Those who wear the sawfish on their chest can count themselves among the illustrious circle of mine divers. But the training is tough and the number of applicants is steadily declining.

Many outsiders are prejudiced and have a particular idea of mine diver training that often does not correspond to the truth. Then you hear comments such as: "As a mine diver, you have to have fainted underwater at least once", "A mine diver's job ends when they detect a mine", or: "Only really muscular soldiers can pass this tough training".

So what is reality? What has become a myth in the media over the years? Time to dispel preconceptions and explain what training to become a mine diver involves and how long it takes for a mine diver student to be awarded the coveted badge.