diving freediving passion knowledge

No. 12 gulf
6(12)/2020
november/december islands
honduras
Price 7,90 €
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through the lens

henley spiers
1
2
 the foreword

Wojciech Zgoła

Editor-in-Chief

“This world is strange” and the passing year has been strange. It has given us all a hard
time. Local diving has become fashionable. Thanks to this, we can spend less time
commuting and more time finding new water reservoirs, not located in thousands,
but several dozen kilometers from our home.

Christmas is coming. Contact with loved ones may be difficult, and it is always a time
of quiet family celebration. Let us do everything we can to take a break from the ills
of this world, take a distance and fill ourselves with optimism and positive emotions.
Let the New Year be a good year, healthy, full of exceptional events.

As a magazine, we are entering 2021 with specific plans. Follow us on social media.
We are speeding up the publication of our bimonthly. Now we will try to make you
have it in front of your eyes and in your hands at the end of the first month of release.
So the end of January 2021, then the end of March, May, etc.

The current issue has a lot to offer. Beautiful photos and a light pen of the authors
will make you dive with us virtually. First we have Honduras for you. Finally, a very
practical text about buoys. Inside, inter alia, an interview with the outstanding photog-
rapher Henley Spiers, whose photo adorns our cover, and as a curiosity – "pudding"
from Lake Werbellinsee in Germany. And what exactly is this zooplankton. Explained
and shown.

I cordially invite you to come inside. All we have is at your disposal. You can now order
a subscription for 2021. From January, the price for a copy is PLN 25 plus shipping.
We also have a very nice calendar with beautiful photos. First come first served. Until
stocks last.

And your personal support in the form of a  donation for our editorial office is
appreciated.

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 3

 ta b l e o f co n t e n t s

32
16

40

travels

10 Gulf Islands. In search of the lost sand

24 Central Dalmatia
32 Sardinia. Under the sign of Aquarius
40 Pudding
knowledge

our conversation 44 Video System UV2

50 #divelocal #divesafe
16 Through the lens – Henley Spiers 62 "Medicine for divers". Review

Archaeology rookie's eye

46 Sacred waters 58 XI ABC's commandments

4
 planet earth

52 The ubiquitous plankton Publisher perfect diver wojciech zgoła

ul. Folwarczna 37, 62-081 Przeźmierowo
54 A goose or not really?
redakcja@perfectdiver.com

ISsN 2545-3319

54 editor in chief Wojciech Zgoła

columnist
underwater archaeology
freediving
photographer
publicist, photographer
english language translators
legal care
graphic design and composition
Irena Kosowska
Mateusz Popek
Agnieszka Kalska
Jakub Degee
Bartosz Pszczółkowski
Agnieszka Gumiela-Pająkowska
Arleta Kaźmierczak
Reddo Translations Sp. z o.o.
Adwokat Joanna Wajsnis
Brygida Jackowiak-Rydzak

the magazine was folded with typefaces

Montserrat (Julieta Ulanovsky)

Open Sans (Ascender Fonts)
Spectral (Production Type)

printing Wieland Drukarnia Cyfrowa, Poznań, www.wieland.com.pl

distribution dive centers, online store

tips & curiosities preorder@perfectdiver.com

64 Buoyant mood

cover photo
Henley Spiers
model
Tiger Cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus macrodon
place
Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

www.perfectdiver.com

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for the content of advertisements and reserves the right to shorten, edit, title
the submitted texts and select illustrative materials. Reprinting of articles or
parts thereof, copying only with the consent of the Editorial Board. Editors are
not responsible for the form and content of advertisements.

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donate any amount!
Donation is voluntary.

64 PayPal.Me/perfectdiver

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 5

e d i to r i a l t e a m
Wojciech Zgoła
He often repeats that he travels by diving and that
is his motto. In 1985 he obtained a yacht sailor's
license, and only in 2006 began to dive. In the fol-
lowing years he improved his skills by obtaining
the Dive Master degree. He completed nearly
650  dives in various climatic conditions. Since
2007, he has been taking photographs underwa-
ter, and since 2008 he has also been filming. As
an independent journalist, he published dozens
of articles, mainly in journals dedicated to diving,
but not only. Co-author of photo exhibitions in
Poland and abroad. He is passionate about and
propagator of diving.
Since 2008 he has been running his own website
www.dive-adventure.eu. On the basis of extensive
experience, in August 2018 he created the new
Perfect Diver Magazine.
Mateusz Popek
”My passion, work and life are under water.” He has
been diving since 2009. Since 2008, he's walking
in caves. Underwater archeologist by education.
He participated in numerous projects in Poland
and abroad. He has been engaged in professional
diving since 2011. In 2013 he obtained the qual-
ifications of a 2nd class diver. Has experience in
underwater work both at sea and inland. Since
2013 he has been diving in caves, especially in the
mountains, and since 2014 he is a diving instruc-
tor CMAS M1. In June 2020, he obtained a doctor-
al degree in underwater archeology.
irena kosowska
Regional Manager Divers Alert Network Polska,
diving and first aid instructor, technical diver and
cave diver. In love with all flooded, dark, cold,
tight places and invariably from the beginning
of the diving route – in the Baltic. Implementing
the DAN mission, he conducts a series of lectures
”Dive safely” and Diving Safety Laboratory, so field
research of divers for scientific purposes.
Agnieszka kalska
”I can't imagine living without water, where in a free
body I experience freedom of the spirit.”
• founder of the first freediving and swimming
school in Poland – FREEBODY,
• Apnea Academia International and PADI Master
Freediver freediving instructor,
• world record holder in freediving (DYN
253 m),
• record holder and Polish champion, member
of the national team in freediving 2013–2019,
• winner of the World Championships in freed-
iving 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018,
• multimedalist of the Polish Championships
and a member of the national team in swim-
ming in the years 1998–2003,
• passionate about freediving and swimming.
jakub degee
Polish photographer, winner of awards and dis-
tinctions in world underwater photography com-
petitions, has already dived all over the world: with
sharks and whales in South Africa, with orcs be-
hind the Arctic Circle, on Galapagos with hundreds
of hammerhead sharks and humpback whales in
the Tonga Islands. He participates in specialist
photographic workshops. He has been diving for
27 years, he started at the age of 12 – as soon as
it was formally possible. He was the first in the
world to use the Hasselblad X1d-50c camera for
underwater macro photography. Recently, in the
remote Chincorro archipelago on the border be-
tween Mexico and Belize, he did it again, taking
a  successful attempt to photograph the eye of
a crocodile with a macro lens with an additional
magnifying lens, which is the world's largest photo
of the crocodile's eye living in the wild (in terms of
pixel count, print size, quality).
Bartosz Pszczółkowski
That's my name and I come from Poznań. I have
been associated with water practically from birth
and with diving since I learned to walk. My grand-
father instilled my passion for the underwater
world, a  CMAS*** instructor taking me to the
lakes at any free time. I obtained my first qual-
ifications in 1996. A year later I went to Croatia
and literally went crazy at the sight of blue wa-
ter, octopus and colorful fish;) I bought my first
underwater camera – Olympus 5060 and started
the adventure with underwater photography.
I  acquired my diving experience in the Canary
Islands, Sardinia, Norway, Maldives and in Polish
lakes. I am currently a Padi and ESA instructor,
I train diving enthusiasts in Europe and pass my
passion on to others.
I invite all lovers of the underwater world and pho-
tography to Beediver (FB) – see you soon.

wojciech a. filip
Has more than 8000 dives on his account. He has
been diving for over 30 years, including over 20
years as a technical diver. He is a professional with
great theoretical and practical knowledge. He is
an instructor of many federations: GUE Instructor
Mentor, CMAS**, IANTD nTMX, IDCS PADI, EFR,
TMX Gas Blender. He participated in many diving
projects and conferences as a leader, explorer,
originator or lecturer. These included the Britan-
nic Expedition 2016, Morpheus Cave Scientific
Project on Croatia caves, GROM Expedition in
Narvik, Tuna Mine Deep Dive, Glavas Cave in Croa-
tia, NOA-MARINE. Professionally, he is a technical
director at TecLine in Scubatech, and a director of
training at TecLine Academy.
Adrian juriewicz
A  traveler, photographer and the underwater
world filmmaker, an Asian cuisine enthusiast
and a  PADI diving instructor. He visited over
70  countries and dived on 5  continents (the
other two are planned for next year's expedi-
tions). For several years he has also been an
instructor and trainer of the unmanned aircraft
flights. A co-author of a travel agency for divers
www.dive-away.pl. He documents his expeditions
with photos and descriptions of his journeys on
his blog www.divingandtravel.pl
robert styła
President of Ocean-Tech Sp. z o. o., IT NAUI, wreck
and cave diver. "Diving is not just about equip-
ment. It is also discovering secrets and an oppor-
tunity to reach places that an ordinary mortal has
no chance to see. Over ten years ago, for this pas-
sion, I abandoned the prospering business and
founded the company Ocean-Tech, which in fact
is an online store www.nurkowyswiat.pl"
agata turowicz-cybula
Since I was a child, I had dreamed of becoming
a marine biologist and I managed to fulfill that
dream. I  did a  degree in oceanography, where
I recently started my doctoral studies. My diving
adventure began when I was 12 years old. I love
observing the underwater life up close and I try to
show other divers how fascinating the underwa-
ter, Baltic creatures are.
o u r au t h o r s
sylwia kosmalska-juriewicz
A  traveller and a  photographer of wild nature.
A graduate of journalism and a lover of good liter-
ature. She lives in harmony with nature, promotes
a healthy lifestyle: she is a yogini and a vegetarian.
Also engaged in ecological projects. Sharks and
their protection are especially close to her heart.
She writes about the subject in numerous articles
and on her blog www.divingandtravel.pl. She be-
gan her adventure with diving fifteen years ago
by total coincidence. Today she is a Divemaster,
she visited over 60 countries and dived on 5 con-
tinents. She invites us for a joint journey with the
travel agency www.dive-away.pl, of which she is
a co-founder.
o u r au t h o r s
margita ślizowska
aka "Mermaid". NAUI, EFR (premedical first aid)
and DAN oxygen rescue instructor. Actress and
singer. Versatile woman.
Diving is her passion and a  way to help every
person with whom she works above and below
water. In her opinion, diving is not only exploring
the underwater world. It is also getting to know
and integrating with your own "I", building trust
in yourself and a way to develop the skills neces-
sary to overcome all life problems. Specialist for
"difficult" students and children.
Owner of XDIVERS – Your Diving School. Trimix,
cave and gas blender diver. Her biggest under-
water love are caves, and diving priority – SAFETY.
margita@xdivers.pl, www.xdivers.pl
bogdan zając
I live in Świnoujście, I have been diving since 2009.
The current dive rank is advanced nitrox in IDF
and AOWD in SSI. Photography course with Irena
Strangierska. Number of dives 450.
6 with delivery
magazines
wojciech jarosz
A graduate of two Poznan universities, the Acad-
emy of Physical Education (coaching specializa-
tion – handball) and the University of A.Mickiew-
icz, Faculty of Biology (specialty of experimental
biology). He connected his professional life with
this first university trying to influence the direc-
tion of development of future professionals on
the one hand, and on the other planning and
implementing research, pushing laboriously in
the right direction of the stroller called science.
In his free time he spends his time actively – his
main passions are sailing (sea helmsman), skiing
(downhill skiing instructor), riding a motorcycle,
recreational diving and many other activities, as
well as photography, mainly nature.
tomasz wciórka "eternal"
He has been involved in diving since 2009. Passion-
ate, technical and cave diver. Owner of the Black
Angel Divers diving school in Szczecin. Author of
articles on diving.
A perfectionist with a positive attitude to life, suit-
able as a test pilot for new diving equipment.
subscription
subscription price
75 eur
Order now:
preorder@perfectdiver.com
julia zabrodzka i bartek kaftan
They travel together with a  camera (Julia) and
a notebook (Bartek). Preferably to the countries
of Central America, especially Mexico and Gua-
temala, where they spent a total of almost one
and a half years. They have been writing for the
Polish and foreign press about the places they
visited and the people they met on the way. Their
photos and texts appeared, among others in
"The Guardian", "El País", "Polityka", "Scripture",
"Wysokie Obcasy", "Zwierciadło", "Esquire" or
"Kukbuku", as well as in travel magazines, such
as "Podróże", "Voyage" or "Continents". They like
water in every form – seas, lakes, and rivers – but
they consistently stick to the surface without ven-
turing into the depths. You can see Julia's photos
at: www.juiazabrodzka.pl
2021
 t r av e l s

