Diving Museum

The Diving Museum in Warsaw, inaugurated on February 27, 2006, on the initiative of Karina Kowalska, is the only institution of its kind in Poland and one of the few in Europe. It is located in the basement of the pre-war building of the "Asmidar" Chemical and Pharmaceutical Laboratory, constructed between 1930 and 1931, which underscores the architectural significance of this location. The museum was opened as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Divers Club and in 2008 received the Nautiek Award from the British Historical Diving Society. The institution collects exhibits related to the history of diving and underwater archaeology, including classic diving helmets from 1895, mixed-gas apparatus from the German company Dräger, and suits used by submarine crews. The museum houses around 800 exhibits, most of which are donations from private collectors. Among the interesting items are cutlery and porcelain from the wreck of a German U-Boat, underwater hunting crossbows, including one belonging to the famous sailor Leonid Teliga, as well as whale vertebrae and a megalodon tooth. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum organizes temporary exhibitions, as well as regular meetings and film screenings, contributing to the popularization of knowledge about the history of diving and underwater adventures.