Hungarian Divers at Lake Ohrid

Text: First Lieutenant Erika Piros Baranyai | Photo: Sergeant First Class László Debreczeni, Captain Viktor Molnár, Sergeant First Class V.S., Sergeant First Class T.N. | 12:28 August 10, 2026

Successful international military cooperation is based on a common professional language, mutual trust and a well-structured training system. Hungarian–North Macedonian cooperation in the field of diving reached another milestone during the Deep Water 2026 joint training exercise, which took place at Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia.

Professional ties between the diving units of the two countries have gradually developed in recent times. As an important milestone in this process, North Macedonian soldiers took part in a basic scuba diving training course at the diving base of the HDF’s 14th Engineer Regiment in Szentes.

The current training course in Ohrid was organised on the basis of the experience and ties gained through previous cooperation. The training, led by technical divers from Szentes and special operations divers from Szolnok, consisted of classroom and on-the-job sessions, conducted entirely in English. The participants practiced swimming exercises and self-rescue and team rescue procedures, developed their underwater navigation and orientation skills, and familiarised themselves with the various applications of technical diving equipment.

The programme also included decompression dives and practising the use of a decompression buoy, which is one of the essential tools for safe diving.

The use of technical diving equipment provided a unique experience for the participants from North Macedonia. It provides more breathing gas and ensures safer diving, but requires greater expertise and different procedures. The use of such equipment may be particularly justified for tasks carried out under special conditions – for example, in confined spaces, at greater depths or in conditions of limited visibility.

Lake Ohrid provides an excellent environment for training: visibility in the clear water reaches 6-8 metres, while the lake’s considerable depth makes it possible to practice decompression dives.

The unique natural conditions also provided Hungarian soldiers with valuable professional experience, as opportunities to practise deep-diving tasks under such conditions are rare. Deep Water 2026 was not only a successfully completed training program, but also another important milestone in the professional cooperation between Hungarian and North Macedonian divers.

The joint preparation provided an opportunity to share lessons learned, coordinate skills and lay the foundations for future joint tasks. According to the plans, the cooperation will continue in the coming period with further professional training and joint exercises.