the upbringing and aspirations of young Alexander. He grew up watching his father, a remarkably talented ruler. Philip II was a brilliant strategist and reformer. He created the Macedonian phalanx, an improved version of the Greek phalanx, which later became the foundation of both his own success and that of his gifted son, who absorbed every lesson he encountered from an early age. A little later, as a young man, Alexander received a masterful education under the guidance of Aristotle.
In 336 BC, when Alexander was 20, his father was assassinated by Pausanias, one of his bodyguards. The young and ambitious Alexander ascended the throne, dreaming of world conquest. He immediately began preparations for an invasion of Persia, ultimately reaching as far as India. Alexander the Great died young, at just 32 years old.
Alexander the Great never lost a single battle and built his empire in just 10 years. No other empire was created so swiftly or encompassed such a vast area in such a short time. Today, the city of Pella is in Greece, just 60 km from the nearest border crossing into North Macedonia.
It is the statue of Alexander the Great, seated on horseback, that we admire in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Officially named the "Warrior on a Horse" monument stands in Macedonia Square and can be reached, for example, via the Stone Bridge. The pedestal itself is 10 meters high, while the rider’s figure reaches 12 meters. The monument was unveiled on September 8, 2011, to mark the 20th anniversary of North Macedonia's independence.
Our journey begins much earlier, as we take up an invitation from Jovan at the Amfora Diving Center. We arrange the dates and check travel options. Driving would be ideal, but it would extend our trip by a solid four days. We look at flights from Warsaw and Berlin to Tirana in Albania or Skopje. In the end, we opt for a Berlin-Skopje flight. Upon arrival, we rent a car and head straight to our first overnight stay in the capital.
We’re hungry, but since our hotel is on the outskirts and there’s a wedding reception in the restaurant, dinner is not an option. The staff manages to prepare a “potato salad” for us ;) – which turns out to be chips and some peanuts. We pair it with local wine, cola, juices, and water.
The morning starts very early – around 5:40 AM – as we are awakened by the muezzin, chanting the call to prayer loud and clear. It turns out that there is a mosque right next to our hotel.
After breakfast and checking out, we head to the city center. We park the car and spend a few hours immersing ourselves in the squares, streets, hustle, and... trash of Skopje. The last part truly shocks us. I have never seen such an amount of litter in a city – let alone a capital – virtually everywhere. And that’s a real shame because the city itself is beautifully situated along the Vardar River, which meanders gently through it, has over 2,000 years of history (once known as Scupi), and, as the historical and cultural center of the country, blends Balkan, Ottoman, and European influences.
I’ll mention just a few attractions. We walk across the Stone Bridge, the symbol of Skopje, which connects the old and new
parts of the city. We explore Macedonia Square, wander near the Vardar River, and make our way back through the Old Bazaar, catching a glimpse of the Kale Fortress.
In the early afternoon, we set off toward Ohrid. However, along the way, we make a stop at Matka Canyon – a fantastic place for hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, or enjoying roasted chestnuts. Matka Canyon is a picturesque river gorge formed by the Treska River. Surrounded by steep cliffs and lush vegetation, it attracts both tourists and locals alike.
Why "Matka" (Mother)? A dam was built here, creating an artificial lake. The canyon is home to several medieval monasteries, and the Virgin Mary holds an important place in Orthodox Christianity, which may have influenced the name. Etymologically, the name could also originate from Old Slavic or be linked to local legends and the region’s early inhabitants.
Of course, we also view this stunning location from a diving perspective. As it turns out, diving here is possible, but you need to catch good weather – several rain-free days – to ensure
Surface area: 358 km2
clear enough water to admire the flora and fauna. The canyon is also home to Vrelo Cave, one of the deepest underwater caves in Europe. Filled with stalactites and stalagmites, it remains largely unexplored.
Skopje and its surroundings, at least halfway to Ohrid, reveal numerous mosques and a noticeable presence of Albanian flags. At times, when someone dozes off in the car and suddenly wakes up, they might momentarily think they’re in Albania rather than North Macedonia. A highway leads from Skopje toward Ohrid, though it ends at a certain point and is still under construction. The closer we get to our destination, the less litter we see.
Late in the evening, we arrive at our destination in Ohrid. We are warmly welcomed by Jovan Sekuloski, the owner of the Amfora Diving Center, where we will be staying – right above the center on the second floor.
After a quick unpacking session (our apartment accommodates four people, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a hallway), we head out to find a bar or restaurant. Eventually, we settle on a local eatery, and by the end of the meal, we’re smiling at the sight of the bill – prices in North Macedonia are low, and the food is delicious.
We sleep soundly, and the next morning, after some grocery shopping, we prepare our own breakfast. Around 9:30 AM, we follow Jovan toward the Amfora Base, located right by the lake.
For several minutes, we admire the stunning view of the water to our right as we drive. Upon arrival, we park, and Jovan shows us around the area and the diving base. The Amfora Diving Center shares space with the Bay of Bones Museum. The base is well-equipped, offering full gear rentals and facilities for both technical and recreational diving. We have access to two inflatable boats (zodiacs), and the site is also suitable for introductory dives. Just five steps from the base, and we are already entering the lake. The bottom is rocky, the water crystal-clear, with visibility reaching 15-20 meters. The lakebed slopes gently, with no sudden drops or walls. Swimming slightly to the right, we can quickly reach depths of 40 to 50 meters.
Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest and cleanest lakes in Europe. The city of Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized both for its historical monuments and the lake’s unique ecosystem. This body of water is around three million years old, making it one of the oldest lakes on Earth. It is remarkably pure and rich in endemic species, such as the Ohrid trout. Here, visitors can enjoy various water activities, including swimming, diving, sailing, and paddleboarding.
In the lake, there are eight endemic species. Apart from the aforementioned Ohrid trout (Salmo letnica), we can also find species such as the bleak (Alburnus scoranza), the Ohrid belvica (Salmo ohridanus), also known as the Ohrid salmon, the Ohrid barbel (Barbus ohridanus) from the carp family, and the Ohrid chub (Leuciscus ohridanus). Among the more commonly known freshwater species, we can find the European eel, carp, and bream. Interestingly, some sources mention the presence of
pike here, but the locals do not confirm this. We also did not see any pike or perch ourselves.
We dive several times beneath the Museum, which stands on stilts. We swim through the middle, admiring the play of light and schools of small fish. Following our guide – either Jovan or his father, Micio, the founder of this place – we observe various artifacts and bones. We are not allowed to touch them, but we can observe them :) The visibility and clarity of the water
continue to amaze us. The water temperature is 18°C (down to a depth of 22 m).
On another occasion, we take a zodiac towards the Albanian border for about 20 minutes. We reach Trpejca and dive in a spot where the bottom drops to over 200 m deep. We leave the zodiac anchored at around 6 m with Brygida on board, while the four of us – Jovan, Dominika, Waldek, and I – jump into the water and start our dive. Jovan leads us (after a briefing, of course) along a steep rocky wall to a depth of about 40 m. Here, the water temperature is 7°C, and visibility is around 12 m. As we approach our decompression stop, we ascend to about 20 m, where we encounter schools of thousands of fish, mainly two species. These are the endemic chubs and bleaks. The largest ones are about 10 cm long, and unfortunately, we see them against the sunlight.
During our break, Jovan takes us to a beach and shows us where we will have lunch. It’s amazing – silence and tranquility, sunshine, an air temperature of 22°C, and a gentle, warm breeze. The food is excellent – a plate of fresh tomatoes with onions and local cheeses, accompanied by a garlic dip on yogurt, toasted bread, and olive oil.
While riding the zodiac, we chase cormorants and gray herons, occasionally passing fishermen in their boats who greet us.
We also dive at a spot near the base, to the right side. Here, we find enormous amphoras. One of them, unbroken, lies at a depth of 34 m, while others, already shattered, extend beyond 40 m. One must be mindful of air supply when diving here with just one tank ;)
Going even further to the right and staying at a depth of 6–10 m, Micio and I search for eels. Since it’s daytime, they remain hidden and asleep. We find a few large burrows where you could fit your entire arm inside. At one point, we are surprised by a fairly strong current. With less than 100 bar left in our tanks, we decide on a safe ascent (from about 5 m depth) and swim a bit on the surface. Once the current disappears, we submerge again and continue our dive towards the base. At the very end, we encounter enormous boulders, often covered with vibrant green algae, mussels, and snails. This spot is perfect for some interesting underwater shots. We surface, passing reeds on the left side. The dive lasted over 90 minutes underwater.
Overall, we are enchanted by Ohrid – both the city and the lake. Every day, we explore different parts of this small urban area and its surroundings. We also take the opportunity to try the local cuisine. Between Ohrid and the Amfora Base, there is a restaurant called Utarna Terrace, which requires a steep drive
up a paved road. If you're lucky, you might get a table on the terrace with a stunning view – perhaps even of the setting sun as it finally dips below the lake’s surface. The food is exquisite and served in traditional stoneware dishes.
Non-divers will have plenty to do. Ohrid is a fantastic destination for an affordable and delicious vacation. There are places to stroll, boat or ferry trips to take, monasteries to visit, hills to climb, and several beaches to relax by the lake.
An incredible place – saving this for last – is the Springs of St. Naum. You can get there by taking the SH3 road along Lake Ohrid, covering a distance of about 29 km south of the city. Another option is to take a boat cruise, which is popular among tourists. I first heard about diving in the St. Naum Springs from Rafał Dymczyk – sending my regards to him! I immediately asked Jovan to arrange a dive there for us.
***
It was around the year 830 when another boy was born, most likely within the Byzantine Empire. What do we know for sure? That he was a disciple of Saints Cyril and Methodi-
us, that he joined them at a young age, and that he took part in their Christianization mission and the creation of the Slavic alphabet. At that time, he took the name Naum. In 885, after the death of Methodius and the persecution of Cyril and Methodius' disciples in Great Moravia, Naum found refuge in Bulgaria. By 893, he had reached Lake Ohrid, where, near the sources of the Black Drin River, he founded a monastery between 893 and 900. This monastery became one of the most important educational and spiritual centers of the region. Naum ran a school here, training future clergy and teachers of Slavic literacy. He passed away in 910 and was buried in the monastery, which still bears his name and remains an important pilgrimage and tourist site.
To see the small monastery, you need to enter the complex, which today includes a hotel, restaurant, and other buildings, meaning it isn’t visible from the road – you have to walk through these structures to find it. As you enter from the parking lot through the gate, you pass market stalls selling souvenirs, rakija tastings, and restaurants, some of which are even set on the water! After our dive, we have lunch at one of them.
Thanks to Jovan, we drive right up to the water’s edge. We gear up and prepare our equipment. It’s supposed to be cold, as the water here maintains a constant temperature of 10–11°C year-round. Meanwhile, outside, it's a warm 25°C, with no wind, a clear sky, and plenty of sunshine full of vitamin D. The depth won’t exceed 8 meters. We follow Jovan. Entering the water is tricky – the ground forms a ledge that requires a big step forward. But it’s safer to sit down and slide in on your back.
