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.

September 10, 2013*

Things have been changing really quickly.

First, Greg couldn’t take me diving because of a sick girlfriend, so he told me to go rent a car.

While looking for a car, he called me again and said he arranged for me to go with a diving group who was going to be diving in Crakow.

“Igor, will take you… You will have fun,” Greg said.

Who the hell is Igor?

I walked around Downtown Warsaw, waiting for his call.

I hooked up with Tusia and her boyfriend Wiktor; I was tired and crashed on their couch for several hours.

I finally spoke with Igor and he said he was with a group of divers traveling to Crakow.

We did had a slight problem with the details in English.

He was going to pick me up at 7 PM on his way from up North.

Wiktor called Igor and questioned him – he didn’t believe there was any diving in Crakow.

As it was explained to Wiktor, in Polish, they are a diving shop, traveling to Crakow to dive in a rock quarry called Zakrzowek – they were there on business, doing a one day “Discover SCUBA” event.

OK, that made sense.

Igor was late, but managed to pick me up around 10 PM.

Tusia and Wiktor were relieved – at least the van said “Diving” on the side.

I got into the van; there were seven other divers in there.

“So Jeff, do you like Vodka?” I was asked.

“Yeah, of course, I’m half Polish,” I said.

They handed me their community bottle of Vodka… and when in Poland, do as the Polish do.

It was a two hour drive to Krakow, and when we arrived at the Diving Base, the bar was closed.

They opened the bar just for us!

There’s more to come… quality posts, not quantity posts.

Just my warning – Never try and out drink a Pole!

*This posting is delayed because I am the reporter and the writer, and Polish people love to party.