Why Is the Koparki Quarry Number One in Silesia?

In the Szczakowa district of Jaworzno lies a body of water that every diver in Poland knows by name — the Koparki Quarry. It is a flooded dolomite excavation site where, after 1997, elements of the former infrastructure remained underwater, including two distinctive excavators. The site combines excellent logistics, convenient water entries, and many attractive points for exploration, making it ideal both for first dives and for advanced training.

Want to dive at Koparki with me? During the beginner and advanced courses I run, we train right here. Sign up for a course →

Dive Site – A Brief History of the Quarry

After extraction was shut down and the power supply was cut, the drainage pumps stopped working. The pit began to fill with water, flooding the excavators, the transformer station, the blaster’s hut, railings, and conveyor belt elements. Over time, the site became an iconic place for diving in Jaworzno, known for good facilities and easy access.

Diving Conditions: Depth, Visibility, Entries

• Maximum depth: approx. 18–19 m (typical profiles 10–14 m).

• Visibility: in winter and early spring it can reach ~15 m; in summer more often 5–8 m; on weekends it can be lower.

• Temperature: winter ~4–6°C, summer at the surface around 18–20°C (colder below).

• Water entries: 3 floating platforms and concrete steps leading to training platforms.

• Topography: a flat bottom with sections of vertical walls; some routes are lined/roped with fixed guidelines.

These parameters make Koparki Jaworzno diving safe even for less experienced divers, while still offering plenty of space to train buoyancy, trim, and navigation.

Underwater Attractions – What Will a Diver See?

• Two submerged excavators – a must-see and a great subject for photography.

• “Wilhelm” – a small wreck for comfortable exploration.

• The blaster’s hut and the explosives magazine – reminders of the mining past.

• Transformer station, conveyor belt elements, and remains of the pumping station.

• Half of a Polonez Caro and other objects that make navigation easier.

The proximity of the objects and clear fixed lines help you plan an efficient route even with average visibility.

Infrastructure at the Former Quarry: Via Sport Diving Jaworzno (Marina “Koparki”)

A year-round dive base operates on site — Via Sport Diving Marina — with convenient facilities:

• a compressor room (tank filling) and equipment rental,

• heated toilets and hot-water showers,

• parking close to the entry, a partially fenced area,

• pontoons and platforms dedicated to training.

Thanks to this infrastructure, diving in Jaworzno is logistically simple — ideal for a one-day trip and a full training weekend.

Diving and Courses at Koparki — With Me

I run courses here from OWD up to AOWD/Rescue/Deep, as well as specializations:

• Drysuit, Perfect Buoyancy, Wreck (no penetration), Nitrox, elements of navigation and photo/video.

• We train buoyancy, trim, team procedures, and dive planning in real quarry conditions.

Join the training and dive at Koparki:
👉 Diving courses with Marcel Korkuś

Location and Access – Jaworzno Koparki

Jaworzno – Szczakowa (Park Gródek).
You can get there easily from the A4 motorway (Jaworzno exit); in the city center follow signs toward Olkusz. About one kilometer past the church, turn right; the entrance to the base is on the right-hand side, just behind the remains of an above-ground conveyor belt, next to a stone masonry plant. On site there is a large parking lot and a short walk from the car to the water.

Price List and Opening Hours (Approximate)

• Diver entry fee: approx. 60 PLN / day (check current rates at the base — they may change).

• Hours: the site is accessible year-round; in summer and on weekends expect more traffic.

• Companions: the area is friendly, no swimming — it gets deep immediately.

When to Go and How to Plan Your Day?

• Best visibility: late autumn, winter, early spring.

• Time of day: mornings are usually clearer than afternoons during the season.

• Equipment: a drysuit outside summer; in summer a 7 mm wetsuit with insulation; torch + backup, compass, DSMB/buoy.

• Sample routes:

  • 10–12 m: pontoon → platform → “small” excavator → blaster’s hut → return,

  • 12–16 m: guideline → “Wilhelm” → transformer station → Polonez,

  • 16–18 m: walls and shallows for buoyancy and trim training.

Safety and Good Practices

• It gets deep quickly: depth reaches ~5 m soon after entry — control your buoyancy.

• Thermal conditions: account for the thermocline and ensure thermal comfort.

• Procedures: briefing, buddy checks, gas reserve planning, SMB, and signaling.

Want to fine-tune buoyancy and navigation in practice? Join a course at Koparki.

FAQ – Diving at Koparki Quarry, Jaworzno