On April 12, at sunset near the Burgas Seaport, within the framework of the FIRST® LEGO® League 2025 Robotics Festival, one of the most unusual and impactful experiences in the event program will take place – an underwater connection with professional diver Nayden Nedev.
The event will offer a real demonstration of an underwater inspection in the Black Sea, broadcast to festival visitors. The emphasis will be on the protection of the marine environment and the responsibility that each of us bears for the future of aquatic ecosystems.
Nayden Nedev has over 20 years of professional experience underwater. His career began as a military diver – a profession that requires exceptional physical and mental resilience, discipline and the ability to make independent decisions in extreme conditions. Over the years, he has participated in a variety of missions – from ammunition disposal and underwater inspections during incidents, to rescue operations and searches for people. Every day of his life is connected to the sea, which he describes not as a job, but as a necessity of life.
After leaving the army, Nedev created his own diving school, through which he trains children and adults, introducing them to the underwater world using proven methods and safety standards. For him, diving is an experience that changes the way a person perceives himself and nature. According to him, the first scuba dive is an experience that is remembered for a lifetime – just like first love.
Nedev is also actively involved in projects related to underwater archaeology. In cooperation with the Center for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol, he participates in missions to study the remains of ancient civilizations. One of the most memorable moments in his career is the discovery of a stone anchor more than 4,000 years old, which he donated to the museum in Sozopol. This find becomes a symbolic confirmation of the connection between history, science and the sea.
The event in Burgas will be an opportunity for the audience not only to experience the underwater world, but also to realize the importance of commitment to its preservation. The underwater connection with Naiden Nedev will be the culmination of a day where technology, nature and human courage meet to inspire the next generation of explorers.
The FIRST® LEGO® League 2025 Robotics Festival will be held on April 12 and 13 in Burgas and will bring together 30 teams from 18 cities, including participants from the Bulgarian school in Taraclia, Republic of Moldova. Students aged 10 to 16, under the guidance of their mentors, will demonstrate skills in programming, engineering thinking and teamwork. The competition follows the official international format of the FIRST LEGO® League Challenge, and the winner will represent Bulgaria at the world competition in Greece in May.
The event is organized by the Center for Creative Learning and the Municipality of Burgas, and admission is free. The festival will feature robot competitions, a science forum with documentary premieres, a 3D mapping show, and an exhibition of LEGO® clubs Brick Hunters and LEBGO.
The theme of the season – "DIVE" – is dedicated to the exploration of the underwater world and the challenges faced by scientists, engineers, and explorers working underwater. Through demonstrations, projects, and real-life experiences, the festival inspires children to dream big and work for a cleaner and more sustainable planet.
