SPECOPSLAB

Taistelusukeltajat vs SEAL

Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Taistelusukeltajat and SEAL, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.

FINLANDSukeltajakoulu (Merivoimat) — TaistelusukeltajatDiving School entrance exam (Sukeltajakoulun valintakoe)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →UNITED STATESU.S. Navy SEALPhysical Screening Test (PST)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventTaistelusukeltajatSEAL
12-minute run (12 minuutin juoksutesti)2,800 monly this unit—
Bench press 50 kg, reps (penkkipunnerrus)14only this unit—
Pull-ups (leuanveto)SEAL: Pull-ups (no time limit)10same10same
Sit-ups in 60 s (vatsalihastesti)34only this unit—
Standing long jump (vauhditon pituushyppy)2.1 monly this unit—
15 km run with a 10 kg pack, 5 km loop with hills (15 km maastomarssi)100 minonly this unit—
200 m freestyle swim (200 m vapaauinti)3:50only this unit—
Underwater distance swim (pituussukellus)25 monly this unit—
6 m search — discs recovered out of 10 (6 metrin etsintä)3only this unit—
500 yd swim (side/breaststroke)—12:30only this unit
Push-ups (2 min)—50only this unit
Curl-ups (2 min)—50only this unit
1.5 mi run—10:30only this unit

Events in the same row are similar but not identical — read the event names.

Higher levels (e.g. competitive or elevated standards) and your gap to each are in the paid report.

Where the bar is higher

Same minimum: pull-ups.

Taistelusukeltajat tests 9 events, SEAL tests 5 events.

Pay

TAISTELUSUKELTAJAT
€185 / monthWhat a conscript combat diver (taistelusukeltaja) gets — and what professional soldiers earn afterwards · Conscript — daily allowance × 30 days (varusmies, päiväraha) · days 1–165 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional
SEAL
$6,901 / monthWhat a SEAL earns · E-5 · >3 · default scenario, gross

Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.

Questions

Is Taistelusukeltajat or SEAL harder to get into?

Same minimum: pull-ups. These are only the published fitness minimums; selection itself, medical and other requirements differ, and passing the minimum does not guarantee selection.

How do the Taistelusukeltajat and SEAL fitness tests differ?

Taistelusukeltajat: 9 events (cooper, bench 50, pull-ups, sit-ups, long jump, march 15k, swim 200, uw swim, 6m search). SEAL: 5 events (swim, push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, run 1.5mi).

Does Taistelusukeltajat or SEAL pay more?

Taistelusukeltajat: €185/month; SEAL: $6,901/month (default scenarios, gross). The amounts are in different currencies and depend on taxes and cost of living, so we do not rank them.

Sources:
Taistelusukeltajat
SEAL