May 5 — Diver's Day in Russia: when did the holiday appear and how is it celebrated

Diver's Day is celebrated annually in Russia on May 5. This day honors representatives of one of the most difficult and dangerous professions, who spend most of their time underwater. In 2025, a significant date falls on a Monday. Read about how the holiday appeared and what traditions are associated with it in the Izvestia article.

The history of the Diver's Day holiday on May 5th

The history of the celebration is connected with the opening of the first diving school in Russia. The educational institution was founded on May 5, 1882 in Kronstadt. It was the only one not only in our country, but all over the world. People from all over Europe came here to study scuba diving.

Initially, the school trained qualified personnel from among the officers and lower ranks of the Russian Imperial Navy for underwater work. There were divers in Russia before that, but they mostly learned from each other. For the first time, cadets could acquire practical skills working on emergency or sunken ships, as well as in a specially built swimming pool. In the first year of its operation, the school has trained more than 200 specialists.

In 2002, the Diver's Day was established in honor of the opening date of the diving school. In 2025, the holiday will be celebrated for the 23rd time.

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Diver's Day in 2025 — about the profession

In the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the diving service belongs to the rescue and assistance unit on the water. Her duties include rescuing drowning people, evacuating people in case of emergency, and searching for victims. During underwater work, divers also repair wells, clean bridge support buoys, and inspect the bottom of reservoirs in the spring before the opening of the bathing season.

As the diving service workers themselves say, random people don't stay in their business. The character of a lifeguard on the water should be strong, and emotions should not get out of control. In addition, you need to have good health and be physically fit. After all, work often has to be done underwater in difficult conditions — in icy water, with strong currents and poor visibility.

Certified divers can dive to a depth of 60 m and above. To improve professional skills, training trips under water are regularly carried out. Training and advanced training of the diving staff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations is carried out in departmental rescue training centers.

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How to celebrate Diver's Day in 2025

The professional holiday is celebrated by divers, diving instructors, manufacturers of underwater equipment, students and teachers of specialized educational institutions.

Traditionally, on Diver's Day, the best representatives of the profession are awarded. They are awarded certificates of appreciation and medals for special services. On this date, various competitions are also organized, for example, for the speed of diving or donning scuba gear.

A number of cities have their own traditions. So, in Kaliningrad, divers dive in historical equipment, the weight of which exceeds the modern one several times. Thematic exhibitions are also organized. On the occasion of the celebration, the media talk about the specifics of the profession and the work of Russian divers.

Interesting facts about divers

Despite the fact that the profession is considered strictly male, female names are also inscribed in the history of the diving service. During the Great Patriotic War, Nina Sokolova, an engineer, became famous. She participated in the laying of a gasoline pipeline at the bottom of Lake Ladoga. Thanks to this, Leningrad received the necessary amount of fuel during the years of the blockade.

And our contemporary Oksana Chevalier opened a school of water rescuers and divers in Moscow, where she combined the techniques of Russian and European diving schools. Prior to that, she worked in the Moscow City Search and Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations as a rescue diver, and then as a diver in Italy.

Earlier, Izvestia told how Russia celebrates the Day of the Rescuer, also known as the Day of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.