Gulf Islands
In Search of the lost sand

Text bartek kaftan Photos julia zabrodzka

Out of the three Honduran islands in the Caribbean

Sea – Roatan, Guanaja and Utila – divers particularly like
the latter, the smallest and the most inconspicuous.
Is there anything to do here on the surface as well?

Roatan
Guanaja
It is hard to believe, but I think we just landed on a Caribbean
island with no beach.
On the neighbouring island – Roatan, everything was fine.
Utila

We lived in a log cabin in the midst of green, a few steps from

an arched strip of sand at Half Moon Bay. In the morning we
dived in the bay and swam along the reef stretching along the
Honduras

10

shore, following colourful fish or a lonely turtle. In the after-
noon we sat at the Sundowner’s Beach Bar to watch the sun
disappear in the Caribbean Sea with a bottle of the Honduran
Salva Vida beer in hand. In the meantime, we went for a walk
on the long West End Beach – only if it was only to rent a kay-
ak, swim 200–300 meters away from the shore and dive with
travels
a mask and a tube below the surface through the Blue Channel
coral canyon. Day after day passed and we could feel sand
under our bare feet.
On Utila you cannot do without decent sandals or flip-flops.
A bit of sand, which was artificially brought here, can be found
only on the hotel Bando Beach. Apart from this, the coast is
a range of rough, dark rocks. Those rocks were feared by the
captains of Spanish galleons, exporting the treasures of the
New World to Europe. But on the other hand, pirates liked
the area very much. The Gulf Islands were the hideout of the
most famous marine robbers, led by Henry Morgan and John
Coxen. The latter was even commemorated in the name of the
capital of the archipelago, the town of Coxen Hole on Roatan.
Today, only legends are left after the presence of the pi-
rates, but the rocky shores of Utila again act as a magnet – this
time for diving enthusiasts. They are a promise of splendour
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 11
 that hides underwater: a coral reef stretching on the edge of
the continental shelf of Central America, which on the north-
ern side of the archipelago falls steeply into the abyss of the
Cayman Trough. A huge variety of marine habitats makes un-
derwater off the coast of the Gulf Islands extremely rich, with
more than 95% of the species living in the Caribbean Sea.
We get to know a small piece of it, swimming with a mask
and a tube off the southern shores of Utila. We enter the sea
in the bay on the west side of the town, where getting through
the rocks is facilitated by piers. We immerse ourselves in the
turquoise, and after a while we flow over the edge of the reef.
It falls not so deeply as on the northern side of the island,
but very steeply, almost vertically. Here and there are elk's
antlers-like corals of the species acropora palmata, with a lot
of colourful parrotfishes spinning, and where smaller sergeant
majors are glittering like gold flakes. Suddenly, somewhere
down from behind the reef, a stingray emerges. We hang over
it motionless and watch as it flows slowly through a blue pro-
cession, intersected by rays of the sun. We will remember this
meeting for a very long time.

12
 The most peculiar and some of the most beautiful inhab-
itants of Utila, however, hide not on reefs, but on land. They
are quite shy and avoid contact with people, but there is
a place where you can almost always meet them. From
the town centre we climb up the street towards Stuart's
Hill, one of only two hills on the island, and turn left
into a large Caribbean-style wooden house hidden
among lush greenery. On the lawn in front of the
building we see several palm thatch huts made of
metal mesh. And in them the most important ten-
ants – iguanas of the species ctenosaura bakeri.
These reptiles are critically endangered. They are
found only on Utila Island (which is 6 kilometers
wide and 11 kilometers long), and they dig nests
on a few narrow beaches on the northern side of
the island. The Iguana Station employees and volun-
teers collect eggs and move them to a facility where
the young hatch in incubators. Then they take care
of the lizards until they grow up enough to cope in the
natural environment.

We are lucky: tomorrow a few specimens will be released
into the wild. One of the experienced caregivers of the resort
will take them to the place and agrees that we and two vol-
unteers will accompany him. "Put on decent shoes and old
clothes, because we are unlikely to come back clean," he warns.
In fact: the next morning, almost immediately after leaving the
Iguana Station, we delve into the wet scrubs that cover most
14
of Utila, which quickly pass into a low mangrove forest. We go
through the tangle of roots. No trace of any path, but our guide
knows every angle here. Unfortunately, poachers are equally
confident – meat and eggs of iguanas are still a delicacy for
some islanders. They are not deterred by mosquitoes, nor by
crabs sneaking out from under our feet, nor by mud. Although
it is the end of the dry season, every few steps we fall into
a sticky goo, sometimes all the way to the knees.
Suddenly, an invigorating turquoise can be seen among the
thickets. We come out on a narrow strip of light sand, sur-
rounding the shallow Rock Harbour Bay. Apart from our group,
there is no one, tourists from the town do not come here.
This is the perfect place to release iguanas. We watch as the
guide carefully takes them out and puts them on the ground.
We observe from a distance so as not to frighten the animals
unnecessarily. They look around for a moment, probably bewil-
dered by the Caribbean light, and then dive into the mangrove
thickets. And so do we, but into the warm water of the bay to
cool down before the laborious return.
At the end of the stay, we find out that Utila – which we
initially believed to be without beaches – has an even more
Caribbean face than the Rock Harbour. We are going on a trip
with a group of students from one of the diving schools. Many
backpackers travelling through Central America take their first
steps in the underwater world on this island: the conditions are
safe and pleasant, and the prices of the courses are reportedly
among the lowest in the world. Our goal is the linked Jewel Cay
and Pigeon Cay, two of a chain of coral islets at the southwest-
ern tip of Utila. Interestingly, it is here that the oldest settlement
on the island is located, founded in the first half of the 19th
century by newcomers from the Cayman Islands. Today the
islets themselves are practically invisible. They are tightly built
up with houses and huts, and the structures supported on stilts
spread over the sea that washes the rocky shore. There are no
cars, no scooters, but everyone has a boat. A real water world.
The trainees stay on Jewel Cay, we get into the canoes and
row further west, first through the dark saffron depth of the
strait, then along the shores of the two islets. Finally, it appears
to our eyes: the Caribbean kitsch painted with the turquoise
sea, the white of the beach, the green of palm plumes, flecked
with red starfish lying in the shallow water. Water Cay is a tri-
angle about two hundred, maybe three hundred meters long,
only a few dozen wide, but it is not difficult to forget about
the whole big world here. We lie down on the sand, squint
our eyes, and bask like the endemic iguanas that have finally
found their island.

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 15

 o u r co n v e r s at i o n s

16
Through the lens
Henley Spiers

Blue Shark

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 17

 Shark Vortex

My conversation with Henley Spiers,

photographer, diving instructor

Wojciech Zgoła: You take fantastic photos. Since when did

you start photographing underwater?
Henley Spiers: Thank you! I would say 2014 is when I took
up underwater photography, prior to that I’d had a couple of
compact cameras with me on some dives but it was just clicking
a few pictures as we went along on dives, memories rather
than really thinking much about photography.
Thanks to your photos, we met. I liked the turtle photo in
the cenote so much that I wrote to you and you agreed
to share the photo on the Perfect Diver wall sometimes.
A happy meeting – I’m very pleased to hear you enjoy that
image of the turtle in the cenote, it’s a personal favourite and
one many people have had a strong emotional response to.

18

Between Two Worlds
You worked as an instructor in a diving center for a long
time, but recently you have been focusing only profession-
ally on photography, why?
When I was 25 years old, I abandoned corporate life to follow
my heart and become a dive professional. After several years
working as an instructor in Indonesia, Philippines, and Saint
Lucia, I started underwater photography and became so en-
grossed that I decided to switch from teaching divers, to full
time underwater photography.
What's your occupation?
Underwater photographer, writer, and trip leader. I  wish
I could just be purely an underwater photographer, but the
reality is I need to combine several skill sets to make it all work
as a profession.
Does your family dive? If so, do you spend your holidays
diving, if not why?
Yes, my father was my first dive buddy, and I met my wife, Jade,
and her father in a dive shop on Malapascua Island, Philipines.
Jade would then go on to become a dive professional in Saint
our conversations
Constellation of eagle Rays
Lucia and we have since worked together as underwater pho-
tographers. My daughters are only 3 years and 3 months old
so they haven’t yet joined the tradition, but hopefully one day!
Yes, I do dive on holidays, although perhaps I shouldn’t, as it’s
difficult for me to slow down and just do a few dives, whilst also
spending quality time with family.
Do you dive without a camera, with your hands free?
These days, no, never…I would feel naked without the camera!
Even if I don’t take many shots, I would hate to miss out on
documenting something beautiful or unusual because I’d left
the camera behind.
Your best photo in your opinion?
Gosh, tough question…There are a  few I’m very fond of…If
pressed, I would say ‘Between Two Worlds’, my black and white
shot of a cormorant diving down on a shoal of fish below. It has
a lot of power and a strong story to it, an image which anyone in
the world could look at and understand. I also think the vision
and edit for it was, and still remains, pretty original.
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 19
 Battle of the Tompots

Marlin hunt

20
 our conversations

Spider Crab

Marlin vs Sea Lion

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 21

 Big Mouth
And then what is your dream of underwater photography,
because mine is to capture a marlin?
Marlin? Well then you have to join me in Mexico sometime for
the striped marlin aggregation! I really enjoy animal behaviour,
so the opportunity to capture a never before seen behaviour
would be my dream. Mating great white sharks maybe?
What do you think of plastic in relation to the oceans and
animals?
Well, I don’t think there’s anything positive to say in terms of
plastic and the ocean. Our waste has become an enormous
burden for the natural world. I have witnessed plastic debris
on dive sites, but what is even more worrying is the plastic we
can’t see. Micro-plastics being ingested by animals throughout
the food chain, and ultimately, humans too. It’s such a new
problem we don’t even fully understand yet what impact mi-
cro-plastic will have on the health of the oceans inhabitants.
Clearly as a race we need to become less wasteful, and it has
been pleasing to see a global awakening on plastics in the last
few years. I’d say we’re at the stage where many people are
aware of the problem, which is good, but now we need to en-
ter the next stage, where the way we live is transitioned, with
22
governmental support, to one which fundamentally has far
greater restrictions on plastic waste.
Do you encounter rubbish while diving in different places?
Yes, I have found it worst in developing nations, where there
is both less awareness in some quarters, as well as a reliance
on single use packs of basic necessities (such as shampoo or
food stuff) due to the low income levels.
Do you dive in both wetsuit and drysuit?
Yes, although I admit the dry suit is a relatively recent addition,
and I am far more experienced in a wetsuit.
Do you prefer warm or cold water? Does this object to pho-
tograph matter?
I prefer the feeling of warm water! But photographically, I am
very inspired by the potential subjects in cold water… For sure
a tropical coral reef is a delightful way to dive, but they have
been extremely well documented. I feel there may be more
unique photographic opportunities and stories to be found in
cooler waters at this stage.
 advertisement

Diver, Cavern Jack

Have you ever dived in a lake with a visibility of 2–4 meters?

