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The wreck of the Mermaid boat and diving in Morskie Oko - film

Listen to this article At the end of May members of the diving section of the Tatra Voluntary Rescue Service dived in Morskie Oko and once again visited the wreck of the Syrena boat. On 21-25 May 2021 members of TOPR took Diving training in Morskie Oko. The aim of the rescuers was to practice

ByMarcin Pawełczyk

Published: June 18, 2021 - 09:00

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 22:48

The wreck of the Mermaid boat and diving in Morskie Oko – film

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At the end of May members of the diving section of the Tatra Voluntary Rescue Service dived in Morskie Oko and once again visited the wreck of the Syrena boat.

On 21-25 May 2021 members of TOPR took Diving training in Morskie Oko. The aim of the rescuers was to practice diving to the depth of 40 meters using T-Reb sidemount rebreathers. On this occasion, they also managed to take more pictures of the beautiful wreck of the Syrena boat.

Closed circuit diver in the background of a boat — TOPR rescuers exercised in Morskie Oko once again Fot. Sławek Paćko

The classes were conducted by external instructors. A certain impediment during the trainings was the fact that the water temperature did not exceed 4°C, which was due to the rather cold spring and the long-lasting ice on the surface of the pond. Trainings on TOPR’s T-Reb unit will continue – we can read on the association’s official social media profile

CCR diver on a wreck — TOPR rescuer during exercises in Morskie Oko Photo: Sławek Paćko

Flashes of light

Undoubtedly, the wreck of the Syrena boat became famous for the first time at the end of November 2020. It was then that the photographs of Sławek Paćko, who took them during a training course for TOPR divers, hit the net. They immediately captivated internet users and became the hit of the day! After all, wrecks in lakes or seas are something completely natural, but in Morskie Oko!

The mermaid has had its years. Because the vessel (not the wreck) is almost a century old. In the past, the boat traversed the Morskie Oko Lake, allowing tourists to commune with the wonderful and wild nature of the Tatra Mountains. It is worth mentioning that in the past such attractions as sailing a boat in the mountains were something common.

TOPR rescuer during diving — TOPR specialists discovered the wreck 6 years ago Fot. Sławek Paćko

TOPR divers discovered the wreck of the Syrena boat six years ago. However, it was only the photographs taken by Sławek last autumn that allowed this information to be pushed into the public consciousness.

It is not known in what circumstances the Syrena sank. However, it happened in the 1930s, while the last vessels disappeared from the Polish Tatra Mountains shortly after the war. Today, both sailing and diving in the mountainous areas is forbidden. The only exceptions for diving are TOPR (Tatra Volunteer Rescue Service) exercises and scientific research.

Finally, I encourage everyone to donate 1% of your tax to the TOPR Foundation.

About author

Marcin Pawełczyk

Marcin’s journey with diving has been an adventure. Starting as a recreational diver, he soon found himself drawn to the fascinating stories and mysteries of Baltic wrecks. After gaining experience, Marcin decided to go beyond just leisurely exploration and took his training up a notch by completing the TMX course, allowing him to explore even deeper and uncover the secrets of inaccessible places. His next challenge has been cave diving, where he is honing his skills to become a certified diver. Not content to simply take in the breathtaking beauty of underwater life, Marcin has also embraced underwater photography since 2018, capturing stunning shots that bring these worlds alive for those who are unable to experience them first-hand. Marcin’s passion for the underwater has taken him far and is sure to continue doing so as he dives into new depths and captures breathtaking images.