We adjust our masks. From the surface, the view is unimpressive – plants, tree branches, sediment from bark, leaves, and dust… Then, we dip our heads in. Sharp, icy needles sting the exposed parts of our faces. "Just endure the first three minutes,
and then you'll be fine," Jovan says with a smile. Our eyes widen as much as they possibly can. This is a different world. Visibility extends a good 70 meters. It feels like we've suddenly entered a magical realm – like Narnia or perhaps even the Shire, the hometown of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins from Tolkien’s books. The greens are lush, fallen trees are covered in moss, and straight, reed-like plants stand tall like poles. You can hardly tell you're underwater – if not for the cold and the rising bubbles. The lakebed is covered in vegetation, patches of sand, and stones. Seaweed sways around us, while tiny fish dart between them. Looking closely, we can see small bubbles of water emerging from underground fissures. These spring geysers stir up tiny
If you mention „Perfect Diver” at the AMFORA DC you'll receive a 10% discount on diving during the 2025 season!
In the summer months until September, the lake’s water temp. can reach up to 25°C.
grains of sand, creating mesmerizing patterns that shimmer like silver fountains.
At this very spot (the southern end of Lake Ohrid), the Black Drin River flows into the lake, and for about 30 km, its waters mix with the lake’s before flowing out in the town of Struga on the northern shore. This is the lake’s only natural outlet, and Struga, with its charming canals and bridges, is built around the river.
The St. Naum Springs form one of North Macedonia’s most extraordinary underwater landscapes. Lake Ohrid is truly the pearl of the Balkans – worth visiting and diving in.
UNDER THE ICE
CMAS Instructor Course through the eyes of an underwater photographer
Text and Photos MICHAŁ MUCIEK
THE FROZEN SURFACE OF LAKE KORTOWSKIE (POLAND), THE TEMPERATURE BALANCING AROUND ZERO AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS – THIS IS HOW THE KDP/CMAS MPL ICE INSTRUCTOR COURSE, ORGANIZED BY AKP SKORPENA ON THE PREMISES OF THE KORTOWO CAMPUS IN OLSZTYN, BEGINS. AS AN UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER, I HAD A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE THIS EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE THROUGH MY LENS.
Friday Arrival and Evening Conversations
On Friday at noon, together with Arek Kowalik – an experienced instructor and owner of the Napoleon Diving School – we pack all the equipment and set off from Lublin. We have about four hours of journey ahead of us. Like us, the other participants of the course come on Friday evening and check in at the HP Park Olsztyn Hotel. This is the perfect time for the first talks, exchange of experiences and integration.
At the SKORPENA club headquarters, instructors and students share stories from their dives so far. Everyone has their own approach to ice diving, and experienced instructors are
happy to provide practical tips. For my part, I try to bring everyone closer to the secrets of underwater photography.
Day 1:
Lectures, Preparations, and the First Immersion
Saturday morning begins with intensive lectures. Participants listen attentively to lectures on the theory of ice diving, safety procedures, rescue operations and organisation of dives in extreme conditions. The psychological aspects of diving in confined spaces and team management techniques are also discussed.
After the theoretical part, the trainees will learn about emergency procedures, such as losing contact with the safety rope, searching for an alternative exit to the surface and self-belaying techniques. Simulation of underwater emergencies, including loss of orientation and appropriate responses at critical moments, is a key part of preparation.
Then we go to Lake Kortowskie. The head of the training, CMAS M3 Instructor Marcin Dąbrowski and Paweł Laskowski from AKP Skorpena, begin the practical part with a technical briefing. After discussing emergency procedures and preparing the equipment, we proceed to cut two ice holes – one for future ice diving instructors, the other for recreational divers who want to obtain the KDP/CMAS Ice Diver qualifications.
The ice is several centimetres thick – enough to support the weight of equipment and divers. Drilling work requires the use of saws and special augers. After their preparation, the dive sites are marked and secured with ropes and buoys. The cut ice sheets are placed vertically on the sides of the ice hole so that they are visible from a distance.
Trainees intensively train emergency procedures, such as searching for a missing diver, self-rescue and communication through a safety rope.
Saturday is also the time for photographic "surface" documentation. In the evening, I look through the first photos and start processing them, analysing the shots and planning the next sessions.
Day 2:
Advanced Techniques and the Exam
We start Sunday morning by cutting more ice holes and preparing for the next practical part. While waiting for my turn to go under the ice, I notice a group of ice swimmers that appeared at the shore in a specially prepared ice hole. Without thinking long, I take my camera and join them in doing a short but dynamic photo shoot. Paweł Laskowski can't help but joke that I look like a Playboy photographer and I came to look for models especially for ice swimmers. There is no end to laughter!
The next hours of the course focus on advanced techniques of ice rescue, evacuation of the injured and management of the diving team. Under the ice, communication limited to rope signals and torch light is crucial. Trainees improve their ability to transmit safety signals and cooperate in difficult conditions.
The culmination of the course is an exam – both theoretical and practical. Marcin Dąbrowski emphasises that the training
is demanding, but its completion gives great satisfaction and opens up new opportunities in technical diving.
Summary
For me as an underwater photographer, it was an unforgettable adventure – working in extreme conditions, capturing the emotions of the trainees and the magical world under the ice is an experience that I will remember for a long time.
Personally, I also obtained the Ice Diver qualifications! My camera equipment – a Canon R6 in a solid, waterproof Marelux case and a DivePro lighting provided by the Extreme Divers dive shop – worked great, it turned out to be perfect for ice conditions, and their light perfectly emphasised the structure of the ice.
Low temperatures were not a problem thanks to the right equipment. The Santi E.Lite Plus dry suit in combination with the BZ400 heating warmer and heated gloves provided thermal comfort even in icy water. The powerful battery guaranteed long-lasting operation of the heating system, which allowed you to focus on training and improving your skills, instead of fighting the cold. The right equipment is the key to comfortable and safe diving in extreme conditions.
Thanks to initiatives such as the Central Ice Instructor Course KDP/CMAS MPL, the ice diving community is growing dynamically. It is not only prestige, but also new skills and the opportunity to conduct your own training.
Many thanks to the KDP CMAS team and the SKORPENA Club for professional organisation and support. If this is how the year begins, the whole thing promises to be extremely exciting!
See you under the ice and under the water!
ICE DIVING AT THE
KOPARKI
Reservoir in Jaworzno (February
2025)
Text and photos BARBARA GLENC
A Winter Adventure Under the Ice
For several years, we had been waiting for the perfect conditions for genuine ice diving – the kind where you can step onto the ice, carve out an ice hole, and dive beneath its surface. This winter finally made it possible for us. We had been monitoring the temperatures for some time, and when the ideal conditions finally appeared, one phone call to a few friends was all it took – the decision was made in an instant. We met the next day to dive and execute a unique underwater photo session under the ice.
As a photographer, I couldn’t wait to capture the winter underwater world through my lens. I knew that the ice and crystal-clear water would create a unique scenery that cannot be found in any other conditions.
Preparation and Safety
The maximum depth of the Koparki Reservoir (Jaworzno, Poland) is 18.5 meters, but ice diving follows its own rules—visi-
bility, temperature, and, most importantly, safety matter more than depth.
What conditions did we encounter?
Visibility: An outstanding 15 meters
Water temperature: 3°C
Air temperature: 2°C
Ice thickness: 10 cm
We chose a spot above the power distribution station to cut our hole, about 5–7 meters from the shore. Using a chainsaw, we cut a circular opening, which not only made it easier to manage the guide ropes but also created stunning visual effects underwater.
Safety was our top priority. While on the ice, we secured ourselves with ropes and used ice screws for anchoring. In the ice hole, we placed a rope with a strobe light to aid orientation and ensure a safe return to the surface.
Fresh Water
The Dive
Our six-person team had full cave diving certifications, so we conducted the entire dive according to cave diving principles. We used a reel to lay a guide line under the ice. To increase safety, we decided to create a second ice hole above the sunken excavator in the middle of the reservoir, providing an additional emergency exit.
Underwater, the conditions were incredible—the ice above us created beautiful light reflections, and the clear water allowed us to see every detail of the submerged structures. For me as a photographer, it was one of the most extraordinary
experiences. The shots I captured showcased the raw beauty of winter diving and the mesmerizing play of light beneath the ice.
Conclusion
Ice diving at Koparki is an experience worth having. Proper preparation, reliable equipment, and a well-coordinated team are the keys to success. This year’s conditions allowed us to complete an exceptional photoshoot, and the atmosphere under the ice was indescribable. Many thanks to the entire team for an unforgettable dive.
The REVILLAGIGEDO Archipelago
or the Mexican Galapagos
Over 400 km from the Mexican mainland, southwest of the Baja California Peninsula, lies a truly extraordinary place. Just four volcanic islands in the middle of the Pacific – nothing special, right? BUT IF YOU HAPPEN TO GET GOOD WEATHER, THIS IS WHERE YOUR ADVENTURE TRULY BEGINS. IF THE WEATHER TURNS BAD, BRACE YOURSELF FOR A WILD RIDE.
This place is full of energy and guarantees a strong dose of adrenaline. It’s thrilling, demanding, and incredibly rewarding for experienced divers. There are very few destinations in the world where you can encounter such an impressive array of large marine creatures – humpback whales,
giant manta rays, hammerhead sharks, or whale sharks – all in one place!
Diving in Mexico is primarily associated with the Yucatán Peninsula and its cenotes – sinkholes filled with crystal-clear water and mesmerizing light effects. But Mexico isn’t just about the
Text ANNA METRYCKA
Photo Edward Wronka
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Let’s shift our focus to the western part of the country. There, in the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find the islands of Socorro, Roca Partida, San Benedicto, and Clarión – the four volcanic islands that make up the famous Revillagigedo Archipelago (a tricky name, but still pronounceable). These islands are actually the peaks of underwater volcanoes emerging above the ocean’s surface. They boast a unique ecosystem, attracting vast schools of fish and large pelagic species, earning them the nickname “Little Galapagos.” In 2016, the archipelago was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The diving season at "Socorro" – as the archipelago is commonly called – lasts from November to May or June. To reach this extraordinary place, you first need to fly to the Los Cabos region on the Baja California Peninsula. Once an isolat-
ed, barren, and desolate area dotted with mountains and deserts, separating the Gulf of California from the Pacific Ocean, it was once a forgotten part of Mexico. Today, it’s one of the fastest-growing tourist regions in the country. With an ideal climate and an average annual temperature of 25°C, Los Cabos offers a diverse and thriving marine ecosystem where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Outdoor enthusiasts from around the world flock to Los Cabos for activities like fishing, diving, surfing, kayaking, and other water sports. This is also home to the world’s largest marlin fishing tournament!
