September 11, 2013*

As stated in my last post, I accidentally ripped my right hand seal.

Igor put a hard cuff in the sleeve, a new seal over it and secured it with a band.

“I think it is fixed now,” Igor said.

There were several divers in the water.

I went in and over to two divers.

“If you guys are waiting on me, we can go,” I said.

They laughed.

“We don’t even know who you are, so it may be the guys behind you,” he said in perfect English.

“Jeff, over here,” Szymon said.

We submerged.

Logged SCUBA Dive #445

Dove with Szymon and Takub

Zakrzowek Rock Quarry
Krakow, Poland

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 1800 psi
Max depth: 57 feet
Waves: None
Visibility: 15-20 feet
Water Temperature: 50 degrees
Air Temperature: 55 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes or so

I just followed the two.

I have often wondered what people find intriguing about diving in a place like a rock quarry.

I also found it interesting when I was told that Pope John Paul II worked in this rock quarry during World War II.

Szymon and Takub posed for pictures, laid on their backs, attempting to blow air rings to the surface.

We swam to the bus.

I felt this cold water on my right arm, moving slowly to my chest.

Yeah, I was leaking.

Should I call the dive, or be punished for ripping my arm seal?

I am macho, and true to Instructor Ed’s old saying, “Just keep going on.”

They started messing around inside the bus, posing for pictures sitting in the driver’s seat.

We passed by the airplane and soon I followed them to a line.

I grabbed the line and and followed them; we were in 55 feet of water.

All of a sudden, it looked like they were sinking, but I noticed that the line I was holding was taught… Oh, fuck, I was going to the surface really fucking quickly.

I grabbed my inflation hose and dumped all the air out of my BCD.

I sank down to the level we were at and gave the OK sign.

I did not realize that we were swimming to shallower water.

Szymon later told me that he thought I was giving the “out of air” sign.

A Sturgeon.

We ended the dive shortly thereafter, because someone had to take a piss really bad.

We packed up and headed back to the diving base hotel.

Again, they opened the bar just for us, where we proceeded to drink beer and eat pizza until 1 AM.

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

September 11, 2013*

After arriving at the Diving Base in Zakrzowek, we partied in the bar until 2:30 AM.

I was told that breakfast is at 7:30, and that we would start diving around noon.

Perfect, I could nurse my hangover.

I was a little tired and the floor was no longer spinning when I woke up for breakfast; I got there a little late, but this is Poland – they are laid back when it comes to time.

I met Igor at breakfast.

“You need to eat a quick breakfast and be down here with your diving gear at 8 AM,” he said.

“Wait, I though we weren’t going to start diving until noon,” I said.

“We need to set up the event first, that will take several hours…we are waiting on you,” he said.

Something must have gotten lost in the translation; I scarfed down my breakfast prison-chow-hall style and ran up and got my diving gear.

We piled everything into the van and drove a few minutes to the diving area.

It was raining, but nobody seemed to care or complain.

So basically, this group drove from the North to run a day long “Discover SCUBA Diving” event.

I was to dive with an Instructor on the side, to practice with doubles.

They set up a lecture area, dressing facilities and kitchen.

They even had a community hookah… and when you are in Poland…

Igor was talking to his group, when I saw him sniff something off his hand.

He turned to me, “Would you like some”

“Oh, I don’t do cocaine,” I said.

Everyone laughed.

“No, this is peppermint snuff… it is powered tobacco that you sniff.”

Well, when in Poland… I tried it, a very small amount.

Yeah, it wasn’t so wonderful; all I did was sneeze and blow brown boogers for several minutes.

Everything was set up… now it was the “hurry up and wait” game.

It continued to rain.

Finally, a huge bus pulled up…

…and out came about 30 fairly young people, including some really hot chicks:

FUCK! And I couldn’t talk to any of them!

With my Albania hat and Cleveland Indians Jacket on, I may have looked a little out of place.

Igor did a brief introduction before showing a PADI Dive Introduction movie; it was in English, with a Polish narrator.

Then half the group geared up, the other half waited for their turn.

I was originally going to dive with an Instructor named Lukasz, but he was diving with a side mounted cave configuration and told me, “I didn’t know this was your first Open Water dive with double tanks; if you get in trouble, I won’t be able to help you with what I’m diving with.”

Igor said he would dive with me and that I should gear up and wait.

I geared up and put on the doubles.

As my back started to give out, I said, “I’m gonna wait in the water.”

So, I’m waiting in the water, and Kamil swims over.

“Jeff, are you ready to dive, I will go with you,” Kamil said.

“I think I’m suppose to wait for Igor.”

“No, I’m an Instructor, too, let’s go.”

We swam a little ways out and submerged.

Logged SCUBA Dive #444

Dove with Kamil

Zakrzowek Rock Quarry
Krakow, Poland

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 1400 psi
Max depth: 96 feet
Waves: None
Visibility: 15-20 feet
Water Temperature: 50 degrees
Air Temperature: 55 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes or so

I had a little problem with bouyancy…I couldn’t find my inflation hose, but Kamil found it and rubber banded it to a strap for easier access.

Zakrzowek has stuff sunk all over the place – a car, an airplane, a bus, a replica of a ship.

We got down to 96 feet.

The dive went well, the buoyancy was a little awkward,

When we got back, Igor was waiting.

“Jeff are you alright?” Igor asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said.

I saw this overwhelming expression of relief from him.

“Would you like a second dive?” Igor asked.

“Of course,”I responded.

I had to take a piss really bad, and when I took my dry suit off, my right hand seal ripped.

Fuck! Now I must improvise.

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