News
RAID Releases New Instructor Development and Instructor Trainer Program Manuals
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.
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
Blogs
Northern Red Sea Reefs and Wrecks Trip Report, Part 3: The Mighty Thistlegorm
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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