The Los Cabos region includes picturesque towns such as Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip, San José del Cabo about 32 km north, as well as La Paz and Todos Santos. These towns are connected by the so-called "Resort Corridor," lined with luxury hotels and golf courses. Cabo San Lucas is famous for its white-sand beaches – Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor) and Divorce Beach (Playa El Médano) – as well as the "El Arco," a natural rock arch at the southernmost tip of Baja California. Todos Santos, on the other hand, is a haven for writers, sculptors, artisans, and poets. By the late 1990s, American painters and writers had declared it an ideal retreat, and many have since purchased residences there. The town now boasts over twenty art galleries and numerous traditional Mexican shops selling handcrafted goods and souvenirs. One of the town’s notable attractions is the legendary Hotel California. Rumour has it that this was the inspiration for the Eagles’ famous 1976 song… but, as with all legends, who really knows? La Paz is another incredible destination, offering the chance to dive with sea lions or snorkel with whale sharks. If you're in Cabo San Lucas between January and April, whale watching is an absolute must! Just driving along the coastline, you can see whales breaching out of the water – imagine what it's like when you're actually out on the ocean! Numerous tour operators offer whale-watching excursions, and for a small fee, you can set off in the early morn-
Photo Anna Metrycka
Photo Edward Wronka
ing on a 10-12-person boat from Cabo San Lucas to follow the humpbacks. Skippers crisscross the waters, trying to capture even a fleeting moment with these majestic creatures – and they always succeed! Even though you may spend hours on the boat, the breathtaking sight of a breaching whale makes it all worth it. But this is just a taste of what awaits you 400 km further out…
There were no signs of human activity on these islands before their discovery in 1533 by Spanish explorers. They initially only reached the islands now known as Socorro and San Benedicto. Roca Partida was spotted in 1542 by the Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos, while the last island in the archipelago, Clarión, wasn’t discovered until 1779. To experience some of the best dives of your life, you must embark on a 27-hour liveaboard boat trip. It’s quite the journey, but with good weather, there’s
nothing to worry about. Seasickness medication helps, and the crew keeps guests entertained with presentations about marine life in this incredible place. However, if you happen to travel in rough conditions, do yourself a favour – don't look out the window. Waves can reach several meters high, dishes go flying across the tables, and while some handle it better than others, one thing is certain – these dives are worth every moment of discomfort.
The closest island to the mainland is San Benedicto, located 390 km from the coast. It is the third-largest island in the archipelago, about 4 km long, featuring two volcanic peaks, one of which contains a crater. The last volcanic eruption here occurred in 1952, nearly wiping out all life on the island. But underwater… life flourishes beyond imagination.
San Benedicto is world-famous among divers for the dive site known as El Boiler, a coral-covered pinnacle patrolled by countless manta rays and sharks. The site truly "boils" with life! Resembling an underwater mountain, this island is home to a famous manta ray cleaning station. There are no spectacularly colourful coral reefs here, you’ll be diving in the blue, constantly looking around in awe. The real magic of the archipelago lies in the breathtaking encounters with gigantic manta rays. These gentle giants seem to genuinely enjoy interacting with divers, displaying a level of curiosity unseen anywhere else in the world. Oceanic mantas (not reef mantas) with a wingspan of 6-7 meters are a common sight. During a single dive, you might be surrounded by 5, 6, or even 8 mantas, gliding effortlessly through the water, observing you just as much as you observe them. For reasons unknown, the mantas in San Benedicto appear to enjoy playing with divers. They glide by slowly and hover over the divers’ exhaled bubbles, seemingly delighting
Photo Anna Metrycka
Photo Anna Metrycka
in the sensation, just as humans react to being tickled. If you find yourself beneath one, you can almost guarantee it will return to the spot where the bubbles hit its belly. Here, you will encounter two types of mantas: "Chevron" mantas – black on top with white or grey patches, and a white underside with grey or black stripes. "Black" mantas – completely black on top, while their underside can be entirely black, black with white spots, or white with black/grey speckles. Each manta’s unique markings
are as distinctive as a human fingerprint. Oceanic mantas differ from reef mantas in size, colouring around the mouth, and body shape. Near San Benedicto, they come so close that you often have to dodge them, and camera memory cards fill up in no time. These creatures are highly intelligent, they make eye contact and are self-aware. They are among the few species capable of recognizing themselves in a mirror. As if that weren’t enough, during one of our dives, we were suddenly surround-
Photo Edward Wronka
Photo Edward Wronka
ed by a school of hammerhead sharks. They swam around us in a tornado-like formation, herding us into the centre. These massive sharks, measuring several meters long, are far less shy than in other parts of the world. They swam so close that it felt like a surreal dream. The entire spectacle unfolded at a depth of 15-20 meters, lasting until we ran out of air.
The second diving hotspot at San Benedicto is El Canyon, a place where anything can happen. It’s hard to describe the emotions you experience here, words simply can’t capture the mental and emotional state you enter. Visibility isn’t the greatest, even in good weather, and if conditions are worse, strong winds carry light volcanic dust into the water, making everything look… white. But that’s just a detail, the real magic is ahead. The entire area is home to lobsters, octopuses, and jackfish. Dives here revolve around cleaning stations, where you’ll see:
Galápagos sharks, grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, silky sharks, hammerhead sharks. Everywhere you look, Clarion angelfish are busy cleaning larger marine animals of parasites. But don’t get too distracted by the shark action, always check behind you or below because a carpet of hammerhead sharks might just be swimming past! Wait… is this Galápagos? Nope, we’re still in Mexico! As we slowly ascended at the end of our dive, we of course encountered mantas again and… bottlenose dolphins! This is yet another signature experience of the region – diving with a pod of bottlenose dolphins. This is a species everyone dreams of seeing. The guides warned us that dolphins here are curious and playful, but sometimes it’s just an illusion They can "charm" a diver so much that only the sound of the dive computer at 40 meters wakes them up from the trance. Dolphins can silently lure a diver deeper and deeper, only to suddenly swim away. Luckily, we got to see them multiple times, they posed for photos and videos, didn’t flee, and swam alongside us as if under a spell. And we… simply followed.
Socorro Island. The island is a shield volcano, with its last eruption occurring in 1993. It rises over 1,000 meters above sea level, with slopes marked by ridges, small craters, and ravines. Streams and lava domes are also found here. Socorro Island was first discovered by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Grijalva on Christmas Day in 1533. It was rediscovered in 1608 and named Isla Socorro ("Island of Help") by explorer Martín Yañez de Armida. Much later, in the early 20th century, the director of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco began promoting scientific research on the island, which is located 440 km southwest of the southernmost point of Baja California and 700 km from mainland Mexico. In the 1960s, Socorro Island – along with Denmark’s Nord base in Greenland, Easter
Photo Edward Wronka
Photo Edward Wronka
Island, Heard Island in the Indian Ocean, and Mawson Station in Antarctica – served as a station in a satellite triangulation program established by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. This early space-based geodetic system was a precursor to today’s Global Positioning System (GPS). Currently, Socorro Island hosts a naval station established in 1957, with a population of around 250 staff members and their families. When diving at Socorro, you will likely complete only three dives, as boats must undergo a military inspection. The crew informs guests that soldiers may search the entire vessel, including cabins and luggage. This is a standard procedure that must simply be accepted. What makes Socorro unique? First and foremost it has a high number of manta rays, along with octopuses, colourful schools of angelfish, passing whitetip and silvertip sharks, and hammerhead sharks. From November to December or at the end of the season, you may even encounter whale sharks! 120 km west of Socorro lies a solitary peak, Roca Partida. It sits atop a broad, flat underwater mountain known as a guyot at a depth of 80 meters. The rock rises 30 meters above the sea and is about 100 meters wide. It is easily recognizable from afar due to its white coating, covering nearly the entire exposed surface of the island. What gives it this white colour? It is because of guano, bird droppings from the countless seabirds that perch on the rock. At least it stands out! Roca Partida is another magnet for marine life in this region. While manta rays are often considered the main attraction of the ar-
chipelago, the steep rocky walls of the islands, plunging deep into the open ocean, also hide other incredible species. Diving at Roca Partida gives the impression that almost every crevice is home to enormous moray eels, clusters of giant lobsters, or groups of… sleeping whitetip reef sharks! The sight of whitetip sharks stacked on top of each other on rock ledges is something you will never forget! There were dozens of them in total! On one of the shelves, right next to the sharks, was a "nest" of lobsters, dozens of them piled together, with one massive "queen mother" standing out in size from the others. The light from dive torches and camera flashes brilliantly highlighted their colours. The view? Simply breathtaking! At Roca Partida, you will also encounter silky sharks, silvertip sharks, and Galápagos sharks patrolling the rocky peaks. If you plan your trip between January and April, there is a high chance of spotting humpback whales (!) in this region. Between April and June, you might even find yourself surrounded by schools of hundreds of hammerhead sharks! From January to April, humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in high latitudes, such as Alaska, to use the Revillagigedo Islands as breeding and nursing grounds. In recent years, there have been many recorded encounters between divers and humpbacks, especially at Roca Partida, where the whales have shown remarkable tolerance for divers. Did we see a humpback whale underwater? Yes! But only a few lucky divers, along with our guide, managed to catch a glimpse of the whale with their own eyes. The rest of us only saw its shadow, Photos on page Jarosław Gołembiewski
it was incredibly fast. But all was not lost! During this January expedition, the 12 – to 15-meter-long humpbacks were highly active, allowing us to admire them from the boat’s deck or even… from the jacuzzi. These 25 – to 40-ton giants entertained us with breathtaking breaches above the water’s surface, showcasing their white bellies and slamming their massive bodies or tail fins against the ocean! They breach to rid themselves of parasites, or simply, for fun. These are truly some of the most magnificent creatures on our planet. Humpbacks have distinctive baleen plates, fringed structures in their mouths that help them filter small fish and krill from the water. They can open their mouths to a size nearly equal to their entire body volume! And they can live for up to 100 years…
The volcanic islands of the archipelago are rugged and rather barren, with thousands of birds nesting on the steep cliffs. However, it is underwater where their true value emerges. This is the Kingdom of Mantas. Over time, dive guides have built an
almost magical relationship with these creatures, allowing for incredibly close interactions. Scientists from around the world travel to this region to study manta behaviour and biology. Due to its geographical location between two eco-regions and the presence of ocean currents, the archipelago boasts one of the highest fish species diversities in Mexico. It is home to 251 species of fish! You will see massive schools of jacks, barracudas, wahoo, marlins, and even hunting yellowfin tuna! One species worth mentioning is the Clarion angelfish, an endemic fish found only in the Revillagigedo. Its role in the region? Running a "local" SPA, these fish are almost always seen cleaning the skin, teeth, and gills of larger marine creatures.
The Revillagigedo Archipelago is often called Mexico’s “Little Galápagos” due to its unique ecosystem, which attracts large pelagic animals. It is one of the world’s top diving destinations, comparable to other Pacific hotspots such as Galápagos in Ecuador, Cocos Island in Costa Rica, and Malpelo in Colombia, the
“Fantastic Four” of diving. Marine life migrates between these regions, and encounters with them are simply indescribable. Despite the volcanic environment, steep rock walls, strong currents, and sometimes cold Pacific waters, Socorro transports you to another dimension. Between November and June, there’s a chance to see 12 species of sharks (including tiger sharks), oceanic manta rays, dolphins, and massive schools of fish. November and December have the warmest water temperatures, reaching 26-27°C (79-81°F) – the best time to see whale sharks! January to April is humpback whale season, but water temperatures drop to 20-22°C (68-72°F). In addition to mantas, dolphins, and sharks, you may encounter whales migrating south. May and June bring a mix of everything: mantas, dolphins, schools of hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, Galápagos sharks, and whale sharks. No matter the season, Revillagigedo will never disappoint you.
