September 15, 2013*

Thanks to one of the Captains of a diving boat, I have a ride back to Warsaw tonight.

I have contacted my friends in Warsaw to arrange accommodations.

So, now it’s time for the deep dive of Poland – locally known as the Trałowiec, but officially known as the Munin.

So the story goes, it was a German ship that was sunk sometime in World War II.

I have not been able to find documentation on the internet in English – well not yet.

I’m tired, and writing this on my last night in Poland, so I will readdress this issue later.

Kamil chartered another boat.

I needed a buddy, and he was more than happy to be mine for about $30 USD.

There were about eight divers on the boat, six recreational, two technical divers.

We jumped off the boat, and I followed Kamil to the line that lead to the wreck.

We descended.

Logged SCUBA Dive #448

Dove with Kamil

Trałowiec (Munin) Wreck
Hel, Poland

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 120 feet
Waves: Mild chop
Visibility: 15-20 feet
Water Temperature: 38 degrees
Air Temperature: 66 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 32 minutes or so

We got to about 70 feet, and all of a sudden, I felt this extreme fucking cold pierce through my body.

Holy fuck!

Oh yeah, I need air in my dry suit.

I just kept sinking… and sinking.

I was over weighted for this dive; I kept pumping air into my BCD, and finally at 120 feet, I hit the bottom like a rock.

I was fucking cold, even in a dry suit.

Worst of all, my hands were numb; I was wearing 5 mm neoprene gloves, and I couldn’t feel my hands.

Was I narced?

I really don’t know, I followed Kamil like a sheep, but I must have been.

And, I admit, I was a little scared.

This was a night dive, during the day – it was that dark.

This was the coldest and one of the spookiest dives I had ever been on.

A doorway leads to the inside of the hull.

Just follow kamil… Just follow Kamil, all will be fine.

My hands were frozen, I was fucking cold, but I realized that our bottom time was only 12 minutes.

I am macho enough to endure such conditions.

The wheel house.

The Captain’s Wheel.

A window on the front.

Kamil lead me back to the buoy line.

Yeah! We’re going up to warmer water!

We must have spent more than 10 minutes going back up.

I couldn’t feel my hands for several minutes.

I had to take a piss too, but it was so cold, I couldn’t find… forget it.

I’m shoving off in several hours.

I will write a recap when I get home.

Thank you Poland for such a great time – next time I will be here, I’m not going to dive.

I feel cheated I didn’t stay longer and see some of the history.

*This post has been delayed due to Polish beer, Vodka and lack of internet access.

September 14, 2013^

Having the boat confiscated cost us about six hours, and at least one dive.

But, Kamil found another boat, so the plans changed.

The first dive of the day was going to be on the Bryza Wreck, which was a Cutter Ship that was purposely sunk for divers just several years ago.

Igor was teaching some class, I’m not exactly sure which one, but I was to tag along and follow.

I think at this point, they are pretty certain I can manage myself underwater.

Igor and the divers gear up.

We swim to the buoy that marks where the ship is.

Logged SCUBA Dive #447

Dove with Igor and three other Polish Divers

Bryza Wreck
Hel, Poland

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 900 psi
Max depth: 62 feet
Waves: Mild chop
Visibility: 15 feet
Water Temperature: 49 degrees
Air Temperature: 68 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes or so

Most divers had double tanks – that is extremely macho, in diver terms.

Part of the front, above the bow.

I’m following the group, trying not to be a burden on the class.

Igor was easy to spot – he was diving with a side mounted cave configuration.

We inspect the hull for leaks – I was amazed at what little sea growth is on these wrecks.

The ocean water in the Baltic is also not very salty; it’s almost like lake water.

A porthole.

A safety stop to reduce the possibility of death.

Kasia mans the compressors.

I declined another dive today.

It is getting late and I have an issue – Igor is leaving tomorrow night and can drop me off at the Gdansk train station.

However, I don’t believe the trains run that late.

Kamil can drop me off in Gdansk on Monday.

Either way, once I reach Warsaw, I need a place to stay.

I walked into town to use the internet and to see what I could do.

*This post has been delayed due to Polish beer, Vodka and lack of internet access.