Try dive · Koparki, Jaworzno
Try scuba diving in Jaworzno — your first breath underwater
A try dive (intro dive, “discover scuba”) is a single dive under an instructor’s full care — no course, no certificate and no previous experience needed. I run it personally, one-on-one, at the flooded Koparki quarry in Jaworzno, about 40 minutes from Katowice. It takes about 2 hours, we go to 0–12 m, all gear is included, and the price — from 400 PLN — is credited towards the OWD course if you decide to continue.
Key facts
- Price
- from 400 PLN — credited towards the OWD course
- Time
- about 2 hours (including briefing)
- Depth
- 0–12 m — only as deep as you want
- Location
- Koparki flooded quarry, Jaworzno (Silesia, Poland)
- Format
- one-on-one or two people (1:2)
- Gear
- included: regulator, BCD, tank, wetsuit, mask, fins
- Requirements
- no certificate or experience; a short health statement
- Instructor
- Bartłomiej Bartnicki, IDF instructor (ISO 24801)
- Language
- English or Polish
- Water
- about 17°C in season
Who is a try dive for?
- People who have never dived and want to find out whether it is for them before committing to a course.
- Anyone with a healthy respect for water. I work one-on-one, we stay shallow and go at your pace — you can say “enough” at any moment.
- Thrill-seekers — straight to the excavator and the sunken vehicles, safely.
- Couples and friends — you can come with someone close (two people at most).
For calm or for the thrill
For calm
Shallow and slow, no pressure. We go exactly as deep as you want — not a metre more.
For the thrill
Straight to the excavator and sunken vehicles — the rush of your first descent, safely.
What a try dive looks like — step by step
- 1
A short call and a date
Call or message me — we pick a day, I answer your questions and tell you what to bring.
- 2
Meeting at the lake
At Koparki I walk you through the gear and a few simple underwater signals, and you sign a short health statement.
- 3
First breath in shallow water
Standing in the shallows you get used to breathing from the regulator, equalising your ears and clearing your mask — as many times as you need.
- 4
The dive
We descend together to the excavator (~8 m), the tunnel (~10 m), the Ford or the truck (~12 m) — or stay shallower. I am within arm’s reach the whole time.
- 5
Back on the surface
We talk it over. If you want to continue, we plan your OWD course — the try-dive fee is credited towards it.
What you will see underwater
Koparki is a former quarry with machines and vehicles underwater. Within try-dive range (0–12 m):
- the mining excavator (~8 m) — the symbol of the place,
- a tunnel with four exits (~10 m),
- a sunken Ford (~12 m),
- a truck (~12 m).
More about the site: a guide to the underwater objects at Koparki.
Safety and health
I am right next to you for the whole dive — one-on-one, no group. One agreed signal and we calmly head back up.
Before getting in you sign a short health statement. Some conditions need a doctor’s approval — if in doubt, call me before booking.
You do not need to be a strong swimmer — feeling reasonably comfortable in water is enough. More: do I need to know how to swim.
What to bring
- swimwear
- a towel
- something warm to change into afterwards
Everything else — the full dive kit with a fitted wetsuit — is on me.
What comes after a try dive?
If it feels right, the next step is the OWD (Open Water Diver) course — a certificate recognised worldwide that lets you dive with a buddy to 20 m. The try-dive fee is credited towards the course.
Try dive — frequently asked questions
How much does a try dive cost?
From 400 PLN, gear included. If you go on to the OWD course, the amount is credited towards it.
How long does it take?
About 2 hours including the briefing and getting comfortable in shallow water. Time underwater is adjusted to you.
Do I need to know how to swim?
Not at a sporting level — feeling reasonably comfortable in water is enough. There is no swimming test.
Will I get a certificate?
No — a try dive is a taster with no exams. The certificate for independent diving comes with the OWD course.
What if I get scared underwater?
We are within arm’s reach of each other. We stay shallow and only go as far as you want — give the signal at any time and we go back up.
Can I come with another person?
Yes. I work one-on-one or with two people, so you can dive together with a partner or friend.
Where does the try dive take place?
At the flooded Koparki quarry in Jaworzno, about 40 minutes from Katowice and close to Kraków.
Book your try dive
Call or message me — I will answer your questions and we will find a date.