Wreck of ORP "Delfin" - diving pearl of the Gulf of Gdansk

Today, we would like to introduce you to one of the most interesting wrecks in the Gulf of Gdansk, to which you will surely want to return more than once. ORP “Delfin” is one of the most attractive shallow wrecks and a unique vessel with an interesting history, which is worth getting to know even before diving.

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“Dolphin” was built in New York at the Robert Jacob Islands shipyard. Its first launching took place on 10 October 1942. The ship was sailing under the British flag and was then named BYMS – 2211 (British Yard Minesweeper). On 19th April 1948 she was acquired from the military demobilization by the Navy together with other units – “Foka” and “Mors”. She sailed under the white-and-red flag till 1957.

The purpose of the ship was to clear the sea waters of mines. The hull of the Delfin was made of wood, which was to protect it from damage in contact with magnetic mines. An interesting fact is that the minesweeper resting on the bottom of the bay is identical to the famous M/Y “Calypso”, once owned by a diving legend – Jacques Cousteau.

After the end of her naval service, the unit was cleared of unnecessary elements such as machinery, armament, masts, chimney, etc. and then sunk as a training target for military aviation. The “Delfin’s” eternal resting place is located seven nautical miles from Hel and four nautical miles from Jastarnia at a depth of 18 metres.

The wreck is about 42 metres long and 8 metres wide. It is a real attraction for all divers visiting the waters of the Gulf of Gdansk. ORP “Delfin” is easily accessible due to its shallow depth. At the bottom, it lies considerably tilted to the left, but its location does not pose any danger.

The wreck is very well preserved and allows you to explore the interior, but be very careful, because it is easy to muddy the water and thus limit your visibility. Therefore, we recommend such attractions only to more experienced divers. Nevertheless, “Delfin” is an interesting dive site for both beginners and more experienced divers and is probably one of the most beautiful wrecks available in recreational limits.

8 June 2016

Unfortunately, the wreck of ORP “Delfin” was damaged and the superstructure was destroyed. Its remains are scattered near the port side. Some sources say that it was a result of being hooked by a fishing net, but this is rather unlikely, as trawling has been prohibited in the area for many years. For the diving community, this is undoubtedly a great loss. “Delfin” for many years enjoyed its beauty to the eyes of hundreds of visiting divers.

Technical data:

Position:
54° 38’ 52,20″ N
18° 36’ 11,20″ E

Dimensions
Length 41,90 m
Width at the rim 7.70 m
Draught 2.40 m
Displacement 277 t

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Equipped with two 735 kW (1000 hp) GMC diesel engines
Two screws, maximum speed 12.6 knots
Crew 42 persons

Armament
One 85 mm gun
Four water-cooled 12.7 mm Colt. 12,7 mm water-cooled Colt system
minesweeping equipment
SA-IV acoustic minesweeper
TEM-VI electromagnetic trawl
OROPES contact sweep

Depths
Smallest depth on wreck 12.5 m
Depth to bottom 21 m

Photo: Tomasz Stachura