Unique Polish diving site - "koparki" near Jaworzno

In the south of Poland there is a very interesting and characteristic diving site. It is a flooded quarry near Jaworzno, called in diving nomenclature diggers. This place is quite new if we take into account its availability for divers and with quite original history.

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In almost all the bodies of water you will dive in, the objects and features on the bottom have been submerged there in some way. On excavators the situation is somewhat different. Everything we can see underwater was there and one day it was simply flooded within a few tens of hours.

In 1997, Zakłady Dolomitowe “Szczakowa” was on the verge of collapse. The debts for electricity were growing at an alarming pace and reached colossal amounts. Finally the decision was made to stop the electricity supply. All the equipment dies, including the pumps. The pit is rapidly filling with water. Gross negligence on the part of the staff results in the flooding of two huge excavators, the blasting house, the transformer station and many other pieces of equipment.

There are two sides to every coin and, paradoxically, the dramatic situation that afflicted “Szczakowa”, combined with the sluggishness and negligence of its employees, contributed to the creation of one of the few diving sites in the region.

Soon the site was forgotten by everyone… well almost everyone. Very soon the site became a wild diving ground. However, this situation did not last long. Soon, a diving base created by Mirosław Kierepka from the Orka Diving Centre was set up in this place, which quickly caused the development and popularization of “koparki” as an interesting place to dive.

Depending on the period and season, the water level varies and there are several ways to enter the water. You can use ladders, walkways or simply jump into the water.

Swimming along the handrail, we will be able to encounter underwater attractions such as two giant buckets, further on we can choose from two handrails, each leading to one excavator. During the further tour we will find the blast house, pumping stations and pump baskets. The original equipment also includes a transformer shed and a blasting bunker. While exploring the reservoir, you may also come across a wreck of a BMW or a Polonez. Apart from the “still life”, with a bit of luck we will come across representatives of the much more animated nature, including a giant pike.

The maximum depth is not likely to exceed 18m. Depending on the luck, the visibility is in the range of 3-5m in the season (due to crowds of divers) and 10m and more at the best time, i.e. in winter under ice. On site it is possible to fill cylinders and, depending on the season, to use the local infrastructure.

Source: orkasa.pl
Photo: arturro