Diving in the Opal mines of Dubnik
Posted By David Cani & Petr Vaverka on 30 August 2006
Finally the dive time comes and we couldn’t wait to get wet.
We were so excited, we finally got into the entry passage with our last load of equipment for the last trip through the long, intricate, dark and already somewhat known corridors all the way to our dive gear storage place.
Dive briefing and getting dressed was very difficult and uncomfortable because of high humidity and the constant annual 1*C (33,8 F) air temperature.
After finishing all the procedures we finally got into the incredible, crystal clear, cold water. Our dive path was going from the crossroad point on right side through the 6 meters deep (20 feet) tunnel.
Roughly after about 20m we had to snake through the partially collapsed walls which were built so many years ago.
The water was not very muddy…so-far.
Then we were amazed by “CICVARS”(that is local name for formations growing from the ceiling) in the corridors.
At the end of the corridor there were steps leading down to the next section – horizontal tunnel at 30m of depth.
When we arrived at the next tunnel all that was left was a heavy wood frame from the ventilation door.
We were descending deeper and deeper.
Threw twisting steps the corridor continued until we entered into the shaft named “Fedo”…
In a world of powerful diving lights, we were suddenly in a spacious hall.
From the darkness the wooden construction of the shaft showed up with more than a hundred year old patina.We were moving very slowly to keep from stirring up the heavy sediment.
With great respect we looked down into the very deep shaft.
Concentration on our own movement was number one, because just one bad move can very easily ruin extremely clear water and turn it into an impenetrable fog.
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