No…

So, I invite you to Poland in summer :)

Ok great – what wildlife is there to see?

We have fish such as pike, catfish, perch, sturgeon, eel and carp. In some
places there are boats carved from a single tree trunk. They are some-
times over 1000 years old. But… anyway you wrote to me that you liked
our Perfect Diver Magazine, can you tell me more?
As a photographer, the first thing I do when picking up a magazine or book
is look at the pictures. In browsing Perfect Diver Magazine, I appreciated the
quality of the images, as well as the editorial lay-out. I was also intrigued by
the subject matter, as i am not very familiar with European diving.

You can see more of Henley’s work, including fine art prints and trips at:
www.henleyspiers.com
You can also follow him on:
Instagram @henleyspiersphoto, Facebook @henleyspiersphotography
 t r av e l s

Central
Dalmatia
Text sylwia kosmalska-juriewicz
Photos adrian juriewicz

How beautiful it is in the morning,

when not everything has happened yet
and everything can happen,
you just have to take...
Agnieszka Osiecka

W e set out on a diving boat at dawn, from the marina

located at the diving center in the Okrung Gorne dis-
trict, near Trogir. In this area there are thirty of the most in-
teresting diving sites in Central Dalmatia. You can get there
from the dive centre on 15 to 80-minute fast boat rides. The
centre offers both full day and shorter dive trips, depending
on your preferences.
Trogir
Split The boat glides lightly on the quiet surface of the water
Solta smooth as velvet. I savor this peace with all my senses and
enjoy the most delicious dessert. With every moment we move

24

further away from the marina, from the pebbly and bright
beaches and white houses covered with red tiles, which cas-
cade down to the very shoreline. After a long break in travel-
ling, I am back on the high seas, in my element, on my way
to diving. The sun's rays dance across my face and the wind
tangles my hair. I sit on the bow of the boat and breathe in
the smell of the sea, revel in the feeling of true, undisturbed
freedom. Away from the mass media... I feel happy.
It feels like light years since I last dived in warm sea wa-
ters. The dynamically changing situation in the world related
travels
to COVID-19 has "forced" all of us to limit travel to a minimum
or abandon it at all. In my memories I go back to the times
when everything was possible. The isolation in which we live
has made us re-evaluate not only our lives, but also the way we
perceive the world, nature and other people. We have become
more sensitive and we are much more willing to help others.
Each of us learns in their own way to adapt to the new reality
in which we live. Therefore, I appreciate more the fact that I am
in Croatia with a group of fantastic people who, just like me,
missed the sea, diving and the time spent together.
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 25
26
 Mahatma Gandhi was right in saying that: Freedom is a state
of mind.
We are sailing towards the island of Solta, the thirteenth
largest Croatian island, situated in the Adriatic Sea. It is sur-
rounded by small emerald coves and picturesque pebbly
beaches covered with pine trees. These trees not only diversify
the landscape, but also shelter numerous creatures, including
cicadas, which are considered the loudest insects in the world.
Adult males, wanting to attract a partner, emit noises that ex-
ceed 120 dB. They are so loud that they drown out the engines
of yachts entering the port.
The captain is mooring the boat near the island, after forty
minutes we got to the first dive site, famous for a small but very
beautiful underwater cave with a dry chamber inside. I put on
my thermal underwear, put on a drysuit, and it is August. The
air temperature exceeds 35°C, and the water temperature var-
ies between 23°C and 24°C. Most people dive in 5 mm wetsuits,
but I cool down quickly in the water, so for thermal comfort
I took a drysuit and a hood.
I put the regulator in my mouth, press the bleed button
on the inflator and plunge into the sun-bathed Adriatic Sea.
I slowly penetrate into another world, full of magic, silence
and peace. A world that hides a lot of secrets.Sometimes it is
capricious and we have to fight the currents, other times it
is gentle, calm, ready to tell us its story...
I drop slowly, like a bird descending to land and
watching everything from above. The view is phe-
nomenal, it exceeds 40 m, I look down and see
the border where the light blue turns into
the dark blue. I swim along a sloping rock
wall overgrown with a  variety of corals,
sponges of irregular shapes and intense
colours. They usually take the form of
elongated trumpets and grow out of
the ground. In numerous rock depres-
sions, navy blue and red bristle worms
hide. They have an oblong shape, re-
semble hairy caterpillars, and their cy-
lindrical bodies consist of more than
a hundred segments. They are covered
with bristles that sting heavily. Not only
bristle worms feel good in the Mediter-
ranean Sea, but also pink and orange
moss animals, which most often appear
in the form of spherical twigs, growing on
shaded underwater rocks. On the flat bot-
tom, we also encounter anemones, they exist
singly and are very intensely coloured, which

27

In Dalmatia, we can see everything that the
Mediterranean Sea has to offer, including:
lobsters, octopuses, schools of fish, sea horses,
sea urchins, starfish, all kinds of molluscs,
nudibranchs, wrecks, gorges and caves.
28
makes them an unusual object to photograph. Below the thir-
ty-fifth meter you can see red soft corals, and slightly higher
up the yellow ones. They look like beautifully spread, lace fans.
In Dalmatia, we can see everything that the Mediterranean
Sea has to offer, including: lobsters, octopuses, schools of
fish, sea horses, sea urchins, starfish, all kinds of molluscs,
nudibranchs, wrecks, gorges and caves. I have dived in Croatia
many times and I discover it anew each time.
 After the dive, we head to Maslinica, a small
town on the island of Solta. A  real paradise
bathed in the afternoon sun. We enter the
marina, which seems to be small, but both
small dive boats and beautiful luxury yachts
covered with chrome and varnished wood
moor there. The marina is flowery, pink and
white bougainvillea attract colourful butter-
flies, including swallowtails, one of the most
beautiful representatives of this species.
The town looks like a fairy tale. Low buildings
made of light stone, charming cafes on the seafront,
offering not only delicious coffee, but also ice cream that
tastes best with friends. The restaurateurs invite you to try
fresh seafood, fish and oven-baked pizza served with olive oil
and herbs. Small shops, or rather galleries, offer handicrafts,
paintings and jewelery that tourists eagerly buy. We have our
favorite cafe in Maselnica at the end of the headland overlook-
ing the sea, where we always relax, enjoy delicious cappuccino
and ice cream, and then enjoy swimming in the sea and sun.
After the surface break, we sail out for the second dive.
The dive site is about 15 minutes from the island of Solta. We
stop at a rocky island with a small, green lighthouse in the

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 29


Only by observing what surrounds us, we begin
to understand the nature of the underwater
world, which hides so many beauty and
secrets. There is no room for rushing, glancing
nervously at the clock, or worrying.
center. The captain assures that in this place we will see yellow
and brown seahorses and bombs without detonators from
World War II. Mother nature accepted them, letting the coral
overgrow the metal bullets. They rest on the seabed among
long sea grasses. Like relics of old times, they remind you that
it was not always so peaceful here. During this dive, in fact, at
about six meters, we encounter yellow and brown sea horses,
30
which are much larger than those we saw while diving in the
Philippines before. You must be very lucky to spot them. These
two individuals found refuge from predators amid the reef. Sea
horses do not swim very well, despite being fish, so they hide
and try their best to hide from their enemies.
Only by observing what surrounds us, we begin to un-
derstand the nature of the underwater world, which hides
so many beauty and secrets. There is no room for rushing,
glancing nervously at the clock, or worrying. Diving allows you
to achieve inner balance and peace.
We arrive at the diving center in the late afternoon, rinse
the equipment in fresh water and return to the apartments
overlooking the sea. In the evening, when the sun is going
down, we are going to Trogir for dinner. Places where moder-
nity meets tradition. The old town of this charming port city is
situated on an island. To reach it, just cross the bridge, from
which there is an amazing view of the old town, entered on
 travels

the UNESCO List of Cultural and Natural Heritage. The historic

Old Town is built of light stone and a huge gate leads to it. It
advertisement
extends through narrow streets paved with light stone with
numerous boutiques, restaurants and open-air cafes. Cas-
cades of colourful flowers hang from historic balconies, and
lazy cats bask on the walls. Cafes and restaurants slowly fill
up with guests, we also take seats in our favorite "Lavender"
restaurant. We did not have to reserve tables in advance due
to the small number of tourists, which is not normal at this
time of the year.
We needed these shared moments like oxygen to breathe.
So much has changed in such a short time...
Following the words of Ajahn Brahm, a  buddhist monk
who says: It will also pass..., both good and bad things in our
lives pass. Nothing is permanent and is given to us forever.
Therefore, let us enjoy the little things, practice gratitude, and
appreciate every moment.

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31
 t r av e l s

Sardinia
under the sign of aquarius

Text and photos Bartosz pszczółkowski

At the Chrisso wreck with a master and

the Tavolara island in the background

S tarting from the north of the island we first get to Olbia,

one of the largest cities of Sardinia. It is a city of great im-
portance due to a large port where we can catch a ferry with
cartoon characters known from the Cartoon Network.
There is also an airport to which we can fly from Europe or
other parts of the world.
Olbia hosts many events, concerts and festivals. My favorite
is the regional streetFood, where you can try masterful panino
con polpo or fried artichoke. A real culinary feast.
Once your tummies are full, you can think of the pleasures
of exploring beautiful sandy beaches or new diving sites.
A  few kilometers away from Olbia lies "horse tail" cape,
Capo Coda Cavallo.A fabulous and extremely charming place,
full of small bays where you can hide from the crowd of other
lovers of the island climate. The water here mixes with the blue
of the sky, and white clouds roll like pieces of wool scattered
overhead, pushed by the wind.
It is beautiful, but you have to get into the water to see what
is really waiting for us here!
I’m arriving at a place called Cala Paradiso, one of the hous-
ing estates with holiday bungalows. Here I can see the sign
AQUARIUS DIVING CENTER 300 m.
And indeed, the road ends and on the left there is a large
banner with the name of the diving center.
The diving village comprise literally a few houses where the
crew lives next to a huge board with a map of the local diving
sites, and of course Andrea, the boss and the owner of this
fabulous spot.