The endless ocean stretches before me. The wind rips my hat off, and waves crash against the side of the boat. In the distance, I hear the haunting songs of humpback whales, carrying across thousands of kilometres. They sing of their territory, of the location of mating individuals. Their songs warn rivals and call to potential mates. They carry a message, different for everyone who listens. For me, the songs of these majestic beings speak of one undeniable truth, the Revillagigedo Archipelago is a special place. A place chosen by whales as their home, too.
Photo Jarosław Gołembiewski
Photo Anna Metrycka
Photo Anna Metrycka
SOUTH AFRICA
four days in the same underwear
Text and Photos PRZEMYSŁAW ZYBER
WHAT DRAWS ME TO DIVING IS THE TRANQUILITY, THE SILENCE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDITATION, AND NEW CHALLENGES. ON THE OTHER HAND, I’M ALSO DRAWN TO ADRENALINE, ADVENTURE, AND DYNAMIC SITUATIONS. I LOVE BATTLING CURRENTS, DIVING TO GREATER DEPTHS, EXPLORING OVERHEAD ENVIRONMENTS, AND THE THRILL OF ACTION.
While scrolling through Facebook, I came across a last-minute offer: “Last spots available for a trip to South Africa – shark diving.” It was an impulse… I’m going! After all, you only live once!
A quick call to check if there were still spots available, and moments later, my payment was already flying through the fiber-optic cables.
The exciting thought of coming face-to-face with sharks, and at the same time expanding my photography portfolio, warmed up that cold autumn season like nothing else. Riding the wave of excitement, I counted down the days
until the trip, eagerly waiting to test my new camera and housing underwater.
Off we go…
The trip is organized by a dive center from Suwałki, and I hardly know any of the participants – except for my buddy, who also managed to join.
We meet at the airport, and after just a few words, the conversation flows as if we’ve known each other for years. Everyone is friendly and smiling which is a great sign. As you probably know, a photographer’s luggage is never small and doesn’t fit into a single bag. Of course, I have two. One is almost entirely packed with my underwater photography gear, and the other holds my diving equipment. In my carry-on, I only have batteries and the camera itself.
A layover in Qatar is part of the plan. The flight from Warsaw is delayed, so airport staff clear a path for us to make it to the connecting flight to South Africa. Moments later, we’re comfortably seated and taking off. Upon landing, we head straight to baggage claim.
Seriously???
Almost everyone picks up their luggage. The conveyor belt is empty, but my bags are nowhere in sight. I won’t lie – a small wave of stress hits me. Since I always keep AirTags in my bags, I check their last known location. Just then, an airport staff member approaches and says, “We’re sorry, but your luggage was left behind in Qatar.”
A mix of emotions hits me – on the one hand, frustration and fear for my equipment, but on the other, relief that they at least know where it is and will deliver it to me. Unfortunately, the bad news keeps coming: the earliest they can get it to me is in two days.
Do you know what that means?!
Two full diving days without my own gear – and even worse, without being able to take photos or record videos. Before this trip, I had bought an entirely new camera setup and was itching to test it, and now this happens. I take the news on the chin, and we head to the hotel.
The drive from the airport is my first real shock. It’s nothing like I imagined. I expected wilderness, dense forests, and poor road infrastructure. Instead, I see a vast network of well-maintained highways, rolling hills with sparse vegetation, and every now and then, massive cities where towering glass office buildings are surrounded by sprawling tin-roofed slums.
South Africa is incredibly dangerous. Crime is an everyday reality, but I didn’t realize just how bad it was. When we arrive at the hotel, I notice it’s surrounded by a tall fence topped with electrified barbed wire. Our guide makes it clear: we don’t walk around alone – we stick to small groups. And after dark, we don’t leave the hotel at all. Even a simple stroll on the beach under the starry sky is strictly off-limits.
What a ride…
We’re starting our first day of diving. The local dive center, knowing that my gear didn’t arrive, offers me their equipment, for which I’m incredibly grateful. Since the water temperature here is around 22–23°C, I had packed my drysuit, technical fins, and sidemount wing. Instead, I receive a 3mm wetsuit, a jacket-style BCD, and full-foot fins. Thankfully, the guide takes pity on me. Seeing the look in my eyes, he lends me his diving boots and proper fins.
In South Africa, you don’t leave for a dive from port, you launch a small RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) straight from the beach. I can’t help but wonder how the skipper plans to get us through 3–4 meter waves. The weather conditions are extreme, and every day, the decision to head out hangs by a thread.
Hold on tight!!!
The diving gear is securely fastened in the boat. We climb in, and the skipper hands out life jackets, briefing us on safety. We have to place our feet into special straps on the floor and grip the side ropes as tightly as possible. I think he’s exaggerating – he’s not.
We wait in the shallow waters just off the shore. The skipper stares at the ocean. What’s he waiting for? He’s watching for a gap between the waves. Suddenly, he shouts: “Hold on tight!!!”
The roar of two massive engines and an explosive burst of power sends us hurtling toward the waves. The tension is through the roof. We hit the first wave and get launched into
the air. The second one sends us flying even higher, and the boat tilts nearly vertical.
I was not ready for this.
The boat slams back down, and the next wave crashes over the deck, drenching us completely. The skipper pushes the throttle, powering through the shore break. The waves are still massive, but at least they’re not breaking over us anymore. We weave through the swells, making sharp, aggressive turns.
A 40-minute battle against the raging ocean awaits us before we reach the dive site. The boat lurches and leaps over the waves, turning sharply, which is a nightmare for anyone prone to seasickness. It doesn’t take long before some people start looking pale. I don’t think anyone was fully prepared for this.
This is not for the faint-hearted.
When we arrive, it’s time to calm the nerves. It’s hard to unclench my fists – the rope left deep marks on my hands, and my feet can finally be freed from the straps. Putting on diving gear on a rocking boat in 4-meter waves? That’s another challenge. Before jumping in, we receive a briefing. The first dive will be a mid-water drift at 12 meters, with shark feeding. We’re told
how to behave around the predators, how to position ourselves, and, most importantly – what not to do.
3, 2, 1… Jump
Since a fish-filled bait ball was dropped into the water 20 minutes before we jumped in, the sharks are already waiting for us. Their shadows are visible from the surface, heightening the tension. Let’s go. Within moments, a few majestic blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) are swimming around us. They remain calm – they know they’re about to be fed and bare their teeth in anticipation. Our guide retrieves fish from the bait ball. The sharks approach leisurely and swallow their snacks in a single gulp. At one point I see eight of them. They must be three, maybe three and a half meters long. A breathtaking sight. It often happens that a shark swims close, and I get smacked by a tail fin. They’re not aggressive. They don’t look at us as if we were dessert. I feel completely safe.
Time to get out
The dive lasts 45 minutes. The fish are gone. Time to surface. Since I love floating weightlessly in the water, I’m in no rush to climb back onto our bobbing little boat. Instead, I watch
what’s happening beneath it. An incredible scene unfolds – divers clinging to the boat, struggling to climb aboard, while enormous sharks glide between their legs. Even though the food is gone, the sharks don’t leave. They stay with us until we sail away, as if hoping there’s still something left in the boat.
Onward we go
We move on to the next dive site. The waves take their toll, and those less resistant to seasickness end up chumming the water with their breakfast – much to the sharks’ delight.
The second dive is deeper. This time, we’re “hunting” for sharks resting in a cave at the bottom. Depth: 38 meters. The currents here are brutal. I’ve dived in strong currents before, like in the Maldives, but the ones in South Africa are a completely different story. These can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. The seabed is flat, so there’s nothing to hold onto.
Before jumping in, we get another briefing. We must enter the water in perfect sync, with negative buoyancy, and descend as quickly as possible to the bottom. Anyone who doesn’t enter at the same time is out. Anyone who experiences ear pain is out. Anyone who loses sight of the guide is out. There’s no room for error here. The conditions are extreme, the currents merciless, and visibility is just three meters. The guide leads the way, carrying a massive reel with a line attached to a plastic buoy. Behind it, the skipper follows.
Rushing down
We all jump in simultaneously. Kicking as hard as we can, we race toward the bottom, never taking our eyes off the guide. The current makes the seabed blur beneath us, as if we were flying over it in an airplane. An incredible sensation.The guide struggles against the current, wrestling with the massive reel, trying to lead us to the shark-filled cave. I have no idea how they manage it – navigating in three-meter visibility and these raging currents seems nearly impossible. But we make it. The cave is below the seabed, so as soon as we enter, the current fades. We can finally relax and catch our breath.
I can’t believe my eyes
The cave is a large, round space, partially covered by a ceiling. As we enter, I spot shadows of massive sharks circling in the distance. These are ragged-tooth sharks, known for their distinctive smile. Their teeth protrude from their jaws, enhancing their fearsome appearance.
But nothing could be further from the truth. They’re gentle, non-aggressive, and rather shy. Dozens of them crowd under the cave’s ceiling, sheltering from the current.
I swim among these four-meter giants and feel completely at ease. Their behavior tells me there’s nothing to fear. They move all around me, sometimes bumping into me, brushing against me. A few times, I get smacked by a fin again. They’re everywhere.
The cave floor is littered with their teeth. A quick search, and I collect four large ones – perfect souvenirs from this unforgettable adventure.
Decompression clock is ticking
Since the cave is at a depth of 38 meters, our no-decompression time is very short. And when you're having fun, it passes even faster. So, we let the current carry us away, burning off our short deco time in open water. As we ascend, we keep an eye out for other shark species, pausing at 10 meters to wait for a blacktip shark. But something entirely different catches my attention.
Right in front of my mask, I spot tiny creatures I’ve never seen before – various types of zooplankton. Some are just 2 cm long, while others reach up to 5 cm. They’re almost completely transparent, with outlines glowing like they’re decorated with hundreds of tiny, colorful LEDs, shimmering like a rainbow. Some move like jellyfish, others slither like snakes. Within just a single cubic decimeter of water, I can see several different species. It’s just as mesmerizing as the sharks. I regret not having a macro lens. My wide-angle lens is useless for such tiny, low-contrast subjects.
Back to the beach
The return trip is just as thrilling as the departure. Once again, we strap on our life jackets. The skipper waits for the perfect
moment to launch the boat at full speed toward the shore, ensuring the waves don’t flip us over.
"Hold on!" comes the call, and the deafening roar of the engines cranks up the tension. Riding the crest of a three-meter wave, we surge toward the beach. The skipper doesn’t slow down.
With full force, we slam into the sand. If it weren’t for the foot straps holding us in place, we’d be flying through the air like ski jumpers. Once on solid ground, I feel an urge to kiss the sand like the Pope.
Every cloud has a silver lining
The next day, I eagerly head to the dive base, only to have my excitement cut short. A storm disrupts our plans – dives are canceled due to high waves making it impossible to go out. What a disappointment! I was ready for another face-to-face encounter with sharks.
But on the flip side, luck is on my side. My dive and photography gear, along with all my clothes, are finally arriving today. I won’t have to miss another dive day.
