Why is it important?

"The School of Military Divers" is a volunteer project that aims to support the uniformed diving special forces. We help divers by providing modern equipment and organize training of the physical skills of diving and special preparation for the mobility of the unit.

Currently, the project team is working with a group of special purpose Marine State Border Protection divers at the Azov Sea in Mariupol.

Last year we implemented the first stage of the project and began to train divers in the department "from scratch", we purchased and transferred them more equipment worth more than a 100,000 UAH. The results exceeded our wildest expectations. The boys worked on their skills with pleasure and enthusiasm. This year we will continue training as the requirements for military divers are very high, so the guys need to constantly improve their skills and deepen their knowledge. In the second phase of the project, our main goal – is to help in training and equipping inspection teams from fighting patrols at sea and maintain military maritime infrastructure facilities to a good and safe condition.

The following video offers a look at the work in HD format.

As in the first phase of the course, divers train in the pool and in the open sea. Among other things, they will learn to hold their breath, working blindly, rescue people and search for explosives underwater.

Instructors of the project are diving specialists operating their business and athletic submariners. They developed and implemented the latest basic course diving training, which is based underwater sports – aquathon (underwater fighting). This is very serious training for the soldiers, because aquathon as a military sports discipline requires uncommon strength and extreme durability. Only hardened physically, brave and trained divers can successfully complete the task and return alive.

Aquathon is a sporting discipline, the essence of which is underwater duel between opponents holding their breath or using diving equipment. It fosters psychological resistance to extreme situations underwater, and general adaptation to conditions in different environment, swimming with equipment, using flippers, diving to depth and distance breath dynamics, and underwater combat. Some training exercises are performed blindly or with bound hands or feet.

the job of a military diver is difficult and responsible. Diving special forces are part of any and all security forces from frogman special operations forces to rescuers and have an extremely wide range of tasks, from anti-terrorism protection to underwater demining in the ATO zone. Without divers there is no rescue fleet, no combat swimmers or SWAT is difficult to imagine, even in the land forces divers are engineers, who check ponds in the ATO zone.

Unfortunately for the military diving field in Ukraine it is hard times. In Crimea, the country lost almost everything. The Naval Academy, State Aquarium, modern diving equipment – all remains in the clutches of the occupier. In Ukraine there is now almost no systematic training of military divers, the existing regulatory framework treats them as obsolete units and the provision of diving equipment and supplies occurs only sporadically. In addition, Ukraine has no educational institution in terms that would meet at least the standard of the Sevastopol Naval Academy – the Alma Mater of military divers. So often "tuning" of personnel to conduct the work of proper level units is often done with very limited resources. From everything – equipment, experienced teachers and a material base. And given the presence of water borders with the aggressor, the situation should be changed as soon as possible.

Where does the money go?

The budget of the second phase of the project includes the purchase cost of components for diving equipment and rental of a swimming pool in the city of Mariupol.

Maintenance and transportation for the team of instructors will be provided by the Mariupol State Border detachment. Training diving equipment, textbooks, literature, models of mine-explosive devices and other necessary materials in the educational process will be provided for free to the  instructional group.

Most suppliers of equipment purchased are abroad, so the values may vary slightly depending on the exchange rate. If the project faces any unforeseen additional costs or the list of needs changes this will be reflected in the project budget along with explanations.

• 17:2225May2018

  Project budget reduced by UAH 5 249 at the expense of the reduction of the cost of the pool rental for training.

• 18:2022May2018

  Project budget increased by UAH 34 080. Six wetsuits Cressi sub Fisterra for swimmers of 73rd Marine special operations center added to the budget.

• 15:3303May2018

  Project budget increased by UAH 26 790. We are launching the third stage of the project that is created to help military divers, to train them and supply with necessary diving equipment.

• 16:4704July2017

  Project budget reduced by UAH 4 267. The list of needs updated in accordance with current needs of the unit.

• 17:3520April2017

  Project budget reduced by UAH 3 240. We managed to purchase low-pressure hoses at a lower price.

17:2510April2017

Project budget increased by UAH 59 874. The second stage of diving training is about to launch. This amount is necessary to rent the pool and pay for equipment maintenance.

19:0020June2016

Project budget reduced by UAH 119 273. The budget has been revised considering items essential for the start of the project.