32

This nice guy speaks perfect En-
glish. He welcomes me and tells me
to get ready because we are going
to dive soon;) Finally – I’m thinking –
I will finally dive!
We sail on the board of "Master",
a comfortable Zodiac boat, to dive
next to the wall of Tavolara.
Tedja Liscia is our first stop. The name comes from a very
distinctive rock form with a huge boulder nearby. Under the
water we see amazing rock formations and Mediterranean
reef in all its glory. Groupers are swimming timidly around us.
They are large, but very active. In the rock crevices, the moray
subjects itself to cleaning treatments of shrimps. Those with
a flashlight can look into the nooks and crannies and find the
"cical" lobster.There are also a lot of octopuses that leave be-
hind stone piles. I really like these creatures as they are perfect-
ly adapted to their environment. They can change color, shape,
and release a cloud of ink to confuse their enemy.
The temperature in water here in August reaches even
27°C, and the thermocline occurs only at 30 meters. Visibility
is sometimes 40 meters, and the water is crystal.
travels
Grouper hidden in the gorgonians,
Papa due
Papa is our second dive site. We are in the "Area Marina
Protetta di Tavolara" park, which means that up to 9 people
can be under the water at the same time. Everyone wants to
dive here and such quantitative limits help protect the park's
underwater environment. This spot is in the open sea.
We’re jumping into the water.
We’re meeting at the buoy anchored to the bottom at 30
meters. The impression during the descent is electrifying, es-
pecially since pinnacles, underwater mountains with peaks at
17 m, 20 m, 24 m and 31 meters, appear after a few moments
since the beginning of our dive. Here is a different world. The
shoal of sardines shimmers like a disco ball in the sun's rays
shining through the water. Predators such as yellowtail kingfish
chase shoals of sardines like sheepdogs. Three different types
of groupers, barracudas, moray eels, the aforementioned yel-
lowtail kingfish, Mediterranean rainbow wrasses and Damsel-
fish introduce us to their underwater world, showing how rich
and diverse it is.
Here we will meet even pesce luna, or common mola (pos-
sible with a little luck). On the surface there is a herd of com-
mon dolphins, sometimes called Lampugus. Here you can dive
every day!
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 33
 Cratena peregrina, Flabellina, purple nudibranch
nudibranch on pinnacle wall, Papa due

Diver and gorgonia

34

The slopes of these underwater mountains are covered
with gorgonians, soft filter animals resembling fans made of
plants. Nudibranchs of the genus Cratena peregrina or Flabel-
lina are common here, and sometimes you can find Antedon,
a crinoid, i.e. Mediterranean feather star, hiding among the
branches of gorgonians.
The omnipresent blueness can make you dizzy.
After getting on the deck of the Master, there is a momen-
tary silence, because this dive is a trip to a kind of Mediterra-
nean underwater temple. After a few moments, you get ex-
cited about what you have seen and experienced under the
water, and the emotions are buzzing;) This is one of the top
diving sites in the area, but only for advanced divers. While
diving in the open sea, sometimes in the current and in the
depths, sometimes even without any reference point, you must
demonstrate high level of buoyancy.
Another stop on our diving list is Punta Arresto. These are
two huge two rock formations cut through by a canyon. This
is the kingdom of moray eels and grouper. Very pleasant area
near the island of Molara and a diving spot for divers at all lev-
travels
Rhizostoma pulmo jellyfish
surrounded by fish, Punta arresto
els. These mountain formations rise up to the very surface. It
is a paradise for beginner divers, because here they can safely
practice their buoyancy skills and develop their ability to find
interesting animals or plants. I love diving in places like this,
because it makes me feel like walking in the mountains. I can
also admire these unusual formations from a bird's eye view
and feel the effect of weightlessness and the enormity of the
surrounding water.
In the Marina Proteta di Tavolara Park we can also find
wrecks. One of them is Chrisso, a very famous wreck due to
the fact, that for many years its larger part protruded above
the water surface. The ship crashed into the rocks at the site
of Punta La Grteca in 1974. Abandoned and devastated by
winter storms, it has been decaying for years. Currently, from
the surface perspective, you can see the engine and the bow
section. A great place for divers due to the shallow depth, the
possibility of safe exploration of the wreck and a chance to
peek into various nooks and crannies. You can even snorkel
there: get to know the wreck by swimming with a  snorkel
on the surface, and then dive deeper inside the wreck with
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 35
Centimeter-sized sepia, like a spaceship,
during a night dive on the backyard reef of
Cala Suaraccia

Tre fratell, three brothers, rock

formations located in the open sea,
similar to the site of Punta arresto
 travels

A screw on the Chrisso wreck

Part of the port side with poles,

Chrisso wreck

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 37

 Hyspelodoris picta, large
Part of the Chrisso wreck nudibranch found on the
protruding above the water Chrisso wreck

aqualung and explore the selected parts. The average depth

is 10 meters. Such depth gives us a lot of time to explore the
wreck, but also sometimes, when the weather is windy, the
waves occur, and the entire site is not suitable for diving for
safety reasons. This is a great place for macro-photographers
because the wreck is overgrown with various types of sponges
and lush vegetation which is home to many species of nudi-
branchs, including Hyspelodoris picta in the first place. On the
wreck you can also meet lobsters, Scyllarides and sometimes
barracudas. This place can awaken your passion for wreck
diving. Personally, I like diving on wrecks mainly because they
crate an artificial reef. They are a new place to be settled by
marine organisms, which can colonize any available surface in
an unusual and very fast way.
It is a perfect field for a photographer to show off, although
it always brings about a dilemma which lens to take underwa-

Transparent shrimp
that lives in the anemone

38
 advertisement
View of Tavolara, Molara
and the surrounding islands

View from the top of Tavolara, Our Lady

looking towards Olbia. An angel ferrata leads
to the top, a great way to get moving and get
a vantage point to the whole area

ter. The wide angle will capture the wreck in a beautiful scene, but thanks to
the macro lens we will be able to capture animals the size of a few centimeters
or even millimeters.
Diving on the Chrisso wreck completed my diving time with Aquarius and
only aroused my curiosity about this area. There are still many dive sites to
discover, amphoras, old anchors and black coral, as Andrea says.
I am looking forward to my next visit to this place. Now it's time for a trip
to the top of Tavolara, the island where I previously dived. After all, man
does not live by diving alone. However, all in all, it’ll be just another short
surface break :)
 t r av e l s

Pudding

Text Tomasz Wciórka "eternal"

Photos Bogdan Zając

The distance is only 80 km in the direction of Berlin from

In search of interesting sites to surprise us with
something entirely new underwater, we travel
to the most distant regions of Europe and
the world. What if I told you that just beyond
the border crossing in Kołbaskowo. Comfortable access is
provided by means of the A11 highway, which opens up right
after passing the border. Take the A10 Chorin exit and head to
Joachimsthal. You'll arrive at the lake after a 10-minute drive
along a local road, leading through a densely wooded area.

the Polish border, there is a lake with many
wooden barge wrecks older than 100 years
and rare, gorge-shaped rock formations?
Werbellinsee
The reservoir is surrounded by forests and situated within
the Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve. This area offers nu-
merous cycling routes, holiday resorts and recreation sites. It's
very popular among divers and full of holidaymakers during
the summer. With a depth of more than 50 m, it is one of the
deepest lakes in Germany. With its considerable surface area

Berlin
A ll of this with a  visibility that usual-
ly exceeds 10 m. Are you interested?
Let me present to you Lake Werbellin and
its mysteries.
Lake Werbellin is located in north-eastern
Germany, in the land of Brandenburg.
(almost 8 square kilometers) and an elongated shape, the lake
encourages sailing and other water sports.
Lake Werbellin is a ribbon lake which was formed during
the last glacial period. Thawing waters formed a canal, which
was continuously deepened along with the increasing pressure
of the water trapped under the glacier. Uneven pressure led

40
 travels

to the creation of hills and valleys at the lake bottom. This One that, in my opinion, is enchanted with an exceptional at-
process contributed to the formation of an underwater area mosphere. One of the reasons for this is the fact that you'll
called “Puddingberge” – pudding mountains. most probably be entirely alone underwater when admiring it.
Almost the entire bed profile of Lake Werbellin is sandy,
with a very scarce littoral zone. In the most shallow zone, the Puddingberge
majority of the bed is covered with freshwater molluscs. This The pudding mountains that have been mentioned here
naturally brings the Baltic Sea to my mind. However, the color are located in the more shallow part of the lake. Unfortunately,
of the water is totally different. It is usually bluish, as in lime- it's also quite far away from the shore. You'll really need to put
stone quarries. Lucky divers may encounter really huge cat- your back into the swim to get there. But I think it's completely
fish and burbots, which we saw numerous times in the barge
wrecks mentioned at the beginning. Pikes also grow to equally
impressive sizes here, although there are very few in this lake.
There is a dozen diving sites around the lake, marked with
appropriate signs. The signs are marked with the spot number,
name of the dive site and maximum depth. It's enough to give
this number to the emergency services in the case of a diving
accident. Rescue will arrive from the water and air in just sev-
eral minutes. Everything is perfectly organized.
The most popular diving site is the “Dornsbuchwreck”. This
is a more than 100-years-old, 40 meter-long wooden barge
located not far from the shore. It sits at a depth of 35–38 m.
There are many more such barges in the lake. However, in
this article I would like to present a much less popular spot.

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 41


worth it. An alternative is of course to take a DPV that will take
you to your dream destination much quicker.
The area offers a car park and tables for divers to gear up
comfortably. Access to the water is also comfortable. Unfortu-
nately, the cove bed is silty and each step in the water raises
sediments that give off an unpleasant smell. But what wouldn’t
you do for an interesting dive?
In order to see the pudding mountains, you need to move
at a medium pace towards the other bank for approximately
20–25 minutes. On the way, you'll pass by some mussel fields
and rather scarce vegetation. The bed will slowly start to slope
downwards and the vegetation will disappear completely. At
a depth of 20 meters, you will see the first corrugations and
bumps. This is the sign that you are moving in the right direc-
tion. The underwater landscape is similar to desert dunes. Fur-
ther along, as the depth increases, cracks will get even bigger,
up to several meters in height. The width of the cracks varies
largely, sometimes they're a meter wide, sometimes more.
Numerous gorges, with various size, are scattered through-
out the landscape and provide an impressive view. The pud-
ding mountains stretch over a large area, so there is a lot to
42
be admired. The largest formations are located at a depth of
25–30 meters and protrude out of the sandy bed, reaching
even several meters.
Water transparency in this region is usually very good and
often exceeds 10 m. On a sunny day there is no need to use
additional lighting.
You are probably wondering why this place is called
the pudding mountains. Well, in order to solve this puzzle,
it is enough to touch one of the rock formations. You will
discover that they are soft like a sponge. Additionally, the
entire structure wobbles like pudding or jelly taken out of
a bowl. The “rocks” are rather delicate and easily damaged
by careless divers, so better move carefully. They're made
of eroded marlstone, where less compact sand was flushed
from between the structures by water, creating incredible
landscapes. The pudding mountains, full of holes like Swiss
cheese, recesses and cracks, form a perfect hiding place for
smaller fish. Although there are not many of them, the ones
we managed to see look similar to those seen on reefs in
more exotic locations.
In order to complete this dive, you need at least a two-cylin-
der set. If you wish to spend more time on admiring the place,
you may also need decompression gas. Though I have dived
there many times, I regularly return and discover something
new each time.
If you prefer to be alone underwater, enjoy diving in Aus-
trian lakes and are not a big fan of fish, you'll definitely be
enchanted by the atmosphere of the Puddingberge.
 sponsored article

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In the United States, the most recognizable brand is AMRON International. One of
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 a r c h a e o l og y

Sacred waters
Text mateusz popek Photos wikimedia commons

Water is a natural magnet for divers. An element that

literally drags you into its depths. I've always wondered
what is so special about water that it makes so many
people want to risk their lives, spend money, waste their
time at the cost of family time in order to spend some
time in these depths, even if it’s just for a moment.