The trip organizer quickly suggests an alternative excursion to make the most of the day.
That afternoon, I anxiously track my luggage on my phone. My excitement and relief grow in direct proportion to the shrinking distance. Finally, I have my dive and camera gear back. And at last, I get to put on clean underwear.
The real fun begins
The next day, fully geared up with my own diving equipment and camera, I arrive at the dive base.
We get the green light – time to head out.
Knowing the struggle ahead with the ocean I secure my camera equipment on the boat. My dive buddy and I grip it tightly with all our strength. The sea won’t give in easily. Once again, it tries to toss us around like a cowboy on a bucking mustang.
The day’s plan mirrors our previous dives – one shark-feeding dive and another at the shark-filled cave. But now, with my camera in hand, a drysuit keeping me warm, and my sidemount tanks in place, I feel much more comfortable, warmer, and…
Finally in my element
I switch on my lights and start shooting. The sharks glide calmly past my lens. I get the feeling this isn’t their first photoshoot –they don’t flee. One by one, they pass by, giving me time to adjust my settings. I take both photos and videos (you can check out the results in the images and on my YouTube channel). The second dive, the feeding session, is much more dynamic. Sharks dart in all directions at high speed. Capturing it on camera is a challenge – both in photography and filming.
Over the next few days, we explore different sites, though the dives follow a similar pattern. Alongside various shark spe-
cies, we encounter sea turtles, massive schools of fish, and a few large groupers.There are hardly any reefs here – just algae and the occasional non-photosynthetic coral. I did come across a large sea anemone once, home to a family of clownfish struggling against the waves. We also stumble upon a school of barracudas.
On our way back, the skipper suddenly extends his arm toward the horizon. What did he spot? I wonder. He turns the RIB in another direction. I can’t believe it! We’ve found humpback whales!
Massive whales breach the surface, launching themselves above the waves before crashing back down with a thunderous splash. An absolutely breathtaking spectacle!
And yet another storm
Since Neptune isn’t being kind again today, we have to change our plans. We’re heading out on a great trip to a National Park. The main attraction, aside from the wildlife, is a huge rope park with zip lines. I’ve been to places like this before, but this one exceeds my expectations. We’re soaring between mountain peaks. Some sections are 1.5 km long and suspended 600 meters above the ground. I’m having the time of my life.
Next up is a visit to a crocodile farm. A low fence is all that separates us from the reptiles, practically within arm’s reach.
We watch them being fed and attend a lecture about them. The cherry on top? A restaurant where the only items on the menu are crocodile dishes. I have to try it. Surprisingly, crocodile meat tastes more like fish than regular meat. As we exit, we naturally pass through the souvenir shop. And that’s where another adventure begins. As I browse the shelves, something catches my eye…
A crocodile skull
My eyes light up brighter than my video lights. A souvenir like this from South Africa would be incredible! But… how on earth do I get it back to Poland? Surely, this is illegal, and I could get in serious trouble for it. I ask the shop assistant if it’s possible to transport it legally.
“Of course,” she replies. “We issue a certificate, and you can travel with it without any problems.” So I say, “Pack it up.” I place the skull, complete with its protruding teeth, in my carry-on bag and tuck the certificate into my pocket. At the airport, my luggage goes through the scanner. I see the customs officer’s eyes widen – just like Puss in Boots from Shrek. “What is this?” she asks, calling over security. With a calm demeanor, I pull out the certificate. A moment later, I get my documents and my skull back.
Phew, Made It… Almost
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it. At the airport in Qatar, another luggage check. The customs officer's eyes widen again when he sees the scan. He immediately calls the police. Suddenly, I’m surrounded by six officers. “Sir, we need your ticket and passport,” one of them says. Things are getting serious. They take out the skull and bombard me with questions. I show them the certificate and explain everything. It’s 2 AM. My group has already moved on to the next gate. Meanwhile, I’m trying to convince the police that everything is legal, that the skull is from a farm – not from poaching. They examine the certificate, make calls, and verify the details. The tension is rising. Time is running out, and my next flight is about to board.
I show them photos from the farm. They’re still skeptical. Luckily, the images on my phone have GPS data. Google Maps confirms the exact location – “Crocodile Farm.” I show them pictures of the shop, the shelves filled with skulls for sale. After 45 minutes, they finally let me go. “You’re free to go,” one of the officers says. Thankfully, when I arrive in Warsaw, no one checks my bags again.
A journey full of adventures
I have nothing but great memories of my trip to South Africa. Despite a few unexpected hiccups, I’ll always remember it as an amazing adventure. Encounters with sharks, crocodiles, and humpback whales, zip-lining over deep valleys… Since I love adrenaline, I enjoyed the extreme currents and navigating the RIB boat through massive waves. Though, to be fair, our dive group kept shrinking by the day. If you're planning a diving trip to South Africa, you need to be prepared for extreme conditions. Your skills must be well above advanced level. Anyone with fewer than 100 dives and no experience with currents might struggle – at least in the conditions we encountered in the Pacific Ocean. That said, I have to admit, given the value of my photography equipment, I was relieved when our last dive was over. Food lovers will also find their paradise here. Local restaurants serve amazing dishes – steaks and exotic fruits are an everyday thing. And the prices? About half of what you’d pay in a Polish restaurant. Will I return to South Africa? I’m not sure. I’ve been there, seen it, done it. I prefer the vibe of Mexico. I feel safer there, and the weather is more predictable. Even on rainy days, you can still dive in the cenotes. And if you venture into the Caribbean Sea, you’ll find sharks there too.
MALDIVES
WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEAR “MALDIVES”? Probably overwater bungalows, stunning beaches, and white sand as soft as flour… I’d even go so far as to say that for many people, the Maldives are one of the ultimate dream vacation destinations. A true “Top 10” spot on the list of anyone who loves to travel, even just a little.
But what does a diving safari in the Maldives actually look like? What can you expect? When is the best time to go? Will you like the food? Want to find out all this – and much more? Keep reading!
Right from the start, I’ll say this: you could write an entire book about diving in the Maldives. The diversity of marine life, the unique dive sites, the currents… In Perfect Diver alone, you’ll probably find dozens of articles on the topic. That’s why I want to focus on what this adventure really entails. What surprised me, what caught me off guard – and I’ll try to share a few tips to help you prepare for a trip like this.
When to visit the Maldives?
First, it’s worth considering the best time to go and what travel options are available. The Maldives don’t have traditional seasons – instead, they experience monsoons. Simply put, these are shifts in wind direction that bring different weather conditions.
There are two distinct monsoons:
1. Southwest Monsoon (May to October) – This is the time you don’t want to visit. It brings sudden weather changes, tropical storms, and prolonged heavy rainfall. In short, everything you'd prefer to avoid on your trip.
Text and Photos TOMEK KULCZYŃSKI
2. Northeast Monsoon (November to March) – This is the ideal time to visit, as it offers the best weather conditions.
The choice seems obvious, but trust me – things aren’t always so straightforward. Nowadays, the weather is more unpredictable than ever. It shifts constantly, like a turning kaleidoscope. Climate shifts have blurred seasonal boundaries. In many places, winters have nearly disappeared. Stories from grandparents about 50 cm of snow and three months of deep freeze sound like fairy tales to today’s youth, who’ve never experienced anything like it. Even springtime in Poland is colder than it was ten years ago.
The Maldives are no exception. Rising sea levels pose an additional challenge, and in the future, they may even cause the entire archipelago to disappear from the face of the earth.
Diving Safari – what does it look like in practice?
First and foremost, forget about shore diving. Imagine flying to a hotel on a charming atoll and doing a dive during the day. Sounds good? Sure, but in reality, it’s just a small taste of what you can experience underwater.
If you want the full experience, the best option is a liveaboard safari, where you’ll spend a week on a boat. This type
of diving allows for adjustments based on weather conditions – if the wind blows from the north, you can head to the southern side of the island, where it’s calmer. In this case, the weather plays a crucial role – out in the open ocean, there’s no shelter from the wind or currents.
Our trip took place in the first week of December. This had its downsides – after landing in Malé, the capital of the Maldives, we had to wait on the airport tarmac for half an hour until the rain stopped. The entire airport staff simply took cover, and the captain informed us that we had to wait. Upon leaving the airport, we arrived at the port (yes, here people are transported to the airport by boat), where the waves were so high that passengers struggled to disembark. On top of that, it was raining, and the temperature was 30°C. Just imagine that. Fortunately, the next day was cloudy but dry, and from the third day until the end of our stay, the sun was shining.
However, such weather on a boat comes with the risk of seasickness. Here, the crew did an excellent job – they always found a sheltered spot where the wind wasn’t as strong. When we had to cross between atolls and spent several hours on the open ocean, the crew warned us in advance to take anti-nausea pills, which were available on board. These weren’t as effective as the ones from Egypt – they were more sedating – but on
the open sea, the swaying was so intense that plates were falling off the shelves! It’s worth mentioning that if we had traveled just three weeks later, in early January, all of Malé would have been flooded – not just regular rain, but to the point of a natural disaster! To give you a sneak peek, the group that arrived a week after us, in the second week of December, spotted a whale shark on their very first dive (the crème de la crème of the underwater world, which I’ll return to later).
Another downside of traveling in December was that upon returning to Poland, there were only four working days left before Christmas. As a result, December was completely packed with work, and many people simply couldn’t afford to take time off at that point.
Challenging schedules, heavy rains, monsoons – is it all worth it? And here we get to the heart of the matter – food. We were lucky to arrive during a period when the water was teeming with plankton – which meant small fish, which attracted larger predators –which, in turn, attracted us! Admittedly, the plankton reduced underwater visibility to the point that after the first dive, I heard comments that visibility in Egypt was better – and indeed, it was. While we're on the topic, Egyptian reefs are also more beautiful – an opinion I agree with, but everyone has their own perspective, and that’s the beauty of diving. However, the Maldives is not a place you visit to admire coral reefs or enjoy crystal-clear water – you come here to see BIG ANIMALS. When it comes to visibility, sure, you can complain a bit, but even with plankton, it’s still far better than in most places in Europe or the world – not to mention Poland. Just take a look at the photos.
The route we took was called “Best of Maldives” – one of the longest available itineraries. It’s the most versatile because you can encounter an incredible variety of marine life and, while cruising between atolls, also catch a glimpse of the famous overwater bungalow resorts. During our trip and conversations with the crew, everyone unanimously agreed that the southern route is the best – it has far fewer safari boats. At times, we had to change our plans because there
were already several boats at the dive site, making it crowded. The truth is, in all of this, luck plays a huge role. You can pick the best time, the best crew, but if luck isn’t on your side, even the best itinerary won’t help.
Before diving in, there’s one crucial aspect to consider – your diving experience. The Maldives is not the place for easy and relaxed diving. You need solid skills, an understanding of what to expect underwater, and a calm demeanor. The Maldives is famous for its CURRENTS – and they’re no joke. Weak and gentle currents can be fun – they don’t tire you out because you can just drift and let the current do all the work. Unfortunately, strong currents are common, requiring the use of reef hooks. This is exhausting, as it demands significant effort finning against the flow. Drift diving doesn’t forgive mistakes – if your hook is poorly secured and slips off, or if you miss your target, there’s no going back. The current is so strong that swimming against it is impossible.
