Artur Kozłowski
Encyclopedia
Artur Kozłowski (17 October 1977, Poznan
, Poland
– 5 September 2011) was a Polish
cave diver
who spent his last years in Ireland
.
exploration, and began learning cave diving with the Welsh cave diving instructor Martyn Farr
in 2007.
He began diving in the Hell Complex, part of the Green Holes group of underwater sea caves off Doolin
, County Clare
and initially used the area as a training ground for his newly acquired skills. He soon began exploring and mapping undiscovered passage, and by July 2007 he had made his first significant breakthrough, making the first traverse between Hell's Kitchen and Robertson's Cave in the nearby Reef Complex.
, the most notable being the extension to the Marble Arch Caves
system. In 2009 and 2010 diving connections were made to nearby cave systems by Kozłowski, firstly to Prod's Pot – Cascades Rising, doubling the total length of the system from 4.5 to 9 km (5.6 mi), and subsequently to newly established Monastir Sink – Upper Cradle system, extending the wider system further to 11.5 km (7.1 mi). The discoveries make this the longest cave in Northern Ireland
.
He holds the record for the deepest cave dive in Ireland and the UK at a depth of 103 m (337.9 ft) in Pollatoomary, near Cong
, Mayo
, Ireland. Perhaps his most notable achievement was the exploration of over 10 km of underwater passage in the notoriously unforgiving cave passages of the Gort region, including the discovery and exploration of Pollindre, 1 km in length and the third deepest sump in the British Isles at 82 m.
He was an engaging public speaker; his January 2011 talk at NUIG
/GMIT
sub aqua club was well received. His recent discoveries filled the pages of the journal Irish Speleology.
, Gort, County Galway, Ireland and his body was found at the known limits of the cave, at a depth of −52 m and approximately 810 m (2,657.5 ft) from the entrance.
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
– 5 September 2011) was a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
cave diver
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
who spent his last years in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Introduction to cave diving
Artur Kozłowski first came to Ireland in 2006 with just 13 warm open water dives under his belt. Shortly after arriving in Ireland he became interested in underwater caveCave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
exploration, and began learning cave diving with the Welsh cave diving instructor Martyn Farr
Martyn Farr
Martyn Farr is a leading exploratory cave diver and caver, known for his record breaking cave dives and the exploration of many miles of previously undiscovered underground passages...
in 2007.
He began diving in the Hell Complex, part of the Green Holes group of underwater sea caves off Doolin
Doolin
Doolin is a coastal village in County Clare, Ireland, on the Atlantic coast. It borders the spa town of Lisdoonvarna. It is a noted centre of traditional Irish music, which is played nightly in its pubs, making it a popular tourist destination. There are numerous nearby archaeological sites, many...
, County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
and initially used the area as a training ground for his newly acquired skills. He soon began exploring and mapping undiscovered passage, and by July 2007 he had made his first significant breakthrough, making the first traverse between Hell's Kitchen and Robertson's Cave in the nearby Reef Complex.
Exploration
Kozłowski was responsible for many extensions to cave systems in both Spain and IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the most notable being the extension to the Marble Arch Caves
Marble Arch Caves
The Marble Arch Caves are a series of natural limestone caves located near the village of Florencecourt in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. They are formed by water draining off the northern slopes of Cuilcagh mountain.- History of exploration :...
system. In 2009 and 2010 diving connections were made to nearby cave systems by Kozłowski, firstly to Prod's Pot – Cascades Rising, doubling the total length of the system from 4.5 to 9 km (5.6 mi), and subsequently to newly established Monastir Sink – Upper Cradle system, extending the wider system further to 11.5 km (7.1 mi). The discoveries make this the longest cave in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
He holds the record for the deepest cave dive in Ireland and the UK at a depth of 103 m (337.9 ft) in Pollatoomary, near Cong
Cong, County Mayo
Cong is a village straddling the borders of County Galway and County Mayo, in Ireland. Cong is situated on an island formed by a number of streams that surround it on all sides...
, Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland. Perhaps his most notable achievement was the exploration of over 10 km of underwater passage in the notoriously unforgiving cave passages of the Gort region, including the discovery and exploration of Pollindre, 1 km in length and the third deepest sump in the British Isles at 82 m.
Blogging and public speaking
Kozłowski was a passionate advocate of exploration and diving; his blog recounted in detail his underwater adventures.He was an engaging public speaker; his January 2011 talk at NUIG
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
/GMIT
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology is a third level institute of education and is based at five locations in the west of Ireland.-Galway Campus:...
sub aqua club was well received. His recent discoveries filled the pages of the journal Irish Speleology.
Death
Kozłowski died during a cave dive in the Gort lowlands on 5 September 2011. His body was successfully recovered on 10 September 2011 after an extensive recovery effort. The cave in which he died is called Pollonora 10 in the townland of KiltartanKiltartan
Kiltartan is a barony in County Galway, Ireland. It was formerly known as Cenél Áeda na hEchtge. It was the home of Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn, and a regular residence of W.B. Yeats.It is alluded to in Yeats's poem An Irish Airman Foresees His Death....
, Gort, County Galway, Ireland and his body was found at the known limits of the cave, at a depth of −52 m and approximately 810 m (2,657.5 ft) from the entrance.