Photo Mateusz Popek

A nd I’ve never found an answer to this question. On the

other hand, another question arose and it is easier to an-
swer. How did people treat water in the past?
If you dig deeper into the archeological, historical or an-
thropological studies, you’ll see that water has always been
important for humans. It was a source of life-giving strength,
a source of food but also a destructive element that spawned
demons taking people’s lives.
People knew the importance of water already in the earli-
est periods. Images of marine animals, penguins and fish, can
be seen in cave paintings from the Paleolithic period (approx.
50,000–10,000 BC). Some of them could be identified, e.g.
salmon in the Abri du Poisson cave. It’s pretty hard to tell if
aquatic animals or the water itself had any significant meaning
for people at the time.
We know a bit more about water and people from the later
period, called the Mesolithic, which lasted from 11,000 up to
even 5,000 BC, depending on the region. During this time, peo-
ple carved symbols on everyday objects and now the scientists
interpret these symbols as waves or rain. Then, people select-
ed places located near water to live in and made intensive use
of water. As you can imagine, close proximity to water bodies
was important for survival and maybe even for spiritual life.
Water was certainly an object of cult of some sort in the pe-
riod called the Neolithic. These are the times when agriculture
was developed and people learned to manufacture ceramic
pots. Votive offerings from this period, which were objects cast
into lakes, rivers, streams or bogs, are being discovered. The
context of the discovery indicates that people who were casting
these objects into the water never intended to retrieve them.

46
 archaeology

Bedivere

Archeologists find pots, some of which were damaged on pur-

pose. The damage might indicate a certain ritual “killing” of the
object. What was inside… remains unknown. Whom were these
offerings made to? It’s hard to define if it was a deity who had
a name and a specific form, the ancestors or whether the water
itself was sacred. Scientists assume that casting vessels into
such places was associated with imagery of fertility.
The Bronze Age is a very interesting period, which saw Abri Cave Fish

the advent of complex social structures appear. At that time,

the most valuable objects were cast into the water, such as
bronze weapons and ornaments made of copper or gold.
These were certain “insignia” of the elite. In some cases, sci-
entists are able to distinguish offerings made by women from
those made by men. Jewelry and elements of the horse gear
were considered female offerings. The fertility goddess was
believed to ride a chariot drawn by horses. Men were more
likely to cast weapons into the water, which was related to
the cult of war. There were cases where weapons retrieved
from a beaten enemy army were sacrificed. That’s exactly how
the offerings discovered in the Hjortspring bog were made.
A multitude of shields, spearheads, swords and even an entire

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 47

 Tales of romanse (1906)
Photo Mateusz Popek
The Lady of the Lake gives
Excalibur to King Arthur
20-meter boat were found there! Just think how great the
victory must have been and how much the winners wanted
to thank the gods.
The Iron Age is a period when the dynamic Celtic and Ger-
manic tribes wandered across Europe. They had a complex
religious system, which we know from the Romans, who had
contact these people on multiple occasions. Water was much
venerated in these times as well. The number of deposits
cast into bogs, rivers and lakes is enormous. During this pe-
riod, apart from weapons, people sacrificed animals as well.
A particularly interesting place, where sacrifices were made, is
Skedemosse in Öland. Apart from throwing weapons into the
bog, which was a lake at the time, sacrifices of horses were
also made. What was however especially interesting, was the
form of these sacrifices. People hung horse skin with its skull
and hooves on poles over the bog. What happened to the re-
maining part of the animal? Hard to tell, but it may have been
consumed during a ritual feast.
48
In the early Middle Ages, horses were also of great signifi-
cance, especially for Slavic tribes and Scandinavian Vikings. The
latter had strong connections to the sea, reflected by burying
their dead in ships covered with mounds. Not only a ship with
a bow decorated with a sculpture of a horse head was found in
the Ladby burial mound in Denmark, but also sacrifices made
of those animals. No such strong connection to the sea is ob-
served in the Slavs. Lake islands were of great importance for
these tribes. Large quantities of weapons and horse remains
are often found around these islands; scientists assume they
are remnants of some rituals, which are unfortunately difficult
to reconstruct because of the lack of written sources.
As the Europe adopts Christianity, water-related rituals
disappear. Some unclear remnants of them are preserved in
legends, superstitions and traditions of various local communi-
ties. One of these legends is the legend of King Arthur and the
Lady of the Lake, who gave him a sword imbued with unusual
powers. Curiously, scientists noticed that surprisingly many
swords discovered in lakes or rivers come from the late Middle
Ages. Is it possible that the ritual of casting these weapons into
the water was preserved into the Christian times and the king's
 advertisement
Photo Mateusz Popek

Extraction of the Oseberg ship in 1904

Photo by Olaf Væring, Kulturhistorisk UiO museum, Oslo, Norway

legend is its reflection? It would be unusual if the imagery related to water was
so instilled in the minds of contemporary people that even such a profound
change of religion couldn’t weaken it.
Although we’re coming to an end of the story about the magical ties of
people with water, I have to admit that I barely scratched the surface of this
topic. The amount of archeological materials and the number of works on this
topic is enormous. There are also many scientific interpretations of how the
rituals could look like and what they meant.
What do you think – what attracted people to water so much? What did
societies find so special about the shiny surface of a lake for such a long time?
And what attracts us to water now? Isn’t each dive a kind of a ritual, during
which we want to meet mysterious deities and demons hiding in depths?
Discover the answers to these questions for yourselves 

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 49

 k n ow l e dg e
DAN Europe is launching a  new, multifaceted cam-
paign to encourage, celebrate, and support local diving
in response to the pandemic, which has greatly restricted
divers’ ability to travel internationally.
"PADI has led the way and we’re happy to join them along
with our industry partners and agencies to encourage divers
to explore local diving opportunities”, explained DAN Europe
marketing director Cristian Pellegrini. “Given the public health
situation we find ourselves in, local diving is one of the things
that will hopefully help boost our industry’s recovery".
50
Identified by the hashtags #divelocal #divesafe, the cam-
paign, which kicked off with a new feature article in Alert Diver
– #Divelocal: How Diving Is Getting Its Groove Back – will help
local dive centers and their clients rediscover and get the most
out of their local diving sites. Planned components include
collateral materials for dive centers; stories featuring local
diving in Alert Diver and the DAN Europe blog, talks and social
media lives, tools to help local divers connect with others, and
of course continued safety recommendations. DAN Europe is
committed to helping local diving grow.
 advertisement
DAN Europe is also working on new insurance products, with the intent
to meet the evolving needs of the diving community—particularly now with
the emphasis on local diving, and reflecting the ever-changing situation of
the market. The insurance will supplement divers’ national healthcare system
coverages, which generally do not provide the specialized knowledge and
assistance required for diving injuries or fully cover hyperbaric therapy. De-
tails of the new plan will be announced soon. The new insurance product will
complement DAN Europe’s basic 25€ membership package, which provides
24/7 access to the DAN hotline and diving medical advice, access to MyDAN,
and the App (Google Play, iOs).
In addition, the DAN Europe team is planning to support and participate
in local diving projects of their own, following a recent successful citizen
science project at the Pescara Springs Natural Reserve located a little more
than a half an hour drive from one of DAN Europe's operations offices lo-
cated in Central Italy. There the team joined marine biologists to survey the
autochthonous freshwater crayfish living in Springs.
"That’s the beauty of local diving", says Laura Marroni, DAN Europe Vice
President, who was part of the team of volunteer research divers. "You can
find unexpected treasures and wonder in your own backyard"!

#divelocal #divesafe

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 51

 planet earth
Whether you dive in seawater or fresh
water, warm or cold, huge or tiny reservoir,
shallow or deep – you are never alone.
E ven if you do not see any curious fish or large beast any-
where or you are not being watched by a crab hidden be-
hind a stone, “this” will always be you around: the plankton.
52
The ubiquitous
plankton
Text and photos agata turowicz-cybula
But what is all this plankton? The word plankton comes
from the Greek (planktós) and translated literally means "wan-
dering". To put it simply, these are organisms living in the
depths that cannot withstand the water currents. They wan-
der wherever the water carries them. Plankton can be divided
into two types: phytoplankton and zooplankton. The former
are microscopic plant organisms, the latter are usually small
animals, crustaceans, most often invisible to the naked eye.
Zooplankton organisms also include all kinds of jellyfish, both
our small Baltic moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) and huge lion's
mane jellyfish growing up to 2 meters (Cyanea capillata).

In order to be able to stay in the water, planktonic organ-
isms have developed a lot of different types of protrusions,
legs, antenna, flagella and cilia. It is they that increase surface
area of the organisms, thanks to which they do not fall to the
bottom of the water reservoirs. Additionally, they make these
tiny animals look like aliens. Jellyfish, in order to be able to stay
in the water, consist of 96% water.
The Baltic Sea is abundant in both zooplankton and phy-
toplankton organisms. As a result, under the right conditions
(high sun exposure, high temperature and a large amount of
nutrients in the water), blooms can occur. We have unequivo-
cally negative associations with them, but it is the huge plank-
ton blooms (Trichodesmium erythraeum) turning water red
which gave the name to the Red Sea, a favorite for all divers.
In the Red Sea, we can also meet another very interesting
phenomenon related to the presence of plankton, namely bio-
luminescence. Responsible for it are the algae of the species
planet earth
Noctiluca sp., which, under favorable conditions, start to illu-
minate, making the water sparkle with a bright blue glow even
in the middle of the night.
Although it is usually invisible, the role of plankton is invalu-
able. Phytoplankton is one of the main sources of organic mat-
ter in the ecosystem. It is the basis of the food chain and the
source of food for many organisms. In addition, phytoplankton
living in the oceans is responsible for the production of almost
half of the oxygen on our planet. Zooplankton, on the other
hand, is the main component of the diet of juvenile and small
fish as well as a delicacy of the world's largest fish – the whale
shark (Rhincodon typus).
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 53
 planet earth

A goose
or not really?
Text and photos wojciech jarosz

There is a bird that lives in Europe, although “egyptianness”

is inscribed in its name. Is it native or a stranger? –
that's the question. Wise men say that this beautifully
feathered animal is, after all, an alien species.