Another challenge is depth and, consequently, air consumption. Our entire group swapped their 12L tanks for 15L, yet some still struggled with air usage. We dived in a sidemount configuration, which I think is ideal for such expeditions, though getting back on the boat in this setup isn’t the most pleasant experience. Then there’s the issue of no-decompression time,
which runs out very quickly. Diving on regular air is highly limiting, making Nitrox essential. The Maldives is not a destination for beginner divers. I won’t define experience levels by certification grades, because we all know that real diving ability comes from experience and comfort underwater. The easier diving is for you, the more enjoyable the experience will be.
A crucial element of a diving safari is the crew. We happened to have an international team, and their approach and worldview were definitely a big plus. Right from the start, we had a brief discussion about feeding marine animals and the consequences of doing so. We were informed that if we encountered any locals engaging in this practice, we would simply move on and not take part – even if their feeding attracted some truly fascinating creatures. We chose dive sites where we were usually alone, and when visiting more popular locations, we tried to go early in the morning before larger groups of divers arrived. I also really appreciated that the crew worked with environmental organizations, documenting the manta rays we encountered during our dives.
A day on a diving safari revolves around two things – diving… and eating! In short, we dive, and we eat. Other than that, there aren’t many activities – just evening conversations and relaxation. One of the great things about diving in the Maldives is
that we had our main boat, but we were always accompanied by a smaller boat called Dhoni, which carried all our diving equipment. There was also a third, even smaller boat – Dinghy – towed behind us. We mainly used it to reach uninhabited islands or for excursions, such as visiting Hulhumalé, an artificial island near the capital, Malé. Dhoni was also equipped with a compressor. Each dive began by transferring to Dhoni and heading directly to the dive site.
One of the photos shows our full dive schedule – those who have been to the Maldives before can compare and map it out. I’ll describe the dives as a whole because, as I mentioned, there’s enough information and experiences to fill an entire book. Our first dive took place near one of the first-ever resorts in the Maldives, within sight of Malé. To everyone’s surprise, we needed significantly less weight compared to diving in the Red Sea with the same setup –naturally, due to the difference in water salinity. When I asked about the water temperature, the crew responded with a smile: "It’s around 30 degrees Celsius year-round." A 3mm wetsuit was more than enough, though I wouldn’t recommend a shorty due to the currents and the risk of scrapes. Our boat provided reef hooks, but we had our own as well. On the second dive, which had a light current, we had a short training session on how to use them. A quick tip: we asked the guide to give us a signal before deploying the hooks, ensuring we had enough time to secure them properly.
onward, each day brought more and more unforgettable experiences.
We saw manta rays at a cleaning station – a special place where mantas go to rid themselves of parasites. You could compare it to a human bath – we step into a tub or shower, while mantas, living in symbiosis with other marine organisms, get cleaned at these stations. Unlike us, who can maintain neutral buoyancy, mantas can't just stop in place – if they did, they would simply sink to the bottom. Their bodies are designed for constant movement, which also helps them feed as they filter water. At a cleaning station, mantas can’t remain still, so they swim in circles, moving up and down in a motion resembling a barrel roll. Watching this "dance" is a majestic sight, and seeing the mantas at night was even more breathtaking.
When our boat stopped after dark in shallow water (around 8 meters), the crew turned on powerful lights directed into the sea. This attracted microorganisms and plankton, which in turn lured the mantas, setting the stage for an incredible display. We placed our flashlights on the seabed and remained motionless, mesmerized by the stunning performance. The most dedicated divers stayed underwater for up to an hour and a half.
As you probably know, a check dive is meant to fine-tune buoyancy, check equipment, and ensure everything is in order before heading into deeper waters. From the second dive
Another highlight of our Maldivian adventure was the sharks. To be completely honest, there were so many that identifying different species became quite the challenge. We had the opportunity to dive with nurse sharks – these creatures are completely unbothered by anything. As they swam past, they brushed against our fins, bumped into divers – there was just a lot going on.
The main rule when encountering manta rays and sharks is similar to the golden rule of museums – look, but don’t touch! While the mantas had no interest in interacting with us, the nurse sharks had no reservations whatsoever. Reef sharks, on the other hand – both whitetip and blacktip – kept a safe distance.
To better categorize the sheer number and variety of sharks, we started dividing them into groups: big and small, mean-eyed or normal-eyed, terrifying or funny. One particular shark even became the subject of a post-dive video analysis, as its swollen belly suggested it had devoured something sizable, sparking a round of speculation about what it might have been.
The rest of the marine life can be summed up in one word – oversized. Even the clownfish (a.k.a. "Nemo") were as big as European perch. There were so many turtles that after a while, they stopped being a novelty. Among the more exotic creatures, we came across a boxing shrimp – an incredibly fascinating little critter – and a stonefish, whose mean expression was downright terrifying.
Moray eels! So many species, an incredible variety of colors, and, of course, their impressive size. To put it simply – there was an abundance of everything. On top of that, our guide always managed to spot something extraordinary in places where an average person wouldn’t even think to look.
The ultimate holy grail of any Maldivian diving trip, as I mentioned earlier, is the whale shark! I know people who have been there five times and still haven’t been lucky enough to see one. This creature is such an icon that every souvenir shop is filled with plush toys, magnets, keychains, and even clothing featuring its image. The whale shark even made it onto an official banknote, recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world.
Whale shark searches usually happen at the surface. Boats cruise along the edge of the ocean shelf, where deep waters transition into shallow ones – this is where you have the best chance of encountering one. No one knows exactly why they gather in these spots. One theory suggests that the Maldives act as a kind of nursery for young whale sharks, as most of the ones spotted here haven’t yet reached full size, and adult individuals are rarely seen.
The whole search process feels a bit like a sightseeing bus tour of a capital city. We cruise on Dhoni (our second boat), climb up to the upper deck, and scan the waters. In reality, it’s the crew who do the actual spotting, while the rest of us just relax. But it’s not as easy as it sounds – there are about thirty other boats in the area doing the exact same thing, so competition is fierce!
When someone finally spots a whale shark at the surface, everything happens in an instant – mask, snorkel, fins on, and
into the water! You have to move fast because the other boats are also rushing to the same spot. During our briefing, the crew made it clear – if another boat finds the shark first, we immediately head in their direction.
Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to spot one at the surface. However, we got incredibly lucky – we had an up-close encounter underwater! When I asked the crew when they last saw a whale shark while diving in full gear, they told me… two months ago. A full 80% of our group got to see it, but then,
just like that, it decided it had somewhere else to be – and was gone in a flash.
To wrap things up, I want to describe one last exceptional dive site, located right next to an atoll that houses a tuna processing factory. The factory has been operating for decades, and as is often the case in such places – anything that doesn’t make it into a can ends up in the ocean.
The marine life in this area is even more abundant than elsewhere. During one of our dives, it suddenly got darker –almost as if the sun had disappeared behind the clouds. But these weren’t clouds – it was a school of stingrays so dense that it completely blocked out the light.
Another highlight of this spot, practically a local legend, is a moray eel without a lower jaw! No one knows how it’s still alive, but everyone talks about it – and apparently, it’s always been there.
Finally, just as we were making our safety stop, we had a rare encounter with a dolphin. It was very shy, which, as we learned, is typical for the ones living in this region. We were told that close interactions with dolphins here are quite uncommon.
Looking at the bigger picture, I truly believe the Maldives deserve their reputation as a world-class diving destination. Diving here requires significant experience due to strong currents and depth challenges. The logistics aren’t the easiest,
and the dives themselves can be demanding. Good planning plays a huge role, along with a bit of luck – and on our trip, we certainly had plenty of it.
In just the first three days of the safari, we checked off all the major highlights. During the nighttime manta ray ballet, we saw four mantas, and to make things even more spectacular, sharks and turtles started showing up, drawn in by the commotion. We even had the chance to see a whale shark while diving. One of our conversations with the guide had us laughing because he mentioned that a typical dive here involves hooking onto the reef and watching sharks drift past for about 40 minutes. In our case, it wasn’t just a few sharks – it was entire schools of them!
And just so you know we weren’t the only lucky ones – the group after us also saw a whale shark underwater, and for the next group, one even showed up during the nighttime manta show.
I couldn’t be happier with our Maldives adventure. Despite a few inconveniences, we got to experience far more than on an average diving trip. Remember – travel broadens the mind, so explore as much as you can!
Lastly, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Ania Metrycka from Activtour for organizing this trip and, as always, for her invaluable advice.
nurkowania rekreacyjnego i technicznego
serwis sprzętu nurkowego
Powietrze / Nitrox / Tlen / Hel do 300 Bar
stacjonarny
nurkowe
FEATHER STARS Flowers of the Reef
Crinoids – feather stars and sea lilies –belong to the phylum Echinodermata, which includes many species such as sea urchins, sea stars and brittle stars. Most divers take only a cursory look at the shapes and varieties of crinoids, usually passing them by in search of other interesting subjects. HOWEVER, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THEM THAN MEETS THE EYE!
At first glance, feather stars may look like plants with feathery leaves. But they are marine invertebrates, animals! Their ‘fronds’ are their arms, constructed with numerous tiny side branches that give the feathery appearance. Unlike sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and brittle stars, which forage on the ocean floor, feather stars filter the water. They do this by using their long, feathery arms to catch and filter floating micro-particles. The arms point outward from the center of the body, like spokes from the center of a bicycle wheel, and are usually found in multiples of five.
Feather stars sometimes stop feeding and roll up their arms, for example to hide from predators. Some species keep their arms rolled up during the day. At night, when predators are un-
Text and photos MICHAL ŠTROS
Red feather star (Himerometra robustipinna) on the coral
likely to see them, they unfold their arms to feed. Feather stars may drop part of their arms to escape predators. This behavior is common in the echinoderm family, and sea stars often use this technique.
Feather stars can anchor themselves to the reef with tiny ‘legs’ called cirri. But when they break free of the coral, strange things happen. They can float and even walk, looking like little moving Triffids.
One of the things that most fascinated me on my first dives around the reefs of Gili Gede (Indonesia) was the number of feather stars I found. They were everywhere, anchored to rocks and soft and hard corals. I watched them, admired their bright colors, interesting and strange positions, and started photographing them.
I decided to shoot them not with modern lenses, but with vintage lenses with the front element reversed to give my images a more artistic feel (these lenses are referred to in this article as modified vintage lenses). I first described this new underwater photography technique in the British DIVE Magazine Summer 2023 (https://divemagazine. com/underwater-photography/unique-effects-of-modified-digital-lenses-underwater?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2VaAjBduMXMbciZq-4-vOgWloc5CK03hn8mdM6g-Pu4_WtBCg6FCI998M_ aem_uHMU-D9D_iI3KBUER2Vn9w). In short, modified vintage lenses can be made at home by taking a Helios 44-2/3 or Mir1b lens (both made in the former Soviet Union about 40 years ago), removing the front element, flipping it over and putting
Curled arms of a feather star
Close up of arms of a feather star
it back. This lens has its sharpest point only in the center of the image, and the sharpness gradually decreases towards the edges of the image, giving the image a beautiful look (‘swirly bokeh’). With vintage lenses you can't rely on autofocus (not available on vintage lenses) or manual focusing (the lenses are locked in the housing). Unless you have a special custom-made focusing device, you will need to slowly approach your chosen subject with your underwater camera and a good focusing light until you see the subject approximately in focus. Then you make final adjustments by slowly moving your camera in and out until you see the subject (center) in focus. And perfect focus is difficult to achieve.
