Upsetting the Status Quo
There’s no place for an old-boys club here. At RAID we make a big thing about being innovative and aware of what we believe the industry needs. That’s not just marketing BS and lip-service. When the agency decides that something is going to affect our members and their business (which of course is our business), we do everything possible to take the time to consider what options there are and weigh the pros and cons of each. This helps us to avoid Status Quo bias and arrive at what we feel is going to deliver the most positive outcome. RAID’s approach is never to follow the pack and never to opt for the default if a better alternative exists. We are innovators. It shows in our history. This has won us market share but has also raised the hackles on the back of some of the industry’s old guard who resist change at any price. You know them. They are stuck in the past, shun creative ideas, reject technology, and refuse to admit that the old ways aren’t necessarily the better option. RAID is far from perfect, but we try, and we are proud of the changes we’ve introduced within the industry. One of those is welcoming dive leaders and pros from diverse backgrounds, all genders, and every possible outlook. Innovation means we judge on merit and capability, rather than trying to protect an “old-boy’s club” and anything resembling an out-dated and unfair guild system. These are the cognitive errors that stifle innovation and real growth. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with us, that’s fine, just as long as we’re judged on results rather than rumour.
RAID Now Supports ORCA v6 from LUNGFISH
RAID is thrilled tell you about its collaboration with Lungfish Dive Systems, and to introduce a new option to our cutting-edge range of rebreather courses. The Lungfish Dive System blends simplicity with advanced operational capabilities in a compact and flexible unit that’s equally at home in recreational or expedition mode, which sets a new standard in underwater exploration. Lungfish Dive Systems, renowned for their expertise in Closed Circuit Rebreathers (CCR), presents a compact rebreather that redefines convenience and versatility in scuba diving. Lighter and less cumbersome than traditional scuba gear, the Lungfish CCR offers unmatched adaptability, catering to diverse dive and travel preferences. At the heart of this breakthrough is the Lungfish ORCA CCR, designed to deliver superior performance while eliminating the bulkiness associated with traditional SCUBA equipment. Dive enthusiasts can enjoy extended underwater adventures with exceptional freedom of movement. The ORCA CCR’s flexibility makes it the correct “tool” for a long list of dive and travel requirements. “This is such a stunning rebreather. Compact and lightweight, but it’s so really well constructed. It dives, and trims so well, no matter whether you are wetsuit or drysuit diving. And it is so beautiful simple.” Paul Toomer, RAID’s senior training consultant and an instructor-trainer for the Lungfish unit. This remarkable unit boasts state-of-the-art electronics, complemented by failsafe mechanics and robust practicality. Its ergonomic, user-friendly design combines seamless operation with top-tier performance. The low resistance breathing loop guarantees effortless and comfortable breathing, while the efficient scrubber efficiently manages demanding deep-water conditions. For added safety and monitoring, the unit incorporates a solid-state carbon dioxide monitor. To embark on this thrilling rebreather journey, aspiring divers should meet the following prerequisites: Contact your local RAID Dive Centre to find out more about Lungfish Dive Systems!For instructor training, contact: Paul Toomer | Dave Gration | Martin Robson. For diver training in the USA, please contact Sandra Clopp. Already a Lungfish instructor? Easy to cross over your status by completing this form>>>
Why the RAID experience is worth checking out
A message to divers or anyone interested in becoming one At last count, there are around 120 diver certification agencies in the world. Of course, most of those are regional operations or closely associated with sports clubs, and by definition, have little impact on what is a thriving global industry. Of the remainder, there are only seven companies that have associated dive shops and active instructors teaching internationally. Dive RAID International (AKA RAID) is one of those, so-called, Big Seven dive certification agencies. So, what exactly does that mean for potential customers like yourself? Well, there are several benefits to teaching or learning to dive The RAID Way™. For folks wanting to become a diver or anyone already certified but wanting to learn more, the RAID difference is quality. RAID has a solid reputation for that. We’re not saying the competition doesn’t have a quality product, it’s just that we define it a little differently: no shortcuts, a comfortable, inclusive, and unhurried learning experience, with a solid focus on skills development and diver comfort. And to help us maintain quality in RAID dive centers in more than 35 countries, we have a comprehensive on-line quality assurance system that surveys EVERY diver during the certification process. This means you get a better experience. For professionals, shop owners, instructors, and other dive leaders, we offer a robust B2B system that’s completely online and that includes products from try-dive and a full recreational course curriculum plus highly-respected technical programs such as a rich CCR, deep trimix, and cave lineup, Zero-Fee membership, Free-Learning, a modern approach to business support that’s focused on helping your business to thrive. All this within a respected corporate package backed by ISO/EUF/RSTC membership. Interested? Take a look around our website to find out more about the benefits of The RAID Way™ and how they can make your underwater dreams come true.