54

B ut then, is being a stranger synonymous to being a threat?
After all, strangeness can have different faces. And if it is
a threat: who does it threaten, why and in what way?
Specialists from the Institute of Nature Conservation of the
Polish Academy of Sciences recognize the Egyptian goose as
a potentially invasive alien species, which means that in the
event of an increase in the population size, it may adversely
affect the native fauna. Therefore, such an answer should be
given to the question posed: time alone will tell. The problem
of alien species is so multifactorial that it is very difficult to
forecast the real impact of the presence of newcomers on eco-
systems in the long term. When the "invasion" lasts longer, it is
slightly easier to draw certain conclusions from observations.
And these are often genuinely disturbing. In our part of the
world, one of the gloomier cases of alien species influencing
the water-related bird population is the spread of the American
mink. It turned out that it eagerly uses the nests of birds that lay
eggs both on the ground and in trees, as it can climb perfectly.
It makes the use of eggs, of course, for culinary purposes, de-
planet earth
vouring eggs, chicks and even adult birds. The same applies to
a raccoon or a raccoon dog. Underwater divers can meet the
round goby or the spinycheek crayfish, the two species whose
stories are well known. The inhabitants of larger or smaller
islands or geographically isolated areas with unique fauna and
flora, such as Australians or New Zealanders, can tell a lot about
changes in the ecosystem as a result of the introduction or
appearance of invasive species. In conclusion, it is not without
reason that biological invasions of alien species are considered
to be one of the greatest threats to the world’s nature.
But let's go back to the goose. It naturally occurs mainly
in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in the Nile Valley, where it
used to be worshiped by the Ancients thousands of years ago.
Where did it come from? It came to Europe via Great Britain,
where in the 18th century the first individuals were freed. It
has spread throughout Western Europe and representatives of
the free-living populations can be found in France, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and Germany. It is most likely that
the bird "citizens" of the German Republic were the pioneers
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 55

But let's go back to the goose. It naturally occurs
mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in the
Nile Valley, where it used to be worshiped by the
Ancients thousands of years ago. Where did it come
from? It came to Europe via Great Britain, where in
the 18th century the first individuals were freed.
in Poland. The first observations come from 2007, and the first
brood of three pairs was recorded in the country on the Vistula
River a year later. Speaking of brooding, like many species of
ducks, Egyptian geese do not limit themselves to romancing
only with representatives of their species. There are, for exam-
ple, crosses (hybrids) of geese and ... mallards (another species
of ducks – see Perfect Diver No. 9). Hybridization is one of the
significant threats associated with the invasion of alien spe-
cies. Not only does it lead to the disappearance of the species
56
with which the invader interbreeds, but it may be even easier
for the invasive species to share parasites or other pathogens
with the native species, for which, in turn, a new world for
colonization opens up (dear Reader, please forgive the author
that he keeps coming back to the topic of alien species, but
who knows when the next opportunity will arise?). Returning
to the broods: geese are exceptionally territorial during that
time. When the territory is breached, the males are ready to
attack. They are not afraid to stand up to a bigger individual –
there are descriptions of situations when a geese attacked...
a helicopter in defense of its nest. You can find videos on the
Internet about the attack of a geese on a drone. There are also
jealous geese, which are similar in this respect to other geese.
They also mate for life, work together to build a nest and raise
the young. When there is a risk of losing family integrity, fe-
males send their partners into battle and then watch them try
to hurt or scare each other in an aerial battle. At such times it
can certainly show obstinacy and aggression!
It's time to clarify the name of the species. Before Alopochen
aegyptiaca became a shelduck, it was known as the Egyptian
goose. However, it turned out that the Egyptian goose is not
a goose at all. Its superficial similarity in terms of morphology
and behavior, as well as its name, established in history and
tradition, did not fool vigilant ornithologists. After all, it is not
only the broadly understood phenotype that is taken into ac-
count today when revising the taxonomic status of species. An
advantage over Linnaeus and Darwin is provided to modern
naturalists by the ability to compare the genomes of more
or less related species or even higher taxa – genera, families,
orders, etc. It was no coincidence that in the article on geese
(Perfect Diver No. 6) there was no space for this shelduck.
Indeed, Egyptian geese are related to a group of ducks called
shelducks. So in fact they are ducks, not geese, and one of
its official names is the Egyptian shelduck. Apart from the
Ehygptian shelduck, the genus Alopochen includes two other
species, namely the Réunion shelduck (A. kervazoi) and the
Mauritius shelduck (A. mauritiana) – both extinct. Interestingly,
they were described and classified (Réunion shelduck only in
1994) on the basis of subfossil remains (not completely fos-
silized), because they did not live to see our times. As insular
species, they were quickly killed to the last one by Europeans
colonizing these islands. Descriptions of the initially numer-
ous and then rapidly disappearing goose-like birds date back
to the second half of the 17th century. And so the Egyptian
shelduck became the only representative of its kind in the
modern world. To please our eyes with its beautiful appear-
ance, we can go to Africa, for example while diving in Egypt,
but we have a greater chance of meeting it in the middle of
Europe. In the western part of our continent, you don't even
have to make an effort to meet this species. It has become
quite common and often not very fearful. It happens to use
the riverside infrastructure to rest and sometimes even nest,
in which it is similar to its distant cousin – the mallard. Keep an
eye out for the goose-like ducks and look out for the charac-
teristic dark spots around the eyes – this is how you recognize
the Egyptian goose!
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 57
 r oo k i e ' s e y e
Text margita Ślizowska
Photos wiktor zdrojewski
At the end of our snorkeling series –
I’m presenting to you a set of XI ABC's
Commandments, which will remind
you of the most important matters
related to safety. Here they are.
58
C hoose a SAFE LOCATION, ensure the company of an
attendant, secure a way out of water. Every diving or
snorkeling accident starts usually on the surface – due to
the deliberate omission of a part of the procedure or some
oversight... Therefore find out WHAT DANGERS occur on
the site (e.g. currents, waves, eddies, changing weather, low
water temperature) where you intend to snorkel (dive). Mak-
ing an inquiry first to check if the place we want to visit is
safe and asking someone for attendance – these really do
not require much effort. And a conversation with someone
who knows the water reservoir can additionally provide us

with knowledge about, for example, attractions that are worth
paying attention to.
Never SNORKEL ALONE. Frequent communication and
closeness of a partner is important not only because of the
time spent together and good fun, which is provided by the
right company. This mutual awareness and communication
can save our life and health in the least expected moment…
Critically EVALUATE your SWIMMING SKILLS. The fact
that someone swims poorly and yet loves water and wants
to enjoy its benefits is no reason to be ashamed or to pre-
tend it is otherwise. Use a wetsuit, life jacket or other source
of buoyancy to avoid critical situations and exposing you and
your snorkeling partner to an unpleasant adventure. Note: if
we can't swim – an air mattress (to lie on) not only is not an
adequate protection, but also might be a potential source of
an accident!
If you go underwater – always EQUALIZE THE EAR PRES-
SURE. Remember not to wait until your ears start to ache. The
pressure should be equalized when we feel pressure in the
ears. When your ears start to ache, it's already too late. Then
you should immediately get back to the surface. The moment
at which you feel pressure in your ears depends on your indi-
vidual body structure and is not a determinant of your suitabil-
ity for diving. Some people need to equalize the pressure more
often, starting from the depth of several dozen centimeters
after submerging. And that doesn't mean they are worse div-
rookie ' s eye
ers. The easiest way to equalize pressure is to use the Valsalva
maneuver. To equalize the pressure in the ears – pinch your
nose and gently (briefly – for a second) blow into the pinched
nose. Repeat the test with each subsequent feeling of pressing
in the ears...
Use the advice of experts when choosing and adjusting
equipment. Only use masks made of tempered glass, as only
this material is suitable for use at increasing pressure under
water. Thanks to this, when you decide to immerse deeper
under water (with your breath hold or with SCUBA equip-
ment) you will not have to change your favorite well-fitting
mask.
Through the snorkel, BREATHE NORMALLY AND CALM-
LY. When diving and snorkeling, our breathing should be
a little slower and a little deeper than normal. Make sure you
exhale properly to get rid of carbon dioxide effectively. If you
submerged below the surface – after surfacing, first BLOW
WATER FROM THE PIPE, to avoid choking on the water that
is left in the snorkel. It seems logical and obvious – but many
people don't have the instinctive reaction to empty the water
before taking the first breath.
Make sure you CAN CONTROL THE CRAMPS and you will
make it back to shore (if necessary) without fins. Stretching
your leg (because it is where usually cramps occur) is a fairly
simple and effective procedure, provided that you start doing
it when you feel the first symptoms of the cramp. Failure to
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 59
 react quickly may result in a complete inability to reach the
shore on your own. Then we have to be towed to the shore
by a partner...
If you feel BAD or you are cold – FINISH THE SNORKEL-
ING. We cool down in water more than twenty times faster
than on land. The cold paralyzes movements and the ability
to think and judge situations. Wear a thin hat after snorkeling.
Protect your sinuses and ears after getting out of the water.
These are delicate organs, and are more susceptible to infec-
tion when in contact with water and pressure. Catching a runny
nose suddenly will also not be helpful in your snorkeling or
diving adventures the next day ;-)
It is best to enter unfamiliar water in shoes. DO NOT
TOUCH the reef or animals. Especially in warm or tropical
waters, where the underwater fauna and flora may contain
toxins that threaten our life and health. Be quiet and calm.
An animal usually attacks when it feels threatened. Therefore,
let us take care of good relations with every aspect of life on
our planet.
DO NOT enter water after ALCOHOL or DRUGS. Stim-
ulants interfere with the ability to concentrate and the abili-
ty to react appropriately in an emergency. Take care of your
physical condition. It is especially important to take care of
the proper circulatory capacity (including diet, medical tests,
exercise) and a skillful way of breathing (using the diaphragm
and a set of intercostal muscles). If you are not an ice swimmer
– do not expose yourself to thermal shock. Keep your body
properly hydrated.
Have the EMERGENCY NUMBERS, emergency plan and
information about the nearest hospital written down.
advertisement
60
This is especially true for SCUBA divers, who additionally and
absolutely should follow the rule: "No oxygen – no diving."
I also remind you of the appropriate insurance. Check if you
know the WATER EMERGENCY SIGNS. We are not the only
users of water reservoirs, so it is worth knowing the basic
information and emergency signs in communication over
and underwater.
In my experience, people start to be interested in the ability
to help the victim and how to secure and prevent an accident
only when they personally encounter such a  situation. For
years I have been involved in the subject of lifesaving and first
aid (both regular and diving). I conduct workshops, meetings,
lectures and exercises. I promote safety above and under wa-
ter. Therefore, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the
topic BEFORE you find yourself in an uncomfortable or dan-
gerous situation. I hope that thanks to what you have read in
my articles, you will be safer while practicing your passion for
water. Please do not forget about your own safety and that of
others. Below you will find a link to the movie "SNORKELING
i.e. essentials for ABC practitioner". Watch, recommend, train
and... have fun 
Thank you for the attention. See you above and under the
water 
Your "Mermaid" – Margita Ślizowska
www.xdivers.pl
www.abcsnorkeling.pl
video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGwLDd5PJFU&t=98s
AAA TY?
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www.rehasport.pl
 k n ow l e dg e
Exactly 906 pages has a new work of Dr. med. Jarosław
Krzyżak and prof. dr hab. med. Krzysztof Korzeniewski. This
is the fifth version, the most comprehensive publication on
diving medicine. Interestingly, all previous versions are virtu-
ally unavailable on the secondary market. This is perhaps the
best review of previous releases. Let's see what has changed
in the latest.
This extremely cavernous book entitled "Medicine for
divers" is a kind of compendium of diving knowledge. The
authors of this publication approached the topic extremely
holistically, describing not only the direct topics related to
diving, but also everything related to it. The book begins with
a health qualification for diving, which is an attempt to answer
the basic question: "Who can dive?". Then the authors focus
on the preparation for a diving trip and methods of protec-
tion against possible diseases. The next chapter describes
the basic laws of physics related to diving, because what else
than physics affects the diver's health. Then we move on to
the physiology of diving, i.e. a comprehensive description of
how our body functions under water. When we go through
r e v i e w
62
Jarosław Krzyżak, Krzysztof Korzeniewski
Medicine for divers
4font Sp. z o.o. Publishing House, p. 906, 2020
this topic, we can read about the types of diving to smoothly
move to the basics of decompression. Finally, after 350 pages
packed with knowledge, we come to diving diseases, which
is described by the next 250 pages. Then, together with the
authors, we can analyze diving accidents recorded by various
organizations. There is also a chapter on dangerous marine
animals that has always been marginalized in most diving
courses. Finally, we get an extensive collection of appendices,
which include, among other things, procedures for dealing
with diving diseases.
It is quite difficult to review such a publication. It is not
a book that you read from cover to cover, but rather a publi-
cation that you reach out to to expand your knowledge.
Because probably knowledge is the most important in div-
ing. It is the awareness of what is happening with our body
that allows us to protect ourselves against a potential acci-
dent. I believe that anyone who is serious about diving should
refer to this publication, because it will find a huge amount
of useful knowledge. However, even such a good publication
has its drawbacks. The first is the circulation. The premiere
of the book took place on September 7, 2020. I am writing
these words on October 27, 2020 and the website reads: "The
book is temporarily unavailable. We are waiting for delivery".
Hopefully the delivery gets there. The second disadvantage
of this publication is the fact that it is only available in Polish.
I haven't found a similar book in English in my research yet,
and I think it would be worth sharing this knowledge. The
book for PLN 298 with delivery can be ordered at https://www.
medycynanurkowa.pl/, of course, when the delivery arrives.
Mateusz Popek
PHOTO BY MARCELLO DI FRANCESCO

