RAID are leading the way in the UK diving industry with the opening of three brand new dive centers. Dive Blue Horizon in Wakefield, Severn Tec in Shrewsbury and The Fifth Point in Northumberland are dedicated RAID Dive Centres offering solely RAID training.
It is clear that RAID’s fresh approach to diver training aligns with the core values of many UK dive centres. Adrian Fox of Dive Blue Horizon chose RAID “because of their high standards and progressive approach towards training”. It’s obvious that RAID UK and Malta staff have real influence over the people they meet. Rather than sitting in an office, the company Directors James Rogers and Garry Dallas are travelling the country, hitting the water and showing divers what RAID is like, rather than just talking about it.
At The Fifth Point, owners Nic Emery and James Learwood realised the benefits of RAID during an in-water workshop with RAID Instructor Trainer, Edd Stockdale. “We’ve been teaching diving for years and just a couple of hours in the water with Edd turned everything we knew on its head. It opened up a whole new way of teaching and modern diving slapped us in the face, making us wonder why we’d never thought of it before.” When they recently launched their new venture, modern diving became the corner stone of their business. “We’ve gone fully ‘tecreational’. All our students learn inwing and long hose configuration from the beginning. We’re creating confident and competent
divers by teaching RAID.”
Kevin Murphy, owner of SevernTec was “frustrated with the watered-down approach to dive training” that he’d witnessed in the industry. He discovered RAID and reaped the benefits while
conducting Sidemount training with RAID UK and Malta’s Director of Training, Garry Dallas. “I’ve always thought that skills like propulsion, buoyancy and DSMB use are core skills – not
something that should be bolted on as an afterthought. RAID is the only training agency I’ve seen that has these as fundamentals from the very beginning.”
“I like the RAID style of teaching. I’ve got standards to follow, but I’m given the freedom to add my own style. RAID creates better divers. If a student is struggling, I can spend more time with them, it’s not a box ticking exercise.”
Kevin also loves the support from RAID UK and Malta HQ. “The office is there when I need them, even if it’s after business hours I usually get a phone call on the back of a message sent in the
evening or at weekends.” These new dive centers prove that RAID is at the forefront of a change in the diving industry. Far from the industry becoming stagnant, new ventures are taking a different approach to diving and using RAID as their training agency of choice.
We cant wait to see how these centres get on and hope to update you with more from RAID in the near future. The innovative way to scuba!