Opening up Germany
RAID is constantly growing and turning more divers and wannabe divers on to the fun, comfort and safety of diving The RAID Way™. And occasionally we get to welcome old friends and dive buddies into the “family.” We’re so happy to let the diving community know that RAID Germany is now fully online. Stefano Stolfa (RAID Italia, one of the partners at DRI, and a senior Examiners (in center in photo)), recently worked with long-time RAID instructor-trainer Robert Lange (on right in photo above), and “new boy” Uwe Rath (left in photo) to upgrade their teaching status with the agency. Robert is now a full RRO for Deutschland (info@raid-deutschland.de), and will be responsible for professionals’ support and growth of the brand in that region. Uwe, who has been prominent in both recreational and technical diving communities in the Dominican Republic as well as in Europe, is now a RAID Examiner with a particular interest in helping to grow RAID’s professional network in Germany. We expect RAID’s newest RRO will be running instructor programs as well as professional crossovers asap. Contact Robert for details and schedules. Between us, we are making it easier to join RAID in bringing positive change to the dive industry. Beautiful classroom facilities, and 8 degrees at 18 metres for gas sharing drills!
Lungfish Rebreather Training with RAID + Paul Toomer
Although our focus at RAID has drifted more towards the recreational/sport diving end of the dive agency spectrum in the past few years, we do have a pretty solid grounding in breathers and offering CCR training. Right now we are excited that one of our senior staff Tech Examiners and one-time president, Paul Toomer, has been appointed a factory-sanctioned instructor for the Lungfish CCR. “It has been so enjoyable working with the Lungfish team and Dave Gration putting the course materials together. “I am so excited about the release of this course and we are super excited to train the first wave of RAID Lungfish divers.” Paul Toomer. The Lungfish CCR is a late-generation unit with a “travel weight” of around 10 kgs (less bulky than a traditional twinset), and which can be configured for lightweight or expedition diving. For more information about this innovative , compact unit, visit the WEBSITE>>> To speak with Paul about training on the unit for RAID, email him: paul@diveraid.com.
What’s in it for you…
WE’RE MAKING IT EASIER FOR YOU TO DO BUSINESS WITH DRI RAID was the first agency to go totally digital, fully online, no printed manuals, giving us the smallest fin-print in the industry and convenience for our members. And at the time, our back-end Business-to-Business site was state of the art. But since the only constant is change, especially in the digital world, over time, the other agencies followed our lead and caught up. Our once groundbreaking system got tired. We patched it, upgraded it, but it became obvious it really needed to be rebuilt from the first line of code to the last… brick by brick so to speak. Well, we’re doing just that. It’s going to take a while… several months because it’s like tuning a car engine while it’s still running. While the work goes on, if you’re a pro member or a dive centre owner, you’ll notice gradual changes as the contractors do the renovations. Please excuse our mess… as they say. But otherwise, it’s business as usual… only getting easier a little at a time.
This isn’t the Vatican… off your knees, please!