DIVING SAFETY SINCE 1983

Worldwide Exclusive access Medical Advice & Participation in Diving First Aid Courses
24/7 Emergency to Diving Insurance Specialist Medical Research
Assistance Plans Referrals Programs

DANEUROPE.ORG

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 63

 tips & curiosities
ACADEMY

Buoyant
mood
Text Wojciech A. Filip

Photo Wojtek Filip

Does every diver need to use a buoy? What color to choose?

Previously, you may have read When to use it?
the article on underwater light
communication published in Let's begin with a few words on recent history.

Perfect Diver. Now's the time to
get your message to the top!
Several years ago, a diving buoy was called a decompression
buoy and its main purpose was to compensate for a techni-
cal diver’s problems with controlling buoyancy in advanced
diving that required maintaining a precise depth at decom-

T hose who work underwater will take this literally, as they

are permanently connected with the surface operator by
means of a special wire. It enables unhindered two-way com-
munication similar to a telephone conversation. Alternatively,
some divers use wireless communication. However, the most
popular means of communication with the surface, that is used
by almost every diver, is a diving buoy.
pression stops. In the ‘90s, almost every diver used a buoy for
this purpose. A reel was used to deploy a buoy and the diver
was "suspended" on the reel handle. During this period, it was
important for the diver to inflate the buoy as much as possible,
so that it would support them at the required depth.
Over time, divers have improved their skills at controlling
buoyancy in the water. Currently, almost every one tries to

64

ACADEMY
master buoyancy to a  level where they can ascend under
any conditions.
Does it mean that buoys fell by the wayside and were replaced
with perfect buoyancy control? On the contrary, all divers who
care about their own safety not only use buoys, but also more
and more frequently improve their buoy operating skills. The
difference is that instead of hanging on the buoy, they use
diving buoys for completely different purposes.
1. The primary function of the buoy is signaling from under-
water to the surface
It means that when underwater, you can alert the surface team
that you have a problem.
Examples:
• at sea, I was to ascend along the shot line, but the current
forced me to ascend in open water;
• I don’t have enough decompression gas – I need help;
• my suit leaks heavily and I have issues with buoyancy.
When will it not work?
Let’s imagine the following situation. We are going to be diving
in a wonderful lake. There's a lot to see, visibility is good, var-
ious depths and, of course, many divers underwater! On the
surface, you will have a barbecue and great fun... 
Then you run into one of the above issues, so you deploy
the buoy and wait for help. We wait and wait... Finally, upon
ascent to the surface, you shout: Hey!!! Could no one see that
I  need help? I've deployed my buoy! How much longer do
I have to wait?
Rule no. 1
Show your clearly marked buoy to a person who will observe
the surface the whole time when you are underwater (ideally,
such a person would have binoculars).
Rule no. 2
Explain to the observer what they should do if they see your
buoy.
What is the clear marking for? Why do it?
Let’s go back to the lake for a  moment. Let’s imagine that
a group of divers are practicing buoy deployment. Another
person ascends using their own buoy, because they do not
feel confident in open water and yet another diver used their
buoy to mark an interesting place to explore later. Let’s not
forget about your buoy that appears at the same time. You also
tips & curiosities
need to remember that most buoys looks similar from a dis-
tance and have a similar or identical color, so your observer
may be hard pressed to stick to the plan, while not being sure
that one of the buoys is actually yours. An identification mark
made with a permanent marker in a highly contrasting color
will be very useful.
If you don't have a support team, the observer is not
informed what we mean by the individual color buoys
marked with our identification mark and we have not
agreed on a course of action, buoy deployment... is
pointless, because it will not cause any reaction.
Does buoy deployment always signal a problem?
It depends solely on your needs and what was agreed with the
surface support team.
Nothing can prevent you from agreeing that the appearance
of Monika’s buoy, clearly recognizable from the shore, would
mean “light up the grill” 
Such a solution was and possibly still is used by certain diving
organizations. Admittedly, I have not heard of the procedure,
where a buoy on the surface means “spicy back ribs in 15 min-
utes”, but two buoy colors may, for instance, have the following
meaning:
• red: doing my deco stops, everything is all right;
• yellow: I have a problem and need help!
If you don't have a support team, the observer is not informed
what we mean by the individual color buoys marked with our
identification mark and we have not agreed on a course of ac-
tion, buoy deployment... is pointless, because it will not cause
any reaction.
Using buoys in two colors to inform the surface team
about two completely different situations may be-
come tricky when a diver loses one of the buoys. As
you can imagine, if you lose the “I need help” buoy
and you deploy the “Doing my deco stops, everything
is all right” buoy when you have a problem, results
may vary. A two-color buoy may be the solution – you
may choose what buoy color will appear on the sur-
face. You can use two such buoys to communicate as
if you had four standard ones.
perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 65
 ACADEMY
Photo Mariusz Czajka
caution!
Inform your buddies on the surface about your plan to practice
buoy deployment. This way, you will not cause confusion, especial-
ly if someone keeps an eye out for buoys deployed at the surface
at the time.
“Buoy deployment” means that the buoy is sent to the sur-
face; another term for this would be “shot the bag” (both are
used in this article). Generally, this is about taking the buoy
out our your pocket and sending it to the surface (without
the diver ).
Under some circumstances, buoy deployment alone is not
enough and the observer needs additional information.
Usually, it is the case with more complex technical diving that
require a long decompression.
Below, you will find typical examples of buoy usage and the
situations requiring it.
66
●● Ascending to the surface in the open sea, when the cur-
rent prevent your from returning to the wreck with the
shot line. Under these circumstances, deploying a buoy as
fast as possible, so that the observer from the boat can see
it before the diver is too far away, is essential for the diver’s
safety. The observer may mark the direction in which the div-
er is drifting away, come after them or send a RIB. The diver
(or a team) completes decompression in open water and is
drifting away from the boat not only due to the current, but
also due to the wind (discussed in more detail later on in the
article). When the observer reaches the buoy that is drifting
away, they may “ask” the diver underwater whether they are
all right. It can be done by slightly tensioning the line, at the
end of which there is a spool or a reel held by the diver, and
then giving two distinct tugs (“are you ok?”). The diver then
also gives the line two tugs, which means that everything is
all right. Another possible answer is a series of fast tugs that
means “I need help!”. In complex decompression diving, such
situations are always taken into consideration and the sup-
port team waiting on the boat is ready to quickly descend to
assist the diver. The details of such procedures are discussed
beforehand and practiced repeatedly.
●● Deploying a  buoy with a  message. Almost every diver
uses underwater wetnotes. Such underwater wetnotes may
be opened and attached to the top of the buoy, so that others
may read a message written in it. The message should be short,
easy to read and unambiguous. It usually is used in one of the
two following situations:
1. 50 – lost decompression gas. It means that Nx50 is needed
(in this case); it may be sent down by clipping the gas cylinder
into the buoy line.
2. OTOX – it means that the team supports/transports a div-
er who needs help with their ascent. In such a situation, the
help of a support team is needed and they should descend
as fast as possible.
Photo Mariusz Czajka
 tips & curiosities

ACADEMY

●● Marking objects. If you want to perform a series of dives

The amount of gas inflated into the buoy before
its deployment should allow you to control the
buoy during the entire deployment process. The
gas will expand as the buoy gets closer to the
surface. You may want to consider whether in-
flating as much gas as possible into the buoy is
necessary. Keeping a  delayed surface marker
buoy (DSMB or SMB) filled with gas to 1/3 of its
volume underwater will require dropping an an-
chor  – otherwise you will ascend to the surface
together with the buoy.
to an unmarked wreck site, it might be a good idea to mark
its bow, aft or superstructures. It will help you to descend
directly to the specific wreck parts and estimate its location
and size from the surface. Such markings are really helpful
for photographers, who plan photo shoots at specific sites,
identified beforehand.
Abandoned nets hauled in by Ghost Diving are marked similar-
ly. The first team searches for nets and once they find some,
they mark its beginning and end to be able to estimate its
length – it makes it easier for the other team to haul the net
to the surface.

●● Deployment of a buoy without a line. Deploying your

buoy like this may replace an underwater wetnote with the
note: “no object at the bottom”. Such a buoy is easily recog-
nizable, as it lies horizontally on the surface. It is fished out by
the diving boat’s crew. Buoys are often used in such a manner
in wreck diving. Once a possible wreck site is identified, one
team descends to the bottom and informs the other divers
whether the wreck they are looking for lies at the bottom.
Similarly, a buoy attached “rigidly” to the wreck means “we
have it !”.
Of course, nothing will prevent you from deploying a buoy
with a tether line and attaching an underwater wetnote with
appropriate information to it if there is no object under-
water.

