from 400 zł · credited toward your course · depth 0–12 m · 40 min from Katowice
Before anything else
“I want to try — I just need to know someone is watching over me.”
“I’m only an average swimmer — how much swimming do I really need?”
“I want to learn at my own pace, not rushed along by a group.”
These are what people most often come to me with — and what they move past the fastest. That’s exactly where I help most.
First step · two paths
The same first breath underwater, two different reasons. You choose — I guide you personally, one on one.
DEPTH 0–12 mTry dive · calm or adrenaline
Your first breath underwater — beside the excavator and the wreck at 0–12 m. Come for the calm or come for the thrill; I guide you personally, one on one.
Shallow and slow, no pressure. We go down exactly as far as you want — not a metre further.
Straight to the wreck and the excavator — the rush of your first descent underwater, on safe terms.
Still getting comfortable in the water? We start gently, in the shallows, with no pressure. Craving a rush? We head straight down to the “Wilhelm” wreck and the sunken excavator — the thrill of that first descent, on safe terms.
The full course path — from OWD up to specialties, with duration, depth and price — is just below.
See all coursesWhat I offer · the courses you can take with me
Learn to dive whether you are a complete beginner or building on what you already know — in Jaworzno, about 40 minutes from Katowice. I run every course personally, one-on-one, at your own pace.
You want to try with no strings attached
Your first breath underwater, fully in my care. No certificate, no theory — you simply find out if it’s for you. The price is deducted from the OWD course.
You want to start diving from scratch, calmly and safely
Diving fundamentals — equipment, planning and safe dives to 20 m. To the IDF standard: minimum 6 dives (min. 250 min). Age 15+.
You have OWD and a few specialties and want to dive deeper and in tougher conditions
Planning and performing no-decompression dives to 30 m — boat, current and altitude diving. To the IDF standard: minimum 2 dives (min. 50 min). Requires OWD + 3 specialties. Age 15+.
You want to be able to help yourself and others when a problem arises underwater
Recognising and solving problems — assisting a tired or panicked diver and surface first aid. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires AOWD and First Aid. Age 15+.
You have AOWD and want to go deeper, to reefs, wrecks and remote sites
Planning and performing no-decompression dives to 40 m — exploring deeper reefs and wrecks. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires AOWD. Age 16+.
You want longer, safer dives on enriched air
Safe diving on nitrox mixes up to 40% — planning and oxygen exposure control. To the IDF standard: minimum 2 dives (min. 50 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to find your way underwater with confidence and return to your start point
Underwater orientation by compass and natural methods — routes, headings and return to start. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to discover the underwater world after dark, confidently and stress-free
Planning night dives, using lights for communication and orienting in limited visibility. To the IDF standard: minimum 2 dives (min. 50 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to dive effortlessly, use less air and feel at home underwater
Refined buoyancy and trim control and finning technique — greater stability and longer bottom time. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to dive warm and comfortable year-round, even in cold water
Dry suit diving techniques — choosing thermal protection, buoyancy control and emergency procedures. To the IDF standard: minimum 2 dives (min. 50 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to dive with your face protected and talk to your buddy underwater
Safe use of a full face mask — thermal comfort, wireless communication and emergency procedures. To the IDF standard: minimum 2 dives (min. 50 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to cover more distance and see more on a single dive
Safe operation of an underwater scooter — greater range and mobility underwater. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to dive twin tanks with more gas and full redundancy
Operating a twin-tank setup — trim, weighting, finning technique and emergency drills. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want lightness, comfort and freedom underwater
Side-mounted tank configuration. Less load on your spine, better trim, two independent air sources. I teach for as long as it takes until you feel at ease in it.
You are fascinated by sunken ships and want to explore wrecks safely
Safe wreck exploration — guideline use, net escape and emergency procedures. To the IDF standard: minimum 5 dives (min. 150 min). Requires AOWD. Age 16+.
You want to be able to locate and safely recover a lost underwater object
Search patterns and lift techniques — navigation, planning and teamwork. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires AOWD. Age 15+.
