News
RAID UK & Malta Expand Their Team With New Appointments
2016 was a very successful year for diver training agency RAID. Internationally they experienced unprecedented growth and achieved many milestones including joining the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) as an Associate Member.
On a regional level, RAID UK & Malta were so successful in 2016 that Managing Director James Rogers appreciated the need to grow his team “to meet the ongoing requirements of our new and existing RAID dive centres”.
This year is set to be even bigger for RAID with a packed events calendar and, as James proudly announced, “the launch of many new initiatives including new courses and the only OFQUAL accredited First Aid and teacher program in the dive industry”.
To support their rapid development, RAID has appointed three new members to the team; Rob Mackins, Robyn Black and Nic Emery.
Rob Mackins, a RAID Instructor Trainer and creator of RAID International’s brand new First Aid programs has been appointed as First Aid Manager for UK & Malta. James stated that “with a background of over 20 years in teaching and lecturing with a First Aid and Emergency Care Course focus, Rob will spearhead RAID’s entry into this sector”.
James also noted that “as more dive centres tune in to RAID’s way of thinking, I was very aware that our customers needed a dedicated person to answer their questions and guide them through the RAID system”. Robyn Black has been appointed as RAID UK & Malta’s Membership Services Co-Ordinator. James said that Robyn “has an in-depth knowledge of the range of services offered by RAID, and as a RAID Instructor Trainer, knows the system inside out.”
Nic Emery has been involved in the diving industry for over a decade, and with experience in graphic design, content marketing and social media management, she has been appointed as RAID’s new Communications Co-Ordinator. James Rogers remarked “RAID UK & Malta has a dedicated following, but with Nic’s help I believe we can expand our brand and get the RAID message out to more people”.
To find out more about RAID and their different way of thinking, visit www.diveraid.com or email the RAID UK and Malta team directly:
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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