Poland has a long and storied maritime history; this, combined with the nation’s position on the shore of the Baltic Sea makes it a fantastic place for wreck diving. While the waters of the Baltic are cold and at times temperamental, the wrecks themselves are incredible. The rewards are well worth the effort it takes to travel to Poland and descend into cold, dark waters for a look at vessels ranging from military ships including a Luftwaffe ship that serviced Nazi Luftwaffe aircraft during WWII, to smaller wooden boats, to oil tankers and passenger vessels of all sorts. Here are just seven of the most popular wrecks to dive along Poland’s Baltic coast.
Svanhild - Poland Dive Sites
Lying just 22 meters beneath the surface, Svanhild was a 300 foot long cargo ship with a 44 foot beam; a sturdy ship, she was built between 1915 and 1919. Servicing such locations as Copenhagen and North America, the ship sometimes traveled to India and Belgium, as well as other European ports. During the Second World War, Svanhild was tasked with carrying everything from iron ore to cocoa and was lost on November 9th of 1944 after an accidental collision with the SS Fortuna. The entire crew was rescued, but most of their personal effects went down with the ship and can be seen among the wreckage. Lightly covered with silt and home to a few bream and other fish, this is a fascinating site for intermediate divers and up.
Mount Vernon - Poland Dive Sites
A steam powered cargo ship that was built in Norway in 1900, the Mt. Vernon lies just over 21 meters beneath the surface. Lost in an accident sometime between January 26th and 27th of 1947, the ship took her crew of 18 with her when she sank. 68.8 meters long and with a beam of 9.66 meters, the ship was only rediscovered in 1997, when a team of Polish divers located her near the lighthouse at Rozewie, 300 kilometers from where she was assumed to have been lost. There are unconfirmed stories circulating regarding the ship’s actual mission – though transporting a load of coal, she is thought to have been operating undercover for the Swedish Secret Service.
Arngast - Poland Dive Sites
A steam driven tugboat, the Arngast was built in 1908 and was sunk during a snowstorm in 1921, while en route to Danzig from Wilhelmshaven. 29 meters long and just over six meters wide, this sturdy little boat can be accessed at a depth of 20.5 meters; she sits upright with her keel at a depth of 22 meters.
Kujawiak - Poland Dive Sites
A fascinating site for all divers, the wreck of the submarine Kujawiak lies beneath only five meters of water with her superstructure above the waterline. Launched in 1949 and used by the Baltic Fleet until 1966, it is 49.5 meters long with a 4.4 meter beam. This sub was driven by a combination of diesel engines and electric motors and carried a crew of 31 people. She is still equipped with four torpedo tubes, but the 45mm cannon was removed.
Groźny - Poland Dive Sites
Another fairly shallow wreck, the Groźny can be accessed at a depth of 10.7 meters, and her keel sits at a depth of just 18.5 meters. This anti-submarine vessel is 52 meters long, with a 6.4 meter beam. While operating, she was bristling with armaments and boasted a crew of 55 men.
Wicher - Poland Dive Sites
An easy dive for all levels, the wreck of the Wicher can be accessed at 5 meters, and maximum depth is a still-simple 17 meters. Lost during a Nazi air raid in 1939, the battleship was constructed in 1927. This massive war memorial is just over 100 meters long, with a beam of 10.5 meters.
Abille - Poland Dive Sites
Suitable for technical divers only, the Abille lies 48 meters beneath the surface. Encrusted in growth and covered with nets, this old ship is fascinating; use extreme caution as there are many hazards here and visibility rarely exceeds five meters.
Wreck diving is very popular in Poland and local dive operators are happy to arrange charters to these wrecks, along with many others. Whether you’re a new diver or a seasoned expert, you’ll find that these wrecks are fascinating both for their intrinsic value and for their histories. Visit the Polish Maritime Museum in Gdansk for a comprehensive trip back into time; it’s just one of the many attractions that can make your topside time almost as much fun as your dives.