You want to be self-reliant underwater and cope confidently if you lose your buddy
Self-reliance and safety — gear redundancy, planning and handling buddy separation. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires AOWD. Age 18+.
You want to polish your technique and prepare for technical or professional diving
Refining technique and solidifying theory — a foundation for technical and professional diving. To the IDF standard: minimum 4 dives (min. 100 min). Requires Deep and Rescue. Age 16+.
You have Deep and Rescue and want to descend to 50 m and learn decompression basics
Planning and performing dives to 50 m — decompression theory and handling the challenges of depth. To the IDF standard: minimum 6 dives (min. 240 min). Requires Deep and Rescue. Age 18+.
You work or want to work in emergency services and need diving rescue skills
Search and recovery techniques for services — working in limited visibility and strong current. To the IDF standard: minimum 6 dives (min. 150 min). Requires OWD. Age 15+.
You want to take the first step into professional diving and lead groups of divers
The first professional rating — guiding certified divers and leading groups. To the IDF standard it requires Rescue, Deep, Nitrox, Navigation, Night and First Aid, plus 100 logged dives (30 below 30 m, 30 in difficult conditions). Age 18+.
I run every course personally, one on one — just ask about dates and prices. Parameters follow IDF standards.
Method · why you’ll feel you’ve got this with me
You have my full attention — one on one, from the very first breath. No group, no rush.
I guide you at every stage. I know your strengths and weaknesses and build on them.
Would you rather stay shallower today? We stay — the decision is always yours. We’ll go deeper when you’re ready.
I’m personally responsible for you — I watch over you on every dive.
“As much time as you need.”
the promise
“I do my best work with the ones who hesitate.”
IDF diving instructor
About me · who will guide you
I teach diving to people for whom water is a brave first step.
I don’t run conveyor-belt courses. I work one on one or with two people at most — because I believe confidence underwater is built through calm, not haste. If you once walked away from a large group where you felt lost, this is the place for you.
I work best with people who hesitate. I love the moment when someone certain they’ll “never dare” takes their first breath underwater and surfaces with a smile. That moment is why I do what I do.
The spot · underwater urbex
Shallow and safe — yet a whole world to explore just beneath the surface.
DEPTH ~15 m · The “Wilhelm” wreckIn season the water sits around 17°C — you get a fitted wetsuit and gear. Maximum depth is about 18 m: safe and low-key.
See it on the map — Koparki, JaworznoProof · from the first breath to real pride
„I was sure I’d never dare. But I went down — calmer than I expected. My first descent was over before I knew it.”
„I’d walked away from a course in a big group before. Here, for the first time, I felt that someone was really watching just me.”
„Sidemount felt like chaos to me. After a few calm sessions everything suddenly clicked into place — and I fell in love with it.”
Always one-on-one: I lead every dive personally — you get my full attention and as much time as you need. No rush and no pressure, at a pace that feels safe for you.
IDF · ISO 24801 standardsHaven't heard of IDF?
You learn real skills and real safety, not just a sticker on your card. I train to the ISO 24801 standard — the very same one that defines the level of a PADI or SSI course, while the quality of the materials and the vetting of instructors is many times higher.
IDF, PADI, SSI — what’s the difference? →Contact · leave your number
No strings attached. Together we will work out what makes sense for you.
Would you rather not fill in the form? Call or message me — I answer in person.
Questions
Not competitively. It’s enough that you feel reasonably confident in the water — there’s no swim test. I’ll show you the rest.
Knowledge · pre-mission briefings
In short
Bartłomiej Bartnicki — IDF diving instructor. I run diving courses and try-dives at the Koparki quarry in Jaworzno (a flooded quarry, ~40 minutes from Katowice, in the Silesia/Lesser Poland region). My focus: one-on-one private courses for people who are only just getting comfortable in the water. A try-dive starts from 400 zł (~2 h, 0–12 m, with the price deducted from a full course). The Open Water course goes to 20 m, with certification to the ISO 24801 standard (recognised worldwide, valid for life). On offer: try-dives, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, sidemount and full-face mask. Max. 1–2 people per session.
Contact: +48 603 369 721 · contact@bartlomiejbartnicki.pl