A bomb underwater - what to do with a dangerous find?

Because safety under water is essential, today we have something special. A text explaining what to do if you find a dangerous unexploded bomb under water.

The Masurian lakes, which are the playground of the Gizycko “Flippers”, are full of dangerous “souvenirs” from the Second World War. What should we do and how should we behave if we come across a dangerous find while diving?

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Let us begin by explaining that by the term “bomb” an ordinary person may understand: artillery shell, mortar grenade, aerial bomb or other explosive and dangerous object (PWiN). More rarely, probably because of its characteristic shape, an anti-tank mine is called a “bomb”.

Remnants of war are slowly but systematically removed by Mine Action Patrols operating throughout the country – specialised military sub-units carrying out tasks of taking up and destroying PWiN.

It is not uncommon to hear of soldiers who, often at the risk of their own safety, pick up dangerous military objects from publicly accessible places and then transport them to the training grounds and neutralise them there.

Below I will try to give some hints and explain a bit about the rules and procedures of dealing with such “treasures”. In fact, what should we do when we find a “bomb” during our dive?

Proceedings

1. Do not touch!

Do not turn to the photo!

3. Do not extract!

4. do not draw shallower!

5. if possible, photograph and memorise as many details as possible. These may come in handy later for the sappers who will be taking up this “bomb”.

If possible, mark or memorise the exact position of the find: depth, characteristic points, azimuth to entry point. If possible, surface and take bearings on characteristic points on the shore.

7. do not run away or panic. Do not cause a sensation or unnecessary commotion. As long as the dangerous find does not lie in the bathing area or on the waterway, in a place where you may be directly hit by boats – no hurry is necessary.

When you get out of the water, immediately report your find to the nearest uniformed services (Police, State Fire Service, Municipal Police, Forest Guard, etc.) and be sure to give them your personal details and telephone number. Follow their instructions.

What’s next?

The first risk assessment and verification of our dangerous find is carried out by the notified services. They are also required to secure the area until specialists arrive. In the case of underwater findings this is rather unfeasible. The exceptions to this are the previously mentioned bathing sites and waterways. A bathing site may be temporarily closed and traffic may be halted on a section of the trail.

After verification, the service notifies the Demining Patrol responsible for the area. Only the sappers assess whether the “bomb” can be remove from the surface. If the item is in water deep enough to be retrieved using a wetsuit, it probably will be. If, on the other hand, the item is not visible or is visible but requires the use of a diver to retrieve it, then the Demining Patrol Commander, through operational services, will notify underwater mine specialists: Mine Action Team (GNM).

There are two GNM teams operating in our country. One in Świnoujście and one in Gdynia. Only these divers “settle the matter” definitively – usually by excavating the “find” and handing it over to the Demining Patrol for destruction.

Undoubtedly, dangerous objects of military origin pose a real threat all the time. In 2014, in the river Pasłęka, an experienced diver was killed by the explosion of a wartime “bomb”. Therefore, let us remember that the popularity of diving is growing and we do not know who will tomorrow visit the place where we noticed something dangerous. Let’s not treat sites with such remnants as diving attractions. Simply report them and sleep soundly.