“ZVU was established with the aim of working on prevention of protection against drowning.”

The Drowning Prevention Institute (ZVU) is one of Slovenia's leading organizations dedicated to enhancing safety on whitewater and during floods. Our primary goal is to improve knowledge, awareness, and skills in this crucial field through professional training and the development of safety standards.

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Since its establishment in 2018, ZVU has been committed to training professional rescuers, guides, and enthusiasts engaged in whitewater activities. Our instructors are highly qualified experts with over 20 years of experience, dating back to 2004, and have actively contributed to the development of key training programs such as Program C, designed for legal and natural persons leading activities on whitewater, including rafting, kayaking, canyoning, SUP, etc., and Program E which is designed for firefighters, rescue divers, and other rescue units, as well as members of Civil Protection, focusing on flood and water rescue operations.

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Our instructors are certified by renowned Slovenian and international organizations such as Rescue 3, the Slovenian Canyoning Association (SOZS), the Commission Internationale de Canyon (CIC), and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). They are dedicated to sharing their extensive knowledge and experience in whitewater rescue, preparing safe, responsible guides and rescuers capable of handling any situation.  In 2024, our entire team of instructors achieved a major milestone by becoming Rescue 3 Agency instructors. This certification marks an important step in strengthening our commitment to high-quality training and safety in the field of whitewater and flood rescue. Rescue 3 Europe is a leading training provider in the field of technical rescue, specializing in whitewater and flood rescue operations. Their courses are internationally recognized and provide comprehensive education in rescue techniques for various water-based environments. Rescue 3 Europe offers a range of specialized courses, including whitewater rescue, swiftwater and flood rescue, and water safety training. Their whitewater courses are designed to prepare rescuers for a wide range of rescue scenarios on rivers and streams, focusing on swiftwater techniques, teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure. The swiftwater and flood rescue courses, on the other hand, prepare rescue units to handle large-scale water rescue operations in flood situations, including the use of boats, ropes, and other specialized equipment.

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Our mission goes beyond training; we are also committed to safety and conservation in the whitewater community. As whitewater based activities in Slovenia - one of Europe's leading destinations for these sports - grows in popularity, ZVU works closely with local organisations and government agencies to jointly promote safe and environmentally responsible practices. Although whitewater sports are still not very well regulated in Slovenia, we are working to introduce standards that will protect public safety and preserve Slovenia's natural beauty.

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Through our work, ZVU contributes to the sustainable development of whitewater based activities, enhancing safety for all involved, whether professionally or recreationally, and fosters collaboration with domestic and foreign institutions, organizations, companies, and individuals in the field of whitewater rescue.

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