Feather stars often serve as safe havens for many small creatures – shrimp, crabs, and fish such as the ornate ghost pipefish or crinoid cligfish, who hide under their feathery arms from potential predators lurking around every corner. I was also able to observe many other species around the feather stars, such as scorpionfish, boxfish and nudibranchs. Getting a glimpse of these colorful and sometimes strange inhabitants is definitely a must, as these small creatures can provide many great opportunities for macro photography. While modern macro lenses are best suited for capturing the tiny creatures hiding within crinoids, modified vintage lenses with appropriate diopters are better suited for capturing the beauty of feather stars as a whole.
Photographing feather stars with modified vintage lenses produces stunning, almost abstract images. Some feather stars look like pearls on a string, shimmering with vibrant colors and shapes that add to the aesthetic of the underwater world. And all with magical bokeh!
Magic reef – Nudibranch Hypselodoris tryoni on the reef
Ornate ghost pipefish in the vicinity of feather stars
FRESH WATER Lake OŁÓW
Text and photos
JACEK KUBIAK
The lake is located on the northern outskirts of the town of Ryn in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.
Wikipedia states that the maximum depth is 40 meters, but in recent years, with low water levels, the deepest recorded point has been 38 meters.
A trail for hiking and cycling runs around the lake, but our focus is on the most accessible and interesting diving spots. There are two swimming areas: one in the south and one in the north.
The southern municipal beach of Ryn has a pier, while the northern one, located by the forest, is even marked on Google Maps as a diving site.
LAKE OŁÓW IS AN INTERESTING DESTINATION FOR ANY DIVER. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BATHYMETRY BUT ALSO THE DIVERSE TERRAIN, INCLUDING STEEP SLOPES AND WALLS.
For divers who enjoy exploring underwater flora and prefer shallow dives, the southern beach is a great choice. It features a vast bay with highly diverse vegetation, some of which grows to impressive lengths, creating an underwater jungle.
The northern beach, known as the "diving site," is easily accessible, with a road leading right up to the water. A key advantage of this entry point is the gentle descent over several meters, followed by steep slopes that allow divers to reach deep water quickly. For those who enjoy following guideline routes, directly in front of the entry point, there is a guide rope starting at 5 meters. Along the way, divers will encounter signposts, a giant tire, a wooden boat, and even a car before reaching the deepest spot in the lake – a trophy at 38 meters.
For divers who like filming, the clay and silt walls form fascinating rock-like
formations. There are two notable locations: one at a depth of 8-10 meters along the right-hand slope heading south, and another behind the trophy, forming a circular embankment about 50 meters in diameter at a depth of 12-16 meters.
The lake is well-stocked with fish, making it an excellent spot for night dives. Predatory fish like pike and perch dominate, but roach, burbot, and tench are also present. Crayfish enthusiasts will find plenty to observe as well.
A designated quiet zone is in effect on the lake, which enhances safety for divers. However, there is no diving base or centre, so divers must be self-sufficient when planning their dives. One more advantage – there’s no base fee!
Lake Ołów is a perfect spot for divers who appreciate peace and quiet, far from crowded diving bases.
The “BLUE MIND” Phenomenon
How Contact with Water Affects Our Psyche
Text and photos ALDONA DREGER
MY STORY WITH WATER
II remember the moment I submerged underwater for the first time. The noise of the outside world suddenly faded, and I felt something I hadn’t experienced in a long time – peace.
t was a breakthrough moment for me – the first step into a new world. Despite a slight sense of unease about exploring the unknown, I knew that water was more than just a physical space for exploration. It became a place of mental reset, an escape from stress and the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Underwater, I found something I lacked on the surface – solace, freedom, and a space just for myself.
Over time, I realized that water is a powerful tool for healing. I was captivated by its power, and the experience of Blue Mind – a state of deep relaxation and calm – was so transformative that I decided to make diving my professional path.
What Is Blue Mind?
Blue Mind is a term coined by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist and author of a book by the same title. This phenomenon describes a mental state that occurs when we are in close contact with water – whether it’s the sea, a lake, a river, or other bodies of water. What’s more, we don’t even have to immerse ourselves in water directly – simply being near it can bring relief and improve our mood.
Today, when most of us live in a constant state of tension – known as Red Mind – contact with water can be an antidote to overstimulation and sensory overload. Red Mind is a state in which we feel stress, tension, and information overload – something that has become an everyday reality in the modern world. Water acts as a natural reset for our minds, allowing us a moment of respite and inner harmony.
How Does Water Affect Our Psyche?
Our brains react to water in a unique way. Water, especially in its natural, calm state – whether it’s the gentle waves of the sea or a quiet lake at sunrise – induces a state of deep relaxation.
Stress and Tension Reduction
Studies show that contact with water lowers cortisol levels – the stress hormone – which helps reduce anxiety and tension. That’s why we so often choose water as a place for relaxation – whether on vacation or in our daily lives.
A Natural "Reset" for the Brain
All it takes is to sit by the water and listen to its rhythm. The sound of waves, the gentle flow of a river, or the patter of raindrops has an incredible power –gradually calming racing thoughts and allowing the mind to regenerate. This is
when new ideas and inspirations often emerge, ones we weren’t aware of before.
Boosting Creativity and Concentration
Water encourages creative thinking. Many artists, writers, and scientists admit that their best ideas came to them during walks by the water or while taking a bath. The mental calm induced by contact with water allows thoughts to flow more freely, opening up space for innovative solutions.
Connection with Nature
Being close to water allows us to feel connected to nature. Watching the waves, raindrops falling into a lake, or the sun reflecting on the water’s surface makes us experience the present moment. This is one of the reasons why diving, swimming, or even just dipping our feet in water has such a soothing effect.
Diving and Blue Mind
Swimming in a lake or walking along the seashore can bring relief, but diving takes experiencing Blue Mind to a whole new level. Underwater, there are no phones, no messages, no constant flow of information. There is only breath, silence, and a feeling of
weightlessness. It’s an almost meditative state, which for many people becomes the only opportunity to completely detach from daily stress.
A Sense of Weightlessness – The lack of gravity and the ability to float freely in water provide an unparalleled feeling of relaxation and release.
Closeness to the Underwater World – Observing various marine animals, manta rays, turtles, or coral reefs has a therapeutic effect, similar to interacting with animals on land.
Focus on Breathing – Diving requires slow, deep breathing, which works similarly to mindfulness techniques and helps reduce stress.
Conclusion
The Blue Mind phenomenon is not just a theory – it’s an experience that changes lives. For some, it’s a moment of peace by the lakeshore; for others, it’s diving underwater, where they can leave everything from the surface behind.
Some choose the ocean, others a river or a swimming pool. Regardless of the location, water has the power to soothe, reset the mind, and restore balance. Maybe that’s why so many of us instinctively return to it – no matter where we are.
fotografowanie nurkowanie
wykłady konkurs
SPOTKANIE FOTOGRAFÓW PODWODNYCH
7-8 czerwca 2025
Jezioro Niedackie
www.podwodnekadry.pl
IDF MEETING 2025 KONFERENCJA NURKOWA
Piątek 11 kwietnia Sobota 12 kwietnia
OD 16:00 Rejestracja uczestników
19:00 Kolacja
7:00 - 8:45 Śniadanie
9:00 - 9:45 Sebastian Dobrowolski Dekada IDF
10:00 - 10:45 Konrad Kępka Nurkowanie osób z niepełnosprawnością - jak niemożliwe przemienić w możliwe?
11:00 - 11:45 dr hab. Piotr Dynowski Czy nauka potrzebuje płetwonurków? Działania Fundacji Naukowe Badania Podwodne
12:00 - 12:45 Ariel Łukaszewski Back Mount, Side Mount i Chest Mount - ewolucja czy ślepy zaułek?
13:00 - 13:45 kmdr por. Patryk Kiedrowski Nurek bojowy XXI wieku
14:00 - 15:15 Obiad
15:30 - 16:15 dr Zdzisław Sićko Wypadki śmiertelne w nurkowaniu / Medyczne aspekty budowy tuneli komunikacyjnych
12:00 - 12:45 Piotr Ławrynowicz Freediving - wpływ głębokości na organizm człowieka
13:00 - 13:45 lek. Mikołaj Wróbel Kwalifikacja medyczna do nurkowania
14:00 - 14:45 dr Jarosław Kur Ryzyko w ratownictwie nurkowym
15:00 Zakończenie i rozjazd uczestników
REED
Planet Earth
Something flashed between the reeds, sat down for a moment, peered with a sharp eye through the curtain of rushes opened for a moment by a gust of wind and disappeared who knows where. It was small, or even tiny, of a colour difficult to define, maybe brown-olive-gray?
Well, it didn't give a chance in its short flitting to take a longer look. The man blinked carelessly and the meeting was over. You will have to wait patiently by the reed-cov-
ered shore for another snapshot observation of a discreet bird flushing in the thicket of waterside reeds.
This is what close encounters (fortunately not of the third degree) with the reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) look like. It is a fairly close relative of the great reed warbler, and its biology is similar in many respects, especially those related to the habitat it occupies, to the sedge warblers, Savi's warbler or bluethroat, which we have already written about in Perfect Diver. In other words, the reed warbler is one of the components, as the name suggests, of the reed menagerie, i.e. a reed little bird life that makes the reeds a singing concert hall. The most interesting thing about this waterside singing is that the voices of representatives of different species often differ significantly from each other, permeating and complementing each other like sections of the
instruments of a symphony orchestra, for example during the performance of Camille Saint-Saëns' excellent Carnival of the Animals (especially the tenth part "The Aviary", which lets us remain in the circle of feathered creatures, or the most famous part seven, "The Aquarium", because after all, we are constantly circling around aquatic ecosystems). The song of the reed warbler, of course the male, is more pleasant to listen to than the buzzing of the Savi's warbler, as well as the less crackling and screeching song of the great reed warbler. Measured in human terms, it seems devoid of melody or even noticeable rhythm. It is reed singing, but it is certainly diverse, because there are whistles, vibrations, stronger and weaker sounds sung at a quite fast tempo. It can be said with a clear heart that the reed warbler has the capabilities and uses them, just like its cousins, to lure his partner and mark his territory vocally. If
we are not very familiar with and not often watch reed birds, it is by the voice of the reed warbler that we can most easily recognise. This is the bird's peculiar identification mark, especially since it is reluctant to show itself in exposed places for longer, although it is not that shy. The reed warbler's escape distance is about 10 m, which gives us a chance to notice it among the reeds, but usually for a moment, because more often than we do, it is the bird who watches us from the safety of the thicket. Exactly, safe, because the camouflage coloration and secretive life-
style are to ensure that the reed warblers are undetectable by predators' radars. There is no shortage of people willing to grab the reed warbler, and the attack can come from basically any direction, including the air. The fields are regularly patrolled by both enemy aviation, i.e. bird predators (harriers, hawks, sparrowhawks, and at night, e.g. barn owls), as well as ground units of insidious infantry, i.e. creatures with hair and no wings, among which it is impossible not to mention the foreign invader in the form of the American mink. Released by man into the
environment, it wreaks havoc in the ranks of aquatic and above-water avifauna. Not having too many natural enemies and having an ease of adaptation to various conditions, the mink has been a difficult opponent for years for those who would like to remove it from habitats where it should not be.