WHY WE MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT BUOYANCY (AND TRIM) You may have heard that students in RAID Open Water 20 programs (and beyond) are expected to demonstrate skills while neutrally buoyant. What skills? All of ’em: mask removal, second-stage recovery, gas sharing, all of ’em. And it’s easier than you think. So, what exactly do we mean by: “while neutrally buoyant”? We mean, floating in the water column and not touching the bottom, the sides, a piece of rope; nothing. Simply put, no kneeling on the bottom of the pool, in the sand, or anywhere else. Just floating and looking like a correctly-trained diver. We’re told that some instructors teaching for other agencies are not so picky. Ours are mindful of the environment—kneeling on some little critter or disturbing its home is not nice—and want to make the diving experience as enjoyable as possible. And that means for our students, but also from the creatures whose environment we visit when we dive. Controlling buoyancy and being in trim (which usually means being able to hold a more or less horizontal body position in the water) has a bunch of benefits besides respecting the environment. Above all, it makes swimming easier for the diver, and results in them using less gas, which results in longer and less tiring, more enjoyable dives. So, that’s why RAID makes a big deal about buoyancy and trim. Those two skills go hand-in-hand and make diving more fun, divers more relaxed, and mean any impact divers have on the environment, including the creatures who live in it, is kept to a minimum. Interested to learn more? Contact your local RAID dive center. They can start you right or, if you are already a certified diver who was taught it’s Okay to kneel, they can help you kick the habit. SEARCH HERE>>>
So, is RAID a tech agency or not?
The short answer is no, but we understand the confusion. Dive RAID International, RAID for short, takes training open water divers—beginners—seriously. Our instructors are top-drawer professionals who teach new divers skills from day one, that other agencies think are advanced! And that confuses some. Our opinion is that buoyancy control, knowing a few extra tricks to swim with the least effort, how to be a confident and helpful buddy, the advantages of breathing from a long-hose, and proper gas planning and dive management are necessary and shouldn’t be extra bolt-on courses (costing the student extra bolt-on fees by the way): we feel these things are basic. And in RAID’s basic courses is when student are introduced to them. Before RAID came along, breathing gases (like trimix and nitrox), and kit configurations we introduce early on, were considered “technical.” So, some people think that’s what RAID is all about… technical stuff. But we’re not: we’re just different. And yes, we do have technical programs—cavern, cave, rebreathers, deep diving, DPV, and so on—but our focus is on introducing a new generation of divers (of all ages) to the fun and thrill of underwater adventuring in a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning space. So, if you are looking to get into diving for the first time, or if you already into scuba or freediving, but want to get more from it, try us. The RAID Way™ works! And it’s fun.
Public Safety Diver
Dive RAID International has developed a Public Safety Diver (PSD) Entry-Level program which is due for release in mid-September 2023. It is the first offering from RAID into this type of diving. Although the agency is a “new” vendor in the PSD market, we recognised it as a special case and the SMEs (subject matter experts) who created this program have extensive experience in the PSD field. To give you a better idea of the scope of this new program, follow this link>>>. For more details please contact the regional office for your area (look here) or RAID HQ. If you’d like to be kept up-to-date with news from RAID via our mailing list, sign-up here>>>
The story is nothing happened…
As an instructor, it’s always a treat to hear from students after their course telling you how much they appreciate the help you’ve given them, and how valuable that help has been. It’s particularly neat when the most important event post training, is that nothing happened… when it really could have! Jimmy Henderson, one of the RAID instructors at Dino’s Diving, recently got one of those messages thanking him for “drilling us in the basics.” A while back he worked with a father and son team before their Bahamas dive trip. The trip sounds like a fun time, but the highlight was when a shark did a crazy U-turn bumping into Caleb (the son) knocking the reg from his mouth and the business end of his mask around to his ear. Kevin (dad) writes: “If you panic here and flail your arm about you could lose a finger: anything moving is viewed as food.” But Caleb, calmly reaches for his secondary puts his mask in place and clears it “like a pro,” and carries on enjoying the show. Of course dad is understandably happy and proud. Caleb, doesn’t understand the fuss. He simply thinks any diver with RAID training, would do exactly the same. No problem.
