AND YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOU GOT We’ve really tried hard to let divers know exactly what to expect from a RAID class… from an entry-level, open water diver whose adventure is just starting, all the way to a CCR cave diver exploring the darkness 100 metres deep. It starts with FREe-Learning. FREe-Learning opens access to every RAID manual in our library. (Just to be clear, that includes core programs, freediving courses, recreational, DM, Instructor, technical… everything: even the end of chapter quizzes.) And yes, it’s free, and you’re invited! And, not only is it free, it’s ultra convenient too because if you like what you see, the online system lets you pick a local RAID dive centre and sign up for the class on the spot. {LINK} But, all that aside, we also try hard to make sure you (every student for every class in fact) get value for your time and money. At the end of a RAID class, there i
RAID NAVIGATION SPECIALTY IS “ON SPECIAL” You need to know where it’s at… and where you’re at too. So, your best bet is to signup for a RAID navigation specialty because it’s an essential for any new diver… or older divers who have trouble finding their way home! Underwater navigation involves using various techniques and tools to effectively orient yourself and navigate while diving. Here are some of the key methods and tips for underwater navigation you will learn in RAID’s navigation class: 1. Natural Navigation: Landmarks: Use visible landmarks such as reefs, rocks, or wrecks to orient yourself. Patterns: Remember the underwater terrain and any changes in depth that can aid in navigation. 2. Compass Navigation: Carry an underwater compass for directed navigation. Taking Bearings: Familiarize yourself with how to take a bearing before entering the water. Following a Course: Swim in the int
SEPTEMBER SPECIALS SCUBA diving to 40 meters (approximately 130 feet) deep is no simple matter… well, getting down is easy, but fixing things so that the way back up is uneventful, takes some care. RAID’s Deep 40 program will introduce students to the careful planning and additional skills that make diving to the limit of the recreational dive tables, fun, enjoyable, and as safe as possible. Here are some important guidelines for diving at this depth which the DEEP 40 program follows: 1. Academics and Skills Coaching: This makes sure students execute the open water dives with the mindset, equipment, techniques, and background understanding to keep them at their peak. All this help to ensure that the whole Deep 40 experience is a comfortable and effective learning adventure. 2. Planning Your Dive: Deep 40 students will build a detailed dive plan, including entry and exit points, duration, and
THEY SURFACED AND THE DIVE BOAT WAS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN The public broadcaster in the UK (the BBC) recently aired an interview with a couple of divers who spent 36 hours drifting off the Texas coast before being rescued by the US coast guard. Nathan and Kim Maker became separated from the charter boat in what was reported as bad weather and heavy seas. According to a fellow diver, the pair disappeared when “a huge swell comes in and engulfs Kim and Nathan totally. When the swell rolls out, they’re nowhere to be found.” And although the folks on the boat began to search for the pair immediately, they were gone. Few of us can imagine what it took for the Makers to hang on to their sanity and keep their spirits up while they drifted around, lost and alone. And the BBC story was a brilliant illustration of… well, the right words have to be gumption and faith. But, all that aside, is there somethin
DOES DIVING HAVE A COMPARABLE SCALE TO WHAT ROCK CLIMBERS USE TO GAUGE THE DIFFICULTY OF A CLIMB… The short answer is: ‘Nope!” Followed by a pause and: “Well, not really.” Then there is another pause, pursed lips and a finger pointing skyward: “Hummm, actually, to tell the truth, it’s a long story…” Okay. So, when one thinks about it, there is no short answer. The situation is way more complex and the only answer is a hybrid one. Any climber, or downhill skier, can tell a lot about a rock or ice climb, or a ski run, from the grade it’s given. These grades are published and shared within each respective community freely. For example, a double black diamond at Whistler Blackcomb has a big sign at its entrance telling skiers what it is. They know the run is going to be a physical workout and a test of their skills before they point their skis or snowboard down it. Dive sites don’t have that. Alo