Reed warblers can be found at all water reservoirs, the banks of which are overgrown with strips of rushes and bulrushes, sometimes wicker thickets. Above all, it prefers places overgrown with reeds (after all, its species name comes
from somewhere) and bulrush, quite willingly in places where it is not far from wooded places, which guarantee a wealth of food. Like most of the bird brothers inhabiting this type of habitat, the reed warbler feeds on insects and other invertebrates, rarely diversifying its diet with plant elements (especially at those moments of the season when there are clearly fewer insects). The population of the reed warbler in Poland and other countries of the region is somehow holding up, and although it reaches high numbers in places such as the Biebrza
or Narew National Parks, these birds can still be found at many lakes, fish ponds or even small ponds (photos of reed warblers attached to the article were taken in the vicinity of breeding ponds located in central Greater Poland). It is important that these are places where reeds are not destroyed, where dry plants from the previous season are not removed, because after arriving at the nesting sites, reed warblers hide among them and try to organise their bird home, i.e. set up a nest where the next reed warbler generation will have a chance to be born. The nest is mainly built by the female and does it in a peculiar way. It collects plant material in the form of dry plant fragments, soaks them in water and wraps them around a few nearby reed shoots. The structure is finished in an exquisite way so that the edges are rounded and the interior is lined with soft material. Interestingly, the male only accompanies the female during construction, at most rarely giving any structural element. Perhaps the female decides that the competences of her chosen one are not sufficient to entrust him with the performance of this key undertaking from the point of view of ensuring the safety of the birds' youngsters. The reed lady's monologue could go like this, for example: if I'm to explain to you how to choose the right blade of grass, how to soak it properly, and then maybe show you how to weave it in so that everything holds together as it should, only to correct you in the end anyway, then forgive me, dearest, but I'll do it myself, and you don't hang around under my wings here! Or maybe the male puts himself in the role of a supervisor and makes sure that the chosen one does not fly too far away in her architectural and decorating aspirations? Everything seems to indicate that the male is indeed guarding the female, but not because he wants to make sure that the nest will be built in accordance with the reed warbler standards, but rather to prevent the courtship of another male or to protect his chosen one from a insidious abduction. What's more, guarding the female is the name used by ornithologists for the male's behaviour, which usually lasts until the eggs are laid. In reed warblers, the monogamous model of relationship predominates, but cases of
polygyny (a variation of polygamy in which one male is in a relationship with more than one female) have been reported. Researchers of bird behaviour have noticed that reed warblers in Central Europe are less likely to practice this type of "complicated" relationships compared to birds from Western and Southern Europe. This is explained by worse food conditions, i.e. lower abundance of habitats located in colder regions of the continent. Speaking of geography, it is worth mentioning that the common reed warbler can be found in Europe from the Pyrenees to the Don, with the exception of a large part of the British Isles and Scandinavia. Outside Europe, reed warblers also breed in the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa. Outside the breeding season, European populations migrate most often to sub-Saharan Africa. It is a long-term journey for them, with numerous stops to replenish energy resources. However, it is known that the flight over the Sahara takes place in one jump, which makes us look with appreciation at the endurance of these tiny fliers (they weigh about 13 grams on average). In many places around the globe you can come across other species of reed warblers, as well as closely related other species of the genus Acrocephalus, i.e. aquatic warblers, Blyth's reed warblers, marsh warblers, moustached warbler, Rodrigues warbler and many different reed warblers.
To conclude, I will once again mention Saint-Saëns' Carnival of Animals, because there is also part 9 – "The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Forest". I mention this because the cuckoo does not always sit deep in the forest. It also flies to areas occupied by reed warblers, where it tries to track their nests. Dear Readers, you can already guess for what purpose. Yes, reed warblers are frequent hosts for cuckoos, which means that they are victims of breeding parasitism when trying to feed a cuckoo chick that hatched from a tossed egg.
Listen to the reed warbler singing among the reeds (because not only the beetle sounds in the reeds), maybe you will not only be able to hear it, but also see it. If so, take a quick look, because in a moment he will probably be gone!
ARGON CYLINDER
A small tank that is usually filled with… air
Text WOJCIECH A. FILIP
Photos TECLINE ACADEMY
Is it worth using?
How do you choose the right capacity? Does argon really keep you warm?
Argon tank – it's funny that we call it that even when it's filled with a completely different gas. It typically has a small capacity (1–3 liters) and is mounted on the side, at the lower part of the backplate, using dedicated mounting straps. It is equipped with a valve, a small first stage with a safety valve, and a drysuit hose.
Larger capacity versions are mounted to one of the main back cylinders or between twinset tanks.
The argon cylinder should always be filled with gas suitable for drysuit inflation. Does this mean there are gases that should never be used to fill a drysuit?
Find out in the next few lines.
Why use an argon cylinder?
An argon cylinder should contain argon. Why argon?
Argon has low thermal conductivity, which means that after "flushing” a drysuit with it, a diver will retain heat much better compared to using air. On the other hand, if a diver doesn’t use a separate tank for drysuit inflation and instead fills it with the trimix they breathe, heat loss will be much more rapid. The sensation of cold will be almost immediate and will intensify as the dive continues. Even a small amount of helium – an essential component of trimix – significantly increases heat loss, making it feel as if you’re diving in cold water without an undersuit.
CONCLUSION 1
If you’re not using trimix, the use of an argon tank is debatable.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY – A SIMPLE EXPLANATION
A gas with high thermal conductivity (such as air) rapidly transfers heat from the body to the surrounding environment. This means that a drysuit filled with air will result in faster heat loss compared to one filled with a gas that has lower thermal conductivity (such as argon). Since argon is a poor conductor of heat, it reduces heat transfer from the diver's body, helping maintain warmth for a longer period.
Is air inflation worse than argon inflation?
Air vs. Argon.
Air has 47% higher thermal conductivity (transferring 1.47 times more heat) than argon. As a result, using argon as an insulating gas in a drysuit helps slow heat loss and improves thermal comfort. However, to fully benefit from this effect, it’s crucial to first purge the suit of air and replace it entirely with argon.
Effective argon use – the proper procedure.
Besides having a tank filled with argon for diving, you’ll also need a separate supply argon-filled tank (a few liters in volume) on the surface.
USING ARGON TO INFLATE THE DRYSUIT.
1. Seal the drysuit and fully close the dump valve.
2. Inflate the suit with argon from the supply tank, then deflate by pressing the dump valve while performing a deep squat with arms crossed. Repeat this process 4–5 times to "flush” air from the suit, undergarment, and underwear. By doing so, you will replace air with argon. Ensure that no air re-enters the suit.
3. If your undergarment has a higher gas capacity (i.e., it’s thicker/warmer), repeat the process more times for optimal results.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY – FURTHER INFORMATION
HELIUM has very high thermal conductivity – approximately 0.15 W/(m•K) at room temperature.
AIR: 0.025 W/(m•K) (Helium conducts heat 6× faster than air).
ARGON: 0.017 W/(m•K) (Helium conducts heat 9× faster than argon).
W/(m•K) – in simple terms, this unit measures how much heat (in watts) passes through a material that is 1 meter thick, per square meter of surface area, when the temperature difference on both sides is 1 K (or 1°C since temperature differences in Kelvin and Celsius are numerically the same, the unit applies equally to both).
A key distinction:
A gas with 6× higher thermal conductivity doesn’t mean the diver will feel 6× colder. Instead, it means that under the same conditions, the gas can transfer heat away from the diver 6× faster.
CONCLUSION 2
Using argon only makes sense if, before the dive, you replace the air inside your suit, undersuit, and underwear with argon.
Argon cylinder capacity
During my dive on the HMHS Britannic, which rests over 100 meters deep, I used a 0.85-liter cylinder filled to 230 bar to inflate my dry suit. This amount of gas was more than sufficient for the entire nearly 4-hour dive.
Why do I mention this?
If your dive profiles resemble the shape of the letter "U," a 1-liter cylinder will be a good choice, even for deep dives. This is because you only add gas to the suit during the descent phase, at the beginning of the dive.
However, if your dry suit is your main source of buoyancy, you may find that a cylinder with less than 1 liter of capacity may not suffice, even when diving at the wreck of an excavator at 15 meters. This is because many divers using a drysuit as their primary buoyancy source will need to add and release gas from the suit more frequently.
When does a larger tank capacity matter?
For dives with variable depth profiles, such as cave dives, where you repeatedly ascend and descend by several meters, or some-
times tens of meters, each of these changes requires managing the entire gas supplied to the suit. If you know your profiles will look like this, consider a cylinder with a capacity of 3 liters or larger.
HOW TO CHECK HOW MUCH GAS I NEED IN THE TANK TO SUPPLY MY DRYSUIT?
Prepare a small tank filled with air. Calculate how many liters of gas it contains (a 1-liter tank, filled to 100 bars, contains about 100 liters of gas).
Do a normal dive and check how much gas is left in the tank. Convert the amount of gas you used into liters and multiply by 200 bars. The result will be the minimum capacity of your argon tank.
Dangers associated with using independent tanks to supply a drysuit:
1. Using a tank containing a high oxygen content combined with a damaged electric heating system can increase the risk of ignition in case of sparking.
Prevention: Do not connect additional hoses for drysuit inflation to the first stage regulators of stage cylinders with decompression gases.
2. Incorrect tank capacity.
If you've dived one way into a cave, and there were enough siphons
to empty the argon tank, there's a real danger of pressure injuries caused by the suit.
Prevention: Well, some people might say that’s why they have an extra hose to the suit on their stage.
3. Lack of a safety valve in the first stage regulator supplying the drysuit. Every first stage used to inflate a drysuit should be equipped with a safety valve. This prevents the LP hose from bursting in case of a regulator malfunction, which could occur due to an increase in intermediate pressure. Using a safety valve – this applies not only to small regulators for argon but also to regulators typically used for breathing and applied to argon tanks. The safety valve should be screwed into the LP port of the first stage.
SUMMARY
Argon is a gas with properties worth knowing, but before deciding to use it, consider whether you will be able to prepare the entire setup to supply your drysuit in a way that fully utilizes the benefits of this noble gas.
If you're not diving with helium, it's worth evaluating the investment in an argon setup that includes an additional surface tank for flushing the drysuit to remove the air. Without it, using argon is pointless.
WAF.
PS.
If you haven't had the chance to familiarize yourself with drysuit inflation from an external tank, I invite you to the Tecline Academy for a fitting of the argon tank.
If the outfit works for you, you can try diving with it.
