Independent Diver Overview
INFORMATION SHEET FOR RROs AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS Description: This course teaches certified RAID divers with at least 100 logged dives, three main additional skills so they are competent and confident diving without the guaranteed support of a buddy. These skills are managing a ‘stage’ or bailout bottle; deploying a DSMB; safely and effectively managing several pieces of backup equipment. Public Release date: April 2, 2024 Type of credit needed: Diver – Specialty CreditInstructor – Specialty Instructor CreditInstructor Trainer – None needed, see standards Who can teach this course?Active RAID Independent Diver Instructor – information for being certified as an instructor is at the end of the document. INDEPENDENT DIVER (STANDARDS)NOTA BENE: RAID’s Independent Diver course is a recreational no decompression program for open-circuit divers… nothing more. I. Purpose This course is designed to safely train students to: Dive independently without the guaranteed support of a capable buddy. Divers in this program will follow best-practice, established procedures to deploy various piece of backup/redundant gear, use a DSMB as surface marker and buoyancy aid, and to prepare, carry, and use an independent gas source (bailout bottle) Bailout must be breathable at the maximum dive depth. Bailout must have sufficient volume to complete a safe ascent including the required safety stop. Note: NITROX is not required but is recommended. II. Student Prerequisites Be a minimum 18 years old, 16 with parental consent. III. Student to Instructor Ratios Confined WaterA maximum of 8 students: 1 instructor Open WaterA maximum of 4 students: 1 instructor IV. Depth Limitations During TrainingTraining dive depth limits of individual dives are outlined in Independent Diving training materials. Overall, training dives must not exceed the maximum depth 6 meters / 20 feet in confined water and 40 meters / 130 feet in open water. At least two dives should be deeper than 20 meters / 70 feet. V. Supervision A certified RAID Independent Diver instructor is defined as an in-status RAID sidemount, Deco 40 (open circuit) instructor or higher, and any RAID CCR instructor. All training must be conducted by an instructor. The instructor must be physically present and in direct supervision of all segments of training. A certified assistant must be a RAID Divemaster or higher who is certified as RAID Independent Diver. VI. Equipment Requirements VII. Course Requirements To earn certification, the student must fulfill the following requirements: VIII. In-Water Training To be certified as a RAID Independent Diver student’s must complete these requirements to the instructor’s satisfaction and must confirm their personal comfort with the listed skills in the RAID online QA system. IX. Certification The Independent Diver certification entitles the holder to dive without the potential assistance of a dive buddy to a maximum depth of 40m/ 130 feet (following their existing certification and experience) in conditions similar or better than those experienced during training using air or nitrox. BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT DIVER INSTRUTOR RAID deco 40 (or better) instructor, including cavern, cave 1 and all CCR instructors (although, please note, this is a recreational open circuit program). This also includes RAID sidemount instructors, but excludes twinset instructors because they do not, by default, have any experience with a stage or bailout. Also, able to teach the RAID program is any member who teaches a corresponding program from a recognised sister agency (SDI, SSI, PADI et al). The Administrative Process. The task of checking member prerequisites to teach Independent Diver will be the responsibility of the appropriate RRO. HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO LET CUSTOMERS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM>>>
