Trapped Beneath the Tatra Mountains: The Haunting Death of Diver Alexei in Bystra Cave
| Incident Location | Diver Full Name |
|---|---|
| Poland — Zakopane, Tatra Mountains — Bystra Cave | Alexei |
Just north of the Polish–Slovakian border lies the mountain town of Zakopane. To the south, on the northern slopes of the Tatra Mountains, is Bystra Cave. The cave was formed by the Bystra spring, which carved a network of tunnels and passages into the mountain.
Bystra Cave stretches for more than one kilometer and reaches a depth of at least 53 meters (173 feet). It includes both dry and flooded sections, linked by a series of sumps or siphons. These features make it a challenging place for cave divers, who must use proper diving gear, including diving masks, diving tanks, and diving computers.
The Infamous Fifth Sump
By 1987, the cave’s underwater sections were famous among Polish cave divers. No one had ever made it past the fifth sump, and there were serious reasons for this. The water was part of the city’s drinking supply, so diving in it risked contamination. The passage beneath the fifth sump was also so narrow that it was almost impossible for most divers to pass through.
Despite these dangers, a group of determined divers decided to try.
The Night of the Dive – February 15, 1987
On the night of February 15, 1987, three Polish divers and one Yugoslav diver named Alexei entered Bystra Cave secretly through a side entrance. Their goal was to reach the fifth sump and explore it.
The Initial Descent
To get there, they had to pass through four sumps, entering and exiting the water several times. Each section brought new challenges—tight spaces, strong water flow, and disorienting paths.
Inside a chamber known as the Hall of Waterfalls, three divers, including Alexei, put on their diving suits and prepared for the dive. The fourth diver stayed behind to provide support in case something went wrong.
At 10:00 p.m., the three men dove into the first pool and started their long journey through the narrow underwater tunnels.
Reaching the Fifth Sump
After nearly three hours underwater, the team reached the fifth sump around 1:00 a.m. The two Polish divers were exhausted, so Alexei volunteered to go first.
Before diving, they agreed on a plan. Alexei would explore for about 15 minutes, then return and tell them what he saw. If the passage seemed safe, all three would try to move forward together.
Alexei slipped under the water and disappeared into the darkness.
The Disappearance of Alexei
First Search Attempt
After 20 minutes, Alexei still hadn’t returned. One Polish diver entered the sump to look for him. Visibility was terrible because the water was filled with silt. As he continued forward, he noticed that pieces of limestone were breaking off the walls and falling around him. It felt as if the cave itself was collapsing.
He eventually reached the narrow spot known for stopping other divers before. It was about 2 feet (0.7 m) wide and 6 feet (2 m) tall. Realizing how dangerous it was, he turned back. He resurfaced but still hadn’t found any sign of Alexei.
Rising Bubbles
The two remaining divers waited at the entrance to the sump. Soon, they saw bubbles rising from below and believed Alexei was coming back. But even after 20 more minutes, he didn’t appear.
Visibility had dropped to only 8 inches (20 cm), making it nearly impossible to search again. After waiting longer and seeing no more movement, they decided to leave the cave and get help.
The Rescue Operation
Initial Response
At 6:15 a.m. on February 16, rescuers from the Polish Mountain Rescue Organization (GOPR) arrived. They called in divers from the Warsaw Diving Club, but it took until 10:00 p.m. for them to reach the site.
At 1:00 a.m. on February 17, Warsaw divers entered the fifth sump. Conditions were terrible. The water was full of silt, visibility was almost zero, and rocks were falling from the walls. After nine hours of trying, they had to stop.
Rescuers still hoped Alexei had made it through the narrow passage and was trapped in a dry area beyond the fifth sump.
Continued Efforts
Over the next several days, other divers, including Yugoslavian teams, tried again. Each faced the same problem: silt, falling rocks, and no visibility. The sediment in the water stayed suspended for days, making it impossible to see.
A week later, another team entered through a different opening called the Crystal Siphon. They confirmed that it connected to the fifth sump, but the narrow gap still blocked their way.
Pumping the Cave
Since diving wasn’t working, GOPR decided to try pumping the water out. Approval from the nearby city came on February 23, and by February 24, nine days after Alexei’s dive, the first sump was drained.
The work was slow and difficult. The pumps used so much power that the local electricity grid failed and couldn’t be restored for five days. By that time, rescuers knew the chance of finding Alexei alive was very small.
Even when stronger pumps were brought in, progress was minimal. Between March 6 and 9, the water level dropped only 15 centimeters (6 inches).
At that point, GOPR called in help from French cave rescue divers, who were experts in deep cave operations. They arrived on March 13 to explore the site.
Discovery of Alexei’s Body
Six days later—more than a month after Alexei disappeared—the French divers returned to the now-clear waters of the fifth sump. About 10 meters (33 feet) down, they found Alexei’s body tangled in his own guide rope. They carefully cut him free and brought him to the surface.
What Likely Happened
Investigators later pieced together what they believed occurred.
- Alexei dove into the fifth sump and managed to pass through the narrow section known as “the clamp.”
- He likely reached the dry chamber between the fifth and sixth sumps and attached a guide rope there.
- About 30 to 40 minutes later, he began to return with the rope spool.
- The restriction was even tighter from the opposite direction, and visibility had become terrible.
- Unable to find his way out, Alexei panicked and became tangled in the rope.
- Trapped underwater with no clear path to safety, he eventually ran out of air in his diving tank.
Legacy of the Bystra Cave Tragedy
The story of Alexei’s final dive is a tragic reminder of how dangerous cave diving can be, even with good preparation and proper diving equipment.
Bystra Cave remains one of the most difficult and dangerous caves in Europe. It continues to test the limits of human skill, courage, and respect for the power of nature.
