Night + Limited Visibility
ONE OF THE MOST FUN RAID SPECIALTIES In many parts of world, the real fun starts when the sun goes down… so, if you dive but never at night, you need to see your diving in a whole new light. Scuba is a thrilling and unique experience; Scuba diving at night is like that but way more so. It’s fantastic! Marine life behaves differently at night. It undergoes a dramatic transformation, and night diving opens up encounters with the most fascinating creatures not typically seen during ‘regular diving hours.’ Many marine animals are nocturnal —octopuses, lobsters, moray eels, and certain types of bony fish — so divers can only witness their active behavior firsthand when the sun has gone for the day. Coral reefs are one environment that is way more active at night. The coral itself wakes up at night, and tonnes of fish venture out of their hiding spots to hunt for prey under the veil of darkness. These creatures have adapted to low-light conditions and often exhibit unique behaviors that are not typically seen during the day. It’s also common in warmer water to see bioluminescent organisms that glow in the dark, adding a magical quality to any dive experience. From tiny zooplankton to larger organisms like jellyfish, bioluminescence adds a surreal and mesmerizing quality to the underwater world at night. Diving with the aid of specialized lights can reveal the intricate beauty of these glowing creatures and their interactions in the dark ocean depths. Naturally, there are some ‘tricks and special insights’ that make night diving more productive; and some simple equipment that makes it safer for you and your buddy. And that’s what this RAID specialty is truly all about. More than that, the techniques and gear suggestions you’ll pick up in this class will also help you get your diving and buddy skills squared away in limited visibility conditions. A situation more common in cooler climes. Overall, this RAID specialty, is one of the most useful, and is especially recommended for new divers who are aiming to add to their experience and understanding of the underwater world. FIND OUT MORE HERE>>>
Sometimes it’s okay to hold your breath
OPEN WATER FREEDIVER + FOUNDATION FREEDIVER It starts here with a solid basic course in the art and challenge of freediving. There are many incredible aspects to freediving. One of the most amazing things is the feeling of freedom and connection to the underwater world that comes with diving without the constraints of scuba or rebreather equipment. Freedivers often describe a sense of tranquility and oneness with the ocean that is truly unique. Additionally, the challenge of pushing personal limits, the focus required to hold your breath and dive deeper, and the opportunity to observe marine life up close in their natural habitat all contribute to the allure of freediving. It’s a beautiful and immersive experience that can be both meditative and exhilarating. Learning to freedive also offers several benefits to scuba divers, complementing their underwater experience in various ways: By incorporating freediving techniques and training into their diving routine, scuba divers can improve their skills, safety, and overall diving experience. And now is a great time to expand your experience and understanding of personal limits… they may be broader than you think! FIND OUT MORE HERE>>>
It’s just a piece of duct tape…
BUT ITS JOB IS KEEPING DIVERS SAFE When it’s time to fill cylinders to go diving, Nitrox is king. Oxygen Enriched Air, nitrox, EANx, whatever we want to call it, is totally mainstream and the default diving gas for SCUBA divers around the globe. Odd to think that when first introduced the established training agencies (the biggest ones), campaigned against nitrox suggesting it was way too complicated for the average diver. Promoting its use, they said, would result in dead divers stacked like cordwood at the water’s edge. WRONG! Luckily, folks like Dick Rutkowski (then the Deputy Diving Officer at NOAA), and newly formed “technical” training agencies kept pushing it as a great alternative to compressed air, and after a lot of heavy breathing (forgive the pun)… well, here we are. Nitrox is quite normal and standard fare, and certainly not technical at all. Some divers even opt to use it during their basic OW20 training. The primary concerns were (and remain) being sure not to breathe it beyond its maximum recommended depth (a potential trigger for Central Nervous System (CNS) oxygen toxicity), and the spectre of creating a raging fire by using an oxygen-enriched gas in equipment not prepared and fitted with components compatible with increased O2. Of course, the fix is proper training (see RAID’s Nitrox Diver Course). The rules are simple and now most of the world’s SCUBA training agencies — certainly all of the Big Seven — offer similar diver-level programs based on the original guidelines published in the late 1980s by NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency). One of the key points to staying safe, and the topic for today’s blog post at Dive RAID International is labelling. An often-asked question from students is what do we suggest divers put on their nitrox tanks to help keep them safe? The answer is quite simple, but isn’t dogmatic. And to be clear, when we mention a labels and labelling, we don’t mean the ubiquitous yellow and green tank stickers popular at dive shops and resorts. These are essential when scuba cylinders, some filled with Nitrox and others with regular air fills, are being loaded onto a charter boat. Nope, we mean the contents stickers (usually a piece of duct tape stuck to the tank’s shoulder), that show exactly what’s in the tank, who filled it, when, and how much. Let’s deconstruct that a little. