RAID International has released new Instructor Development Program (IDP) and Instructor Trainer Program (ITP) Manuals claiming acknowledgement for introducing yet another fresh approach to the dive industry’s needs.

RAID International Training Director, Paul Toomer, said: “The new RAID IDP and ITP Manuals are unique in the diving industry, in that they are designed to train instructors and instructor trainers in any of the major diving disciplines such as recreational, rebreather, technical or freediving. We at RAID have designed a system where instructor and instructor trainer candidates can chose to focus on a particular discipline without necessarily having to become a recreational scuba instructor or trainer. This means that professional members can fulfil their own desires without participating in programs that do not interest them or have little relevance to their chosen career path. Furthermore, the new programs ensure there is nothing missing from the vital components of becoming a cutting edge instructor in the chosen discipline. In fact, these programs produce a better trained and more dedicated professional within the chosen sphere of interest.”

RAID International Business and Marketing Director, Terry Cummins, said: “I really love the approach we at RAID have taken with these manuals. It addresses the fact that one system does not fit all. I know many dive professionals will love our methodology. For example, for a very long time I have been hearing from my tech diving friends that they want to be a tech or CCR Instructor or CCR Trainer, but have no interest in teaching open circuit scuba and therefore have not progressed with that part of their career. In such cases the dive industry is the loser as some great people just do not go on.”

Cummins (laughing) added: “Let me put it this way; I had a friend tell me she was not going to spend $10,000 and travel to a remote region of the world to learn how to teach bubble blowing instructors while her interest is in CCRs. In my opinion, this sums it up. Diving has moved on from a total focus and being dominated by open circuit scuba training at the instructor and instructor trainer levels in particular. Similarly, we have at RAID some of the best freedivers on the planet and they have their special techniques and training regimes that are not commonly addressed in other instructor or instructor trainer programs.”

So, it appears with this latest ground breaking initiative by RAID, they provide the mechanism for diving professionals to choose career paths that specifically interest them in a very cost effective way by not asking them to either study, or spend time and money on subjects and skills they don’t really need.

RAID International CEO, Jim Holliday, said: “Every day I grow prouder of our team if that is at all possible. Sure we have some of the most experienced dive educators in the world at RAID, but beside that, they have a good handle on what the industry really wants and are providing it with ground breaking new material. I am sure this will become even more evident when we launch in the very near future our new Deep and Wreck Courses.”

To learn more contact your local RAID Regional Office or find all the information you need on all RAID programs at www.diveraid.com and www.freedivingraid.com.