Silent guardians of the Baltic: history and modern role of Polish navy divers - from combat missions to training

When we think of the Polish Navy, images of patrol vessels, minehunters, and frigates cutting through the grey waters of the Baltic Sea usually come to mind. Few realize that beneath the surface exists an entirely different world-one filled with risk, precision, and constant exposure to danger. It is the domain of divers, operating where visibility is limited, conditions are hostile, and mistakes can be fatal.

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21 april 2026   |   06:20   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. kpt. mar. Damian Przybysz

Their mission begins where everyday comfort ends—in the cold, dark waters of bays and ports that most people perceive as calm and harmless.

Elite diving units within the Polish navy

The Polish Navy has developed highly specialized underwater personnel operating both at sea and on land. Among the most recognized are mine clearance divers serving in the 12th and 13th Mine Countermeasure Squadrons under the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla. Their primary responsibility is the detection, identification, and neutralization of naval mines, unexploded ordnance, and remnants of past conflicts.

Parallel to them are engineering divers operating within land-based military structures, including sapper battalions. These specialists focus on technical underwater tasks, supporting naval infrastructure and conducting complex repair and maintenance operations.

Although their operational focus differs, both groups share rigorous training standards, participate in joint exercises, and often collaborate during real-world missions.

Two specializations beneath the surface

Polish Navy divers are broadly divided into two core specializations:

• Mine clearance divers (EOD divers)
  These specialists deal directly with explosive threats. Each dive may involve contact with decades-old unexploded ordnance, often dating back to World War II. Their role is not only to locate such hazards but also to assess detonation risks in real time and neutralize them with extreme precision in challenging conditions such as low visibility and strong currents.
• Engineering divers
  Focused on technical operations, these divers conduct underwater inspections, hull maintenance, infrastructure repairs, and hydrotechnical security tasks. Their work requires not only diving proficiency but also advanced engineering knowledge, including materials science and underwater welding techniques.

In practice, these roles frequently overlap—mine clearance divers eliminate threats, while engineering divers prepare and secure operational environments.

Neutralizing the past: live history underwater

One of the most visible aspects of their work takes place in Poland’s coastal waters, particularly in areas like the Gulf of Gdańsk and the Gulf of Puck. These regions still contain large quantities of unexploded ordnance.

Each recovery or controlled detonation is a demonstration of precision and discipline. Observers onshore often watch in awe as divers safely remove or neutralize dangerous objects hidden beneath the seabed. It is not a spectacle-driven heroism, but a quiet, disciplined professionalism.

Training and international cooperation

The training of Polish Navy divers is as demanding as their operational duties. It includes:

• Cold-weather endurance camps
• Limited-visibility diving exercises
• Hyperbaric and saturation diving training
• Emergency simulations involving damaged vessels

Polish divers also participate in international exercises, such as the “Northern Challenge” in Iceland, working alongside NATO partners. These collaborations enhance interoperability, introduce new techniques, and improve procedures critical to saving lives at sea.

Technology supporting extreme operations

Modern equipment plays a crucial role in expanding the capabilities of naval divers. Advanced support vessels and rescue ships enable deeper and more complex diving operations, including submarine rescue missions.

Each dive requires meticulous planning, coordination with surface teams, and reliance on sophisticated life-support systems—all conducted in high-risk environments.

Operational and civil significance

The work of naval divers extends beyond military applications. By removing unexploded ordnance from coastal areas and ports, they directly contribute to civilian safety and protect critical infrastructure.

Despite technological advancements, the human factor remains central. Decisions made underwater often rely on experience, situational awareness, and trust within the team.

An elite beneath the surface

Polish Navy divers represent an elite force operating in one of the most demanding environments imaginable. Their work combines elements of military operations, engineering, and emergency response, all under extreme conditions.

They are silent guardians of the Baltic—rarely visible, yet essential to national security.

Training the next generation: academic centre for underwater technologies

In Gdynia, one of Europe’s most advanced training facilities prepares future naval divers. The academic centre for underwater technologies at the Polish Naval Academy provides comprehensive education for professional soldiers, officer candidates, and students.

The program integrates theoretical knowledge with hands-on training, including:

• Advanced diving techniques
• Diving bell operations
• Hyperbaric chamber procedures
• Use of modern underwater systems

Advanced training infrastructure

At the core of the facility is a 12-meter-deep training pool equipped with a movable platform for realistic mission simulations. A diving bell allows trainees to practice confined-space operations and emergency procedures.

Immediate transfer to decompression chambers enables highly realistic training scenarios, preparing divers for real-world missions in extreme conditions.

Courage, experience, and the future of naval diving

The daily reality of a naval diver is a constant balance between risk and necessity. Each mission demands focus, resilience, and expertise developed through years of training and operational experience.

With ongoing technological advancements, their role continues to evolve—from traditional mine countermeasures to deep-sea rescue operations and complex engineering tasks.

Polish Navy divers demonstrate that even in an era of advanced technology, human skill, judgment, and courage remain irreplaceable. Their work bridges the past, present, and future—ensuring safety beneath the surface and along the Baltic coastline.

They are not only soldiers, but custodians of history and security—operating silently where few can follow.

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