G.E.P.N. - what is it all about? - Interview with Kamil "Yakuza" Jaczyński

Today, we would like to present to you an interview we recently conducted with Kamil Jaczyński – a member and one of the originators of the Group Exploring Podwarszawskie Diving Sites. During our conversation, we asked him about the history of the group, its plans for the future, and the most interesting dives that GEPN divers have conducted. You will also find out what GEPN is really about and how you can join them.

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T: How and when, was the idea for the GEPN born?

K: The idea for GEPN came to me in 2010 when I was wondering where to dive with so little time to spare. Naturally, I thought of Warsaw and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, the geological conditions in the Mazovia region are not favourable for diving. High level of groundwater means that the most common reservoirs are artificial ones, such as clay and gravel pits, which sporadically reach depths of a dozen or so metres. Visibility is very limited, so the recreational value of such diving is often negligible. However, this did not discourage me from trying to stir up the Warsaw divers’ community. In fact, we could all visit these places, but the fun is in making it a joint trip of discovery and exploration. After all, there are a lot of divers in Warsaw, and basically nothing interesting is going on, apart from trips to cool and proven areas. As you can see there is no shortage of volunteers and GEPN is going from strength to strength. I’m a cultural animator by day. I work in the music industry and I really enjoy getting people active. So I took my experience to a new level. Something is happening, people are getting to know each other, we are discovering together, describing and enjoying our favourite sport. And of course we popularise diving.

T: How many people and who were among the founders?

K: It’s hard to say about the number and specific people here, because the group is informal. I am the initiator, but this is not a leadership role. GEPN is a collection of people who dive together. We talk about ideas in forums and on Facebook, so something is happening all the time. However, it is important to stress that all our initiatives are informal and that everyone takes responsibility for their own participation and their partner’s safety. Luckily, there are very experienced divers and instructors among us, so each of our dives can be considered safe.

T: What goals did you set for yourself when you set up the group?

K: As you know, the nearest diving site with infrastructure near Warsaw, is Białe Lake. There are simply no sensible dive sites around the biggest city in Poland, and those that do exist are rather unattractive. Not accepting the existing reality, we decided to check it out and it turned out that you can dive a little. In the Mazowieckie voivodeship, there are some interesting clay and gravel pits, which reach a depth of several metres, so they are suitable for diving.

T: How many people does the GEPN have today?

K: The number of people is growing, but online activity is not always combined with diving. In fact, there are about 20 people actively diving in GEPN, and on Facebook and the forum, there are several hundred in total. Of course we dive in different compositions, because it is impossible to organize everything in such a way that everyone fits the date, but this is an issue that can not be jumped.

T: What diving qualifications do you have?

K: In fact, we have various licences. From basic, through technical, to instructor. We don’t dive deep, but in conditions of very limited visibility, so not every dive is pleasant for beginners. On the other hand, with GEPN you have people who know what it’s going to be like underwater, so there’s no surprises and everyone knows what they’re signing up for.

T: Are you all from the Warsaw area?

K: Within the Group Exploring Podwarszawskie Diving Sites, as the name suggests, are mainly people associated with Warsaw and the surrounding area, although there are also those who do not come from these parts, but life fate has made them dive there. There are so many divers in Warsaw, that there could be many more of us, but GEPN was created recently and I hope that it will grow. I don’t expect that all of a sudden everyone will want to visit the clay and gravel pits with us.

T: Who are GEPN members in private?

K: We represent a cross-section of society. There are doctors, architects, IT specialists, accountants and other office workers, but also diving instructors. We’re all connected by the internet, because without it, it would be much more difficult to organise trips together. GEPN is in fact divers who are united by a common passion and desire to explore new dive sites. We are also unquestionably connected by our unusual approach to diving. Diving in clay and gravel pits, we do not expect good visibility and generally speaking good diving conditions. This makes us even more happy with every interesting thing we come across underwater.

T: Is it possible to join you? If so, how?

K: We would like to invite all divers from Warsaw and its surroundings to take part in the exploration of diving sites near Warsaw. You can find the group on the social networking site at facebook.com/GEPN.POLAND and on forum-nuras.com

T: Most memorable dives, during the course of your activities?
K: We’ve been to some better and some worse places. The most spectacular was the first GEPN visit to a gravel pit near Garwolin. Until our visit, it was called Lake X in diving nomenclature. After discussing it with representatives of the local media, it turned out to be Mammoth Lake. It was created in 2007 as a result of flooding a gravel pit. During the excavation, remains of mammoths were found there, hence the reservoir’s common name. Recently, we also visited the clay pits in Łuków, where we hunted for ammonites. Admittedly, this time we got a bit carried away, because we went outside our voivodship, but the possibility of finding fossilised creatures from over 65 million years ago was stronger than the unwritten rules. (A report and photo-report from this trip can be seen on our portal, ed.).

T: Do you often organise further trips?

K: The trips are organised relatively often, but of course always according to the will of the group members. Everything always starts on the Internet. We discuss the locations and dates, and then we announce it to the public. Either on Facebook, the forum, or by sending a message to the diving media.

T: What are your plans for the near future and how do you see yourselves as a group in a few years time?

K: There are still a few or a dozen places in and around Mazovia, which simply must be visited. Now it’s a bit cold, so there will probably be some ice diving and diving in enclosed spaces – we are currently collecting volunteers for diving in Pruszków II CHP Plant. However, we will return with full explorations in the spring. Then it will be possible to organise more volunteers, as the conditions will be much more favourable.

T: Thank you for the interview and I wish you good luck in your future explorations.

K: Thanks and feel free to explore interesting places together!

Kamil “Jakuza” Jaczyński – AOWD PADI diver, Nitrox TDI. Music activist and publicist. Specialist in public relations and music marketing. Lecturer of Hip-Hop culture theory in HipHop Academy., He is the co-author of the concept of musical setting for the 12 Ławek theatrical spectacle (directed by Jarek Staniek). He is co-author of the concept of musical setting of the theatrical spectacle 12 Ławek (directed by Jarek Staniek) presented on the stage of Musical Theatre in Gdynia.