Rebreather Association of International Divers (RAID)

The Organisation RAID

The founder of RAID is Barry Coleman, who already began diving in the 1970s. In the 1990s, he decided to work with rebreathers and finally in 2001, he designed his own sport breather. The foundation of RAID followed. The organisation focuses on distance learning methods, which serve as basis for the Rebreather Association of International Divers-E Training Programme. Whereas at the beginning only training for the area of the rebreather were offered, the extension to Open Circuit Courses in the area of scuba diving started very soon afterwards.

What is special about this system is that the training is offered via the Internet. In the meantime, RAID is considered as the largest E-Learning platform worldwide in this domain. The system is based on a large network of worldwide diving schools and additionally offers quality assurance.

Courses offered by Rebreather Association of International Divers (RAID)

Introductory courses

Try Scuba Diving

The course is based on the contents of Open Water 20 and offers basic knowledge in the area of scuba diving.

• Procedure: There is an introduction to the theoretical basics as well as working with quick quizzes. The diving training is carried out in restricted open water at a diving school on site.
• Requirements: A verifiably good swimming capacity
• Minimum age: 12 Years
• ISO-Certification: Introductory Dive in accordance with ISO 11121:2009

Entry-Level Courses

• Junior Diver
• Junior Open Water

Open Water 20

This course is about the basic training recommended for autonomous diving.

• Procedure: The course consists of an online theory unit with final examination. In addition, there are four lessons in restricted open water (e.g. a bay or a basin), as well as four more in unrestricted open water.
• Requirements: Good swimmer enjoying physical and mental health
• Minimum age: 15 Years

RAID Level 1

This is a course composed of theoretical and practical sections.

• Procedure: The theoretical part contains information about diving in general, the environment and the equipmen,t as well as rescue measures. The practical training at Level 1 includes dives in restricted open water with at least four hours under water. In addition there are four dives in unrestricted open water with at least four more hours of diving time.
• Requirements: Attestable swimming capacity
• Minimum age: 18 Years
• ISO-Certification: Autonomous Diver in accordance with ISO 24801-2:2007 and EN 14153-2:2003 Nitrox in accordance with ISO 11107:2009

Advanced Courses

RAID Level 2

This is a course for advanced divers.

• Procedure: The theoretical part contains nine sections in total and those must be completed before the practical part can follow. Here you go into restricted open water for at least one hour under water and in unrestricted open water for at least five hours under water, for at least 6 dives.
• Requirements: 8 logged diving hours with rebreather or open system, certified RAID Rebreather Level 1
• Minimum age: 18 Years
• ISO-Certification: Autonomous Diver in accordance with ISO 24801-2:2007 and EN 14153-2:2003 Nitrox in accordance with ISO 11107:2009

RAID Level 3

This course concentrates on the rescue programme and, as such, broadens the knowledge.

• Procedure: The theoretical part contains nine sections, which must be completed. The practical training follows with at least three hours below water in restricted open water and at least three hours underwater with a minimum of four dives.
• Requirements: 15 logged diving hours in open water with rebreather or open system, certified RAID Rebreather Level 2, recent completion of a first aid course including CPR training or the Oxygen Provider Certificate
• Minimum age: 18 Years
• ISO-Certification: Autonomous Diver in accordance with ISO 24801-2:2007 and EN 14153-2:2003 Nitrox in accordance with ISO 11107:2009

• RAID Level 4 (Instructor Level One in accordance with ISO 24802-1:2007 incl. Nitrox in accordance with ISO 11107:2009)

 Explorer 30

The course enables the acquisition of insights into diving activities, which the diver would like to get more familiar with.

• Procedure: There is online theory as well as five open water modules and mandatory dives in the following areas: Buoyancy, deep diving and underwater navigation, as well as the possibility to choose yourself two more topics.
• Requirements: Completion of Open Water 20 Diver or its equivalent, as well as at least 2 hours of logged diving time in open water
• Minimum age: 15 Years

Advanced 35

This is an extension of the Explorer 30 Course, which enables becoming familiar with different activities.

• Procedure: There is online theory, as well as three lesson in restricted open water (e.g. basin or bay). Six further lessons in open water follow, as well as mandatory dives in buoyancy and deep diving, underwater navigation and rescuing. Another topic area can also be selected.
• Requirements: Completed RAID Open Water 20 or equivalent and RAID Nitrox Diver or equivalent. In addition, four hours of logged diving time in open water are required.
• Minimum age: 15 Years

• Master Rescue Diver

Special Courses

• Free diving
• Technical diving
• Compressor operator
• Dry suit diver
• Evolution/Inspiration
• Classic KISS
• MKVI SE7EN STD + MI
• Nitrox special course
• O2ptima Rebreather
• O2- and air provider
• Classic Inspiration
• Photography
• Sentinel Rebreather
• Side Mount
• Special course Instructor
• Boat diving
• Wreck diving
• Deep 40
• Navigation
• Night and poor visibility
• Search and recovery
• Sport KISS
• Sand tiger shark
• Hollis Rebreather Diver Speciality
• Whale Shark Speciality

Professional Sector

• RAID Instructor (Instructor Level Two in accordance with ISO 24802-2:2007 and EN 14413-2:2004)
• Dive Master
• Open Water Dive Instructor
• Open Circuit Try Dive Instructor
• Master Instructor

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Picture: divestyle.co.uk/…/raid-education-chart.jpg