RAID Asia has joined forces with freediving icon Mike Wells to promote RAID and World Series Freediving (WSF) throughout Asia. RAID CEO Jim Holliday said: “Mike needs no introduction to the diving world as his records and achievements in the art of freediving are well known globally. For example, he conceptualised and wrote the world’s first mainstream freediving program. In so doing, he effectively transformed the once cult-like pastime consisting of just a handful of participants into a safety focused, structured, mainstream sport that is today accessible to the masses. Now he has teamed up with our RAID Asia Office to further develop freediving in Asia, state of the art freediving training will become more readily available to everyone throughout the region.”

RAID International Director of Business and Marketing, Terry Cummins, said: “Mike, as the Director of Freediving for RAID International, has moved freediving training beyond previous levels with the world’s first fully online continuing education courses for freedivers. That is, online theory from beginner to RAID Freediving Examiner. Stationed in the Philippines Mike will now gain the direct support of our impressive RAID Team stationed in Asia and from those in Thailand and the Philippines in particular.”

Chief Operations Officer of RAID Asia Steve Moon said: “Col McKenzie and I are going to be working very hard to help develop RAID Freediving and World Series Freediving throughout Asia in conjunction with our RAID Asia Regional Managers and Mike, who has his HQ in the Philippines. The Philippines and various other places within Asia offer some of the best training grounds for freedivers in the world, and having such close and direct access to Mike and his team is a real bonus for RAID Asia. This new collaborative partnership will commence with an instructor course at Roctopus Dive on Koh Tao in Thailand where courses from beginner to Instructor levels will soon be available.”

RAID Asia Field Service Manager Chris Haslam, based on Koh Tao, has been overwhelmed by the interest shown to date in RAID Freediving and is looking forward to making Koh Tao a WSF hub. Haslam has invited those who seek more information on freediving on Koh Tao to email him at chris@raid-asia.com. He will be delighted to help get you pointed in the right direction.

Moon concluded by saying: “This is an amazing opportunity for current dive professionals to cross over and become involved in the world’s fastest growing diving adventure sport, with a focus on fun, professionalism and a quality experience. Freediving is by far the most effective way to interact with ocean creatures and experience the underwater reefs and corals that are their home. The world of freediving will add a whole new dimension to RAID Asia and we are ecstatic about this new partnership – why wouldn’t you be one of the first to qualify?”

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 freediving at www.freedivingraid.com. You can find RAID on Facebook here and World Series Freediving on Facebook here.