Scuba diving in Katowice — learn to dive in English, 40 minutes away

Scuba diving near Katowice is closer than most people expect: the flooded Koparki quarry in Jaworzno is about 40 minutes away, and I teach try dives and diving courses there in English. You learn one-on-one or with one other person, a try dive costs from 400 PLN with all gear included, and the Open Water Diver course ends with a certificate recognised at dive centres worldwide. I am Bartłomiej Bartnicki, an IDF instructor, and I teach under the brand “nurkowanie na spokojnie” — diving, calmly.

Living and working in Katowice? Diving fits around your job

If you have moved to Katowice for work, you may be looking for something to do outside the office that has nothing to do with screens. Diving is a good fit for that: it slows you down, demands your full attention and leaves no room for e-mails. Because I work one-on-one, there is no fixed group timetable to squeeze into — we agree dates individually, weekends included. A 40-minute drive means a dive session fits comfortably into half a day.

A diving course in Katowice in English — no language barrier

Learning a new skill in a second language is tiring, and underwater you want your head clear. That is why everything with me happens in English: the theory, the safety briefing, the hand signals and the conversation after each dive. If something is unclear, you ask and I explain it again — as many times as you need. I teach in Polish too, so a mixed pair — say, you and a Polish colleague — works just as well.

You should spend your energy on breathing calmly, not on translating instructions in your head.

From your first try dive to a certificate

• Try dive — about 2 hours, 0–12 m, only as deep as you want. From 400 PLN, gear included. No experience or certificate needed.
• Open Water Diver (OWD) — under the IDF standard: at least 6 dives (minimum 250 minutes underwater), certification to dive with a buddy to 20 m, from the age of 15.
• Then, if you catch the bug — Advanced Open Water Diver and specialities.

The try-dive fee is credited towards the OWD course. Other prices I set individually after a short conversation, and for the try dive and the basic courses I provide the gear. A detailed walk-through of the course is in the OWD course — what to expect.

Is an IDF certificate valid outside Poland?

Expats often ask this, because they plan to dive on holidays or after moving on from Poland. IDF trains to the ISO 24801 standards — the same ones that define PADI levels — and the certificate has a number, is verifiable, is recognised at dive centres worldwide and is valid for life. Whichever card you hold, it is sensible to ask the dive centre which certificates it accepts before you travel. I compare the two federations honestly in IDF vs PADI.

Water temperature and seasons in Silesia

This is not the Red Sea, and it is better to know that upfront. In season the water at Koparki is around 17°C — perfectly comfortable in a well-fitted wetsuit, which I choose for you before we get in. In winter it is 4–6°C, so I recommend your first dive in the warmer months. The reward for cooler water is a site with real objects: an excavator (~8 m), a tunnel with four exits (~10 m), a Ford and a truck (~12 m) and the “Wilhelm” wreck (~15 m). See the guide to the underwater objects at Koparki.

Nervous about the water? That is completely fine

You do not need to be a strong swimmer or fearless. We start in the shallows, where you can stand, and we only go deeper once your breathing is calm. I am within arm’s reach the whole time, and one agreed signal means we calmly head back up — no discussion, no judgement. Before the dive you fill in a short health statement; some conditions need a doctor’s approval, so get in touch before booking if you are unsure. If nerves are your main worry, read how to tame the water step by step.

Ready to try? Book a try dive near Katowice, or simply call or message me with your questions first. I will answer in English, calmly and without any pressure — and when you are ready, we will find a date.