Stage 3

Scubapro Zoom diving mask

paid 100%

12/12 un.

6 792 UAH

Marseillas elastic belt

paid 100%

12/12 un.

3 168 UAH

Chemical absorber for diving apparatus of the closed cycle CP-I, 5 kg

paid 0%

0/5 un.

2 580 UAH

Rental of the swimming pool of Odesa Marine Academy

paid 100%

1/1 un.

9 000 UAH

for training

Wetsuit Cressi sub Fisterra

paid 0%

0/6 un.

34 080 UAH

Stage 2

High pressure adapter

paid 100%

6/6 un.

2 358 UAH

Medium pressure hose Poseidon, 16 mm

paid 100%

5/5 un.

2 025 UAH

High pressure adapter

paid 100%

6/6 un.

4 272 UAH

Low pressure adapter

paid 100%

6/6 un.

4 950 UAH

Gauge hose holder

paid 100%

6/6 un.

3 072 UAH

Bandage for fixing the regulator to the neck

paid 100%

6/6 un.

630 UAH

Module for compass FS-2

paid 100%

1/1 un.

875 UAH

Manometer SPG OMS-63 mm

paid 100%

1/1 un.

1 285 UAH

Rental of the swimming pool in Mariupol

paid 100%

328/328 Hours

16 400 UAH

Rental of the swimming pool in Kyiv for instrucots

paid 100%

2/2 Months

7 200 UAH

Stage 1

Wetsuit Sub Gear Base LX, 6,5 mm

paid 100%

4/4 un.

12 400 UAH

Best Divers, 5 mm neoprene diving gloves

paid 100%

6/6 un.

4 800 UAH

Bypass hose, 300 atm pressure gauge

paid 100%

1/1 un.

2 600 UAH

Seac Sub "Marseille" rubber dive belt

paid 100%

6/6 un.

2 400 UAH

Scubapro Jet Fin flippers XXL with spring fasteners

paid 100%

2/2 un.

5 550 UAH

1.5 kg lead lap dive belt

paid 100%

50/50 un.

5 000 UAH

Sub Gear Apnea snorkel

paid 100%

10/10 un.

2 000 UAH

Buoy signal / control OMS

paid 100%

2/2 un.

2 550 UAH

Sub Gear No Zip wet thermal boots

paid 100%

5/5 un.

2 740 UAH

Silicone for gaskets

paid 100%

1/1 un.

30 UAH

Metal (channel, sheet, pin) for the manufacture of "Herringbone" simulator

paid 100%

2/2 un.

4 185 UAH

Steel balloon with 15 l valve, 230 atm

paid 100%

1/1 un.

5 900 UAH

Polypropylene rope, 200 m, 12 mm

paid 100%

1/1 un.

2 040 UAH

Wetsuit Sub Gear Definition short

paid 100%

6/6 un.

9 160 UAH

Sub Gear XP 10 decompressimeter

paid 100%

1/1 un.

4 200 UAH

Sub Gear SEAL hood

paid 100%

2/2 un.

710 UAH

Scubapro Jet Fin flippers XL with spring fasteners

paid 100%

4/4 un.

10 200 UAH

Scubapro Nova Light 720 underwater lantern

paid 100%

2/2 un.

4 200 UAH

Cressi Orca diving knife

paid 100%

1/1 un.

1 450 UAH

Cressi Giant diving knife

paid 100%

5/5 un.

7 250 UAH

Underwater notebook

paid 100%

2/2 un.

500 UAH

Scubapro Jet Sport full foot flippers

paid 100%

2/2 un.

1 840 UAH

Rental of the swimming pool in Mariupol

paid 100%

308/308 Hours

11 396 UAH

Acrylic whiteboard

paid 100%

1/1 un.

1 650 UAH

Sub Gear Steel Comp dive mask

paid 100%

10/10 un.

5 600 UAH

Neoprene glue

paid 100%

1/1 un.

100 UAH

Vinyl weight set, 4 kg - 10 pc, 10 kg - 2 pc

paid 100%

1/1 un.

4 200 UAH

Wetsuit Sub Gear Definition overall II, 7 mm

paid 100%

2/2 un.

8 520 UAH

Sub Gear Comfort Zip wet thermal boots

paid 100%

1/1 un.

480 UAH

Totally:   222 337.00 UAH