Rosgvardiya divers made ice dives on Lake Baikal

In the classroom, the Russian Guards performed extreme ice dives at low temperatures.

Ice descents have become the final practical exam for beginners in diving. After successful completion of the training tasks, the commission awarded the candidates a diving qualification.

"When making an ice descent, the main task of the trainee is to dive to the ground at a depth of more than 10 meters, the second task is to breathe properly so that the breathing apparatus does not freeze, and then it is necessary to successfully follow all the instructions of an experienced instructor who "guides" each student. Candidates need to learn how to properly inspect the ground or ice surface. It is after the first dives in such unfavorable conditions that beginners understand the seriousness and difficulty of the diving specialty," said the deputy commander of the training marine detachment of the Rosgvardiya, Captain 2nd rank Alexander Burumov.

The chairman of the diving qualification commission also noted that when performing tasks for the protection of important state facilities, the divers of the Rosgvardiya have to make diving descents under the ice and such training is very important for candidates, including in psychological terms.

Servicemen and employees of the department from all over the country come to the marine training detachment of the Rosgvardiya on Baikal for initial training and obtaining the qualification of "diver" or its confirmation.

First of all, future divers study safety measures and the material part of diving equipment, get first aid skills. Also, the history of diving is taught in the classroom, historical and documentary films are shown to develop interest in the profession. Divers also get acquainted with different types of equipment – wet and dry suits, breathing apparatus of various types. Divers learn to use equipment with an open breathing scheme, as well as with a closed air supply and circulation system, which does not release air bubbles into the water to ensure secrecy.

The practical part of the "diving course" is first practiced in the pool at a depth of 7 meters. Here, candidates are provided with various conditions, including with an imitation of an undercurrent. Also in the pool there is a "flooded compartment" and a pipe simulating a torpedo tube. Swimming through it in equipment, divers train to get out of the submarine. All classes are monitored using underwater video surveillance and communication systems.

Regardie divers get their basic skills in the waters of Lake Baikal. In winter, when the lake is covered with ice, special lanes are cut through it. Heated tents are installed at the dive sites and additional diving posts are equipped. This makes it possible to conduct year-round training at all facilities of the unique underwater training ground located at a depth of more than 20 meters near the pier of the diving base of the department. Divers learn underwater orientation, search and classification of mine-explosive devices, calculation of explosives for their neutralization. Specialists master the skills of underwater inspection of watercraft, hydraulic structures and soil. In equipped places, trainees perform firing from special weapons under water and from its surface, as well as perform explosive work.

In summer, trainings are held on a special obstacle course on the surface of the lake. It consists of floating rope walls, ladders and pontoons, as well as elements that can only be passed with the help of comrades and underwater with a breath delay. The strip is used for practicing group swimming skills in open water, adapting to the aquatic environment without breathing apparatus, developing physical endurance and psychological stability.

At the diving base of Rosgvardiya there is a unique apparatus – a diving exercise bike of domestic design. It is designed to teach breathing techniques in various types of diving equipment and allows you to simulate emergency situations. The simulator can create a load, as on at a depth of 60 meters, and at the same time track the physiological indicators of the trainee. Also, in the training of divers, a flow-decompression chamber is used, the so-called pressure chamber, which allows you to simulate diving to a depth of 100 meters. The divers inside are monitored through video cameras. Training under high atmospheric pressure, the Russian Guards gradually pass different "depths" from 20 to 100 meters. In addition, the pressure chamber allows you to create therapeutic modes of recompression. With its help, a specialist physiologist can eliminate the consequences of emergency situations and cure professional diving diseases.

After training, the divers return to their units and start working in their specialty. The main task of combat swimmers of the Regardie is to protect important state facilities from underwater saboteurs from the water area.