HI to all the Divers
Meridian Dive has been a little quite in Umkomaas lately, although divers who have been socially diving with our Umkomaas Associates, and who have been on the various diving safaris have thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Meridian Dive will now be emphasising its "modus operandi" to Dive Tours (local & international) with the emphasis on Discovering and/or Seeking dive sites that are less frequented.
Otherwise, as mentioned in previous news, Barry and Celia are still quite busy in Gothenburg, Sweden, helping develope the training agency for recreational, fully automatic, closed circuit rebreathers. Training courses are from Open Water level all the way through to Instructor Trainers, with a maximum depth of 40 metres/132 feet. One of the popular recreational rebreathers is the new Poseidon/Cis-lunar sport, recreational rebreather called "Discovery MkVI".
This training programme needed to be formulated for these new, recreational rebreathers. So - Rebreather Association of International Divers - RAID - was founded - a programme which is now keeping Celia and Barry very busy and was launched at DEMA 2007, and will be live from 1st Jan 2008. Training programmes will be live later in the year. So keep an eye on www.DiveRaid.com
A LITTLE ABOUT RAID Rebreather Association of International Divers founded to meet the needs of Closed Circuit Rebreather recreational members, from Divers and Instructors to the Dive Centre’s and Resorts.
The impressive development of close circuit rebreathers, after 100 years, has been made possible through the advances in electronic techniques and modern materials. As development progresses and more and more people become aware of the important advantages of diving with a closed circuit rebreather, so demand grows.
RAID, with years of diver training and rebreather development experience has, after careful consideration, instituted a set of minimum standards; this has meant collaboration with manufacturers and obtaining agreements to minimum equipment conformity, without jeopardizing innovation and safety. Divers, who have been trained in the unique and progressive RAID programme, will, with confidence, be able to comfortably and safely dive a closed circuit rebreather from any Accredited Manufacturer.
Another need RAID identified is the lack of recreational closed circuit rebreather training programmes available. After open water training, there was nothing more in the recreational scope; this, because closed circuit rebreathers were principally not designed for the recreational dive market, until now.
As divers like to learn and gain skills RAID has formulated a dynamic recreational, closed circuit rebreather training programme to embrace all levels, from beginners to instructors. The programmes will provide for individuals who have never dived before, all the way through to an existing qualified rebreather and/or open circuit diver, from any of the recognized agencies.
RAID's electronic academic learning allows for flexibility and up-to-minute information, whilst at the same time providing practical thorough training with a RAID Instructor.
Never before has there been a specialized training programme to cater for the needs of the recreational closed circuit rebreather diver. RAID will take the adventure of underwater exploration into the twenty first century.
WHY DIVE A RAID REGISTERED RECREATIONAL CCR?
The fully electronic rebreather simply has a number of principal advantages that open circuit systems can never compete with:
Safety First: The maximum partial pressure set point is 1.2 and the integrated dive computers not only provide the standard features expected, but also monitor the consumables, gas supply, sensors and in some cases, even the absorbent.
Sensor Monitored Consumables: Cylinder pressures, battery capacity and oxygen cells are among the consumables that are monitored through correctly calibrated sensors.
A Combined Mouthpiece: Divers can switch from closed circuit to open circuit, with a known gas blend, and then terminate the dive if needed, without having to remove the mouthpiece.
Fully Electronic: With modern electronics, and design the failure is greatly reduced. In the unlikely event that the electronics should fail, the open circuit bailout and abort system will take divers safely back to the surface.
An Automated Gas Control System: During descents and ascents, adding or dumping excess gas is automatic and does not require any manual operation from the diver.
Alternative Air Source: This is a standard second stage as used by open circuit divers, should divers need a separate breathing device to offer the buddy in case of an emergency, or to use themselves.
Lighter Weight: A modern rebreather designed and manufactured with modern materials and methods is lighter and easier to operate compared to open circuit.
Absorbent: Pre packed absorbent material provides convenience and at the same time the safety from incorrect packing.
Standard Benefits of Closed Circuit Diving: Quite underwater operation, longer no-decompression dive time; far less decompression stress due to it’s capability to provide oxygen rich breathing gas blended to reduce the nitrogen loading. The warm and humid breathing gas will be less dehydrating and keep divers warmer, compared to open circuit.
Simple to use and simple to teach
BENEFITS OF BECOMING A RAID INSTRUCTOR OR INSTRUCTOR TRAINER
There is a growing demand for recreational, closed circuit rebreathers.
RAID is the first dedicated, e-learning, recreational CCR training programme covering the range of education from Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 including Instructor, Speciality Instructor and Instructor Trainer, to a maximum depth limit 40 metres/132 feet.
The RAID programme consists of a Core Education System allowing instructors to teach any RAID registered CCR, without having to do individual programmes for each specific unit. Today there are two manufacturers who meet the requirements; “Discovery” by Poseidon and “Sentinel” by Closed Circuit Research Ltd.
RAID also caters unit specific training for all non-registered CCR’s, by utilising the Core Education System, and adding the specific requirements for the non-registered CCR units in the Speciality Instructor Programmes, along with recreational wreck penetration, ice diving and cavern diving.
The RAID System of Education allows students to complete all their academic learning on-line with quizzes and exams, the ability to print out their own manuals, and certify on-line after completion of in water training.
This system allows students to start the course immediately, learn at their own pace and at the same time, interact with any RAID registered dive centres and instructors. This allows more time for practical application and in water training.
The student pays for registration and certification on-line when registering. The practical training course fee will not need to include registration.
That's all for now, have a Wonderful Week and a Bubbly Day and we always look forward to hearing from you!
Meridian Dive
Meridian Dive
P O Box 264
Scottburgh 4180
South Africa
www.meridianidive.com
celia@meridiandive.com