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I will not get into the water with a tank that hasn’t been analysed. and correctly labelled. You may feel that’s a little over-the-top, especially if divers in your area are still diving mostly air. However, CNS oxygen toxicity, is the bête noire of nitrox diving. We should all be mindful of its potential to ruin the day. But it’s the easiest unwanted nasty to avoid. We just have to follow safe diving practices, which include monitoring the oxygen exposure limits and ensuring proper gas mixtures are used, but most of all, ‘always know what gas you are breathing!” And the secret there is to alway analyse your gas. Always. Before every dive. And when you have done that, label it. There are several ways that people swear are the ONLY way to label a nitrox cylinder, and they all have their merits. However, the one core and critical thing is that the MOD (maximum operating depth) is clearly visible on the surface and once the tank is being used in the water. What I was taught back by my cave IT was simple. A piece of tape with the MOD big and bold in the middle. The oxygen percentage top left, date of analysis top right, fill pressure bottom left, and initials of who worked the analyser bottom right. As you can see from the picture of an actual bailout cylinder on the left, a ‘working ‘ label does not have to presented as a piece of art, but it does have to be functional and informative. From this label, we know the tank contains a 32 percent nitrox, which was analysed on March first. The label also ‘tells’ us, this tank is full (it’s at 210 bar according to the label), and the person who did the analysis has the initials SL. As mentioned, there are several ways to mark a nitrox tank. This is one of them. POSTSCRIPT: Several visitors have ask why the example above shows a fill of EAN32 but a depth rating that results in an oxygen partial pressure pressure of 1.28 bar (1.3 rounded for safety). Although the popular convention is to accept an MOD (maximum operating depth) of 1.6 for technical diving, and a TOD (target operating depth) of 1.4 bar of oxygen for recreational diving, advanced users tend to operate within a ‘personal’ limit which is almost always lower. This particular bailout bottle was for use on a CCR cave dive where dose (the combination of PO2 AND exposure time) and multi-day diving were considerations. Sorry for any confusion! Thanks for your attention.
Air is for Bicycle Tires
RAID MAKES BREATHING THE GOOD STUFF EASY More bottom time very quickly adds up to more fun, so what’s stopping you from making it happen for you? We know that nitrox is not available to divers in some spots around the world, but if it is available locally (and certainly when you travel to go diving), you really must add it to your diving toolbax. Diving with nitrox (enriched air) instead of compressed air offers a tonne of benefits that make it well worth earning a certification. And we make certifying through RAID easy and fun. Your first step is to read more about it at our FREe-Learning storefront. Then choose a RAID Dive Centre and start breathing the good stuff. You will not regret it. Just a reminder of some of the most obvious benefits of Nitrox. Earning a certification in nitrox diving will teach you how to properly plan and conduct nitrox dives, understand the benefits and limitations of using nitrox, and handle the specific considerations associated with diving with enriched air. It can be a valuable certification for those looking to extend their bottom time, dive more safely, and explore new dive opportunities. One vital last point. ALWAYS ANALYSE AND LABEL YOUR NITROX CYLINDERS BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE WATER!
Buddies in Training
RAID CADET OPEN WATER DIVER Did you know that RAID gives you a chance to share your passion for underwater adventure with the future… the future of scuba diving that is? Introducing young kids to scuba diving and educating them about marine life and the environment is a fantastic way to instill a love for the ocean and conservation at an early age. RAID is extremely proud to have several levels of specialized programs that give young explorers as chance to learn about marine ecosystems, underwater life, and the importance of protecting our oceans, The RAID Way™. Learning with RAID combines fun diving activities with educational sessions to help kids better understand the underwater world and the impact of human actions on marine environments. It’s a wonderful way for kids to develop a sense of responsibility towards the ocean. And of course, RAID’s Cadet Open Water, and our other courses for youngster starting at age 10, are the safest, most inclusive, and fun adventures to make scuba a family affair. Done right, introducing youngsters to scuba is easy. It teaches water safety, respect for themselves (what a huge boost of confidence it is to become a RAID cadet diver), and opens a young mind to whole new world. (That of course is true for kids of every age, even the ones old enough to be adults.) Scuba diving is something special and we invite every certified diver… and every RAID instructor… to share. Contact your local RAID dive centre for details. Visit RAID’s FREe-Learning to read more. Scuba diving can be an exciting and rewarding experience for people of all ages, including kids. However, there are some important things to consider when kids are involved in scuba diving: RAID and our skills-based approach is the best option to provide youngster with the right training, supervision, and precautions, so that kids can safely enjoy the wonderful world of scuba diving.
Don’t Dive Without It
RECREATIONAL PRE-DIVE CHECKLIST Here’s a simplified list of what to check before starting your underwater adventure. The RAID Way™ Remember always that a couple of minutes spent doing thorough pre-dive checks can save your dive before it starts! It’s important to keep things real but just as important to keep things fun. The simple habit of starting your adventure with a thorough inspection of your dive gear for wear and tear, function, and ‘attendance’ is the best time-saver we can think of. Dive with a buddy and make part of the fun a good pre-dive check!
Protected: March Specials
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HOW TO DO IT
Jeff Goodman talks about ORings
WHY RAID
REASON #259 RAID has full cavern and cave training delivered by real explorers.
WHY RAID
REASON #260