2. Static buoy usage

Static usage means that, when a buoy reaches the surface, you
attach the line of the buoy to an underwater object. When to
do so and why?

●● Securing your practice area. When practicing in a water

body, where they may be other people on the surface (such
as swimmers, but also drivers of water scooters and other ves-
sels), it is good practice to mark the practice area, e.g. with four
buoys forming a square. After your first dive, such marking will Photo Francisca Isadora Abuter Grebe

also help you quickly find the practice area again.

One option is to use several buoys to secure a practice area
that requires underwater markings. This means that the buoy
should be stabilized with a small amount of gas at the appro-
priate depth and using them, for example, to form a diver
propulsion vehicle (DPV) exercise track.
●● Transporting equipment and gas. If you spend a  long
time at one underwater site and perform activities requir-
ing the use of additional small equipment, such equipment
may be lowered to the specific site by clipping it into the
buoy line.

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 67

 ACADEMY

The buoy and line may be used to securely transport empty
cylinders to the surface. In “multistage” diving, after using
up gas from stage cylinders, you do not have to carry them
during the entire decompression process – you may clip
them into the line and they will float up to the surface on
their own (the line does not need to be attached, you may
hold the blocked spool in your hand). It might be a  good
idea to check beforehand whether your empty cylinders have
positive buoyancy: the most common stage cylinders are
11.1 L aluminum cylinders (S080) – they may be transported
in that manner. However, also common, but much smaller
5.7 L aluminum cylinders (S040) are not buoyant enough for
such transport.
3. Using a buoy on the surface
●● A night out at sea.
Contrary to what it might seem, it is not a very rare occur-
rence. If it happens, you may help yourself by using a DSMB
as a “lifebuoy” of a sort, which will secure your position on the
water surface. A good-quality DSMB can be fastened in such
a way that you encircle it behind your back and clip steel bolt
snaps to the top buoy handle in front of you. You can do it
even with two 12 L cylinders on yourself. A DSMB has a volume
of approx. 24 L, which is more than the majority of buoyancy
systems used in two-cylinder rigs, and will ensure your posi-
tive buoyancy on the sea surface. In the case of groups, each
person may encircle themselves with a buoy and clip it into
the bolt snap of the partner’s buoy, which will make them
face each other.

●● Location signaling – call for help.

Such use of the buoy may be required, for example, when
you are diving in the current while on safari in Egypt and for
some reason you cannot ascend at the planned boat pick-up
site. The wind drowns out your voice and even the slightest
waves effectively reduce the chances of being seen on the
water surface. What you can do is dynamically move your
firmly inflated buoy as fast as possible, treating it as an ex-
tension of your arms, to signal for help. A DSMB is particularly
well-suited to that task. If you start signaling too late, it may
prove ineffective – unfortunately, a lot of divers experienced
it firsthand, when they were carried with the current to the
open sea.

Photo Mariusz Czajka

●● Location marking – air searches.
An unfortunate development of the above situation is that
the boat support team does not send help, because they do
not notice your signals. In such a case, you may expect an air
search. The pilot will have an easier time locating you, when
an inflated DSMB floats next to you. If you are in a group and
each diver is prepared for sea diving (has an ocean buoy), you
can improve your chances of being found on the sea surface
by connecting several DSMBs in one line. For those searching
from the air, a diver without a buoy is a dark object, approx. 0.5
m in size (hardly anyone lies flat on the water when they see
a plane or a chopper – they are more likely to be in a vertical
position, which makes them harder to see for a pilot). A Ocean
buoy in 1.8 m long and has an almost 30 cm long piece of tape.
Once connected, three such buoys will form a 6 meter long,
bright color line, which is much easier to see from the air.
4. Buoys in cave diving
Divers who usually dive in caves do not use buoys. Nonetheless,
you may want to consider equipping yourself with a buoy, when
the cave exit is located at the bottom of the sea. Such caves are
located, for instance, in Croatia. If, after diving in a cave, you as-
cend and decompress in open water, it will be easier (and safer)
to mark your position with a buoy. It is especially important if
the current is to be expected at your ascent site.
5. Stabilization in any conditions
Apart from the situations described above, you may always
use a buoy when you need additional stabilization during as-

68
 tips & curiosities

ACADEMY

cent. Not everyone is prepared for ascending in open water

and even experienced divers may have a bad day. You should
deploy a buoy to assist with your ascent each time you feel
that it will make you feel more comfortable, and consequently
safer in the last phase of diving. You should also pay attention
to the needs and well-being of your less experienced buddies.
Do not wait until such a person is no longer stable in the water
– ascend together, while using the line of the deployed buoy
as a point of reference.

The diving buoy is usually called SMB or DSMB.

Sometimes it is also called a bag or... sausage 

6. Classification of diving buoys

Color – buoys are available in various colors; those used at sea

usually have an emergency color – orange or yellow. There is
no one rule for this. It is essential that the buoy has a color that
is easy to spot from afar and in any weather conditions (certain
colors may be less visible in full sunlight).

Types of diving buoys – the main classification is based on

the shape and inflation method. Buoys can divided by inflation
method into closed, semi-closed (fluted) and open.

Shape
Surface marker buoy (SMB). It is a narrow tube a little over
one meter in length. It is great for practice and marking ob-
jects; it is fast to deploy. It is a good choice for every diver. It
is a closed buoy.
Delayed surface marker bouy. It is tube-shaped. It is Photo Mariusz Czajka

a multi-function tool for everyone who dives or plans to dive

in the open sea. It is almost two meters in length and has a ca-
pacity of 24 L, which allows for using it for many rescue proce-
dures. It is a closed buoy.
Other tube-shaped buoys are usually sized between that
of a SMB and DSMB. A buoy with a diameter similar to that of
a SMB and a length similar to that of a DSMB is an interesting
solution. It is used by wreck divers, as it is less susceptible to
strong gusts of wind than a DSMB.
Round-shaped, pear-shaped and odd-shaped buoys are some-
times used for special purposes: for example, to extract small
objects or haul a submerged diver, whose position is observed
by a person on the surface.
Filling
Closed buoys – buoys that prevent air from getting out and can
be filled with your mouth or an inflation hose. The buoy nozzle
prevents connecting the hose the same way as it is connected
to the inflator. The inflator hose should be pressed against
the nozzle to inflate the buoy. You may also inflate the buoy
by blowing into the nozzle with your mouth.
Semi-closed (fluted) buoys can be inflated with the use of a sec-
ond stage regulator (also by exhaling air with a regulator in
your mouth) and an additional air gun connected to the quick
disconnect inflator hose. Gas fills the buoy through a partially
flattened opening in the lower part of the buoy. When posi-

perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 69

 ACADEMY
tioned on the ground, this opening is a flat self-sealing valve,
resembling a buck’s bill. When the buoy is inflated via this valve,
a lot of water enters it. At the surface, semi-closed buoys start
to leak if they are not positioned vertically with their valve kept
underwater. For this reason, they should not be used for res-
cue purposes (e.g. in situations requiring diver stabilization
on the surface, as described in section 3). Semi-closed buoys
are usually equipped with an additional valve, similar to that
in closed buoys. Please note that these models have a plastic
valve, which may be less robust.
Open buoys – as is the case with semi-closed buoys, they may
be inflated with the use of a second stage regulator or an air
gun. A typical characteristic of this buoy is that it is leak-proof
only when the buoy is in vertical position and its lower part
stays underwater.
Most buoys are equipped with a relief valve that is almost iden-
tical to the valve in wings and jackets.
caution!
Before diving, check how the valve in your buoy works by conduct-
ing a dry run and inflating it several times. Some inflation valves
are very intuitive, but others require pressing a certain element
to inflate the buoy. Some valves also have a special valve lock
nut. It’s best to check how it works on the surface to avoid any
surprises underwater.
Photo Bartłomiej Trzciński
70
7. Where to stash you buoy during a dive?
There are several solutions.
The most simple one is to keep it in your drysuit pocket. If you
dive in a wetsuit, you may use a special buoy pocket fastened
to the harness waist strap.
You may also use pockets in a classic jacket for that purpose,
but first you need to make sure that inflating a jacket would
not prevent you from reaching the pockets, which may happen.
It is always worth checking to see if you are able to easily re-
move the buoy from its storage place during diving. You should
wear diving gloves when performing any test.
Photo Bartłomiej Trzciński
8. Buoy deployment technique
A buoy floats to the surface when it is inflated with gas. It is
attached to the spool or reel with a line. This means that the
diver needs to stay focused, as they operate a tool that may
rapidly change their buoyancy, but also they may get entan-
gled in the line. Such a configuration requires a very precise
buoy deployment technique, which is mastered in small steps.
Interestingly, many divers use entirely different techniques.
They use different inflation methods and amounts of gas and
operate the spool or reel differently. Bearing in mind how im-
portant and necessary the buoy is for a diver, I recommend to
learn how to use it from an instructor. And I strongly encourage
instructors to introduce buoy deployment exercises as early as
during the basic course.
It is worth practicing buoys deployment, regardless of your
proficiency. The more complicated the functioning of a buoy
 tips & curiosities

ACADEMY

It is not ideal to use large-diameter buoys (a DSMB)

as primary buoys for fast communication. Such
buoys are much more susceptible to strong gusts
of wind at the water surface than buoys with small-
er diameters. When blown by the wind, such large
buoys haul the diver to the surface.

is, the more important it is for the entire team to practice it

and have the same understanding of its usage. The above list
of examples for using various types of diving buoys is not ex-
haustive. How you actually use a buoy depends solely on what
you need and what was agreed with the team.
Photo Tomasz Płociński

Are you interested in the topic or any issues brought up in this If that is the case, Tecline Academy is here to help – we are
article? Would you like to compare various buoy models? Are always at your disposal:
you an instructor and would you like to deliver some training
on the use of buoys and you need to demonstrate several dif- https://teclinediving.eu/tecline-academy/#/
ferent models? WAF

adverisement

Professional
reference

Service technician's Practical

materials

almanac Clearly
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Service
More than
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manual and diagrams

Author of books: Wojciech A. Filip

Photo author: Frank Lemke

NEW APPROACH TO REGULATORS – ONLY FOR SERVICE TECHNICIANS!

Now available in 4 languages:

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perfectdiver No. 6(12)/2020 71
 Oksana Maksymova Lembeh, Indonezja • Lembeh, Indonesia %DUWRV]3V]F]µĄNRZVNL6\F\OLD:ĄRFK\ȏSicily, Italy *U]HJRU]%LDĄDV Kopalnia Christine, Willingen • Christine Mine, Willingen Brunon Waligóra-H]LRUR*ĄÛERNLH3ROVNDȏ*ĄÛERNLH/DNH3RODQG

2021 Styczeń • January 2021 Luty • February 2021 Marzec • March 2021 Kwiecień • April

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

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Christmas Christmas

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The calendar can be yours for only

A GREAT GIFT
6 EUR ON
plus shipping CHRISTMAS

ORDER: preorder@perfectdiver.com
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