Jill Heinerth and Steve Lewis join RAID

RAID has announced that Steve Lewis and Jill Heinerth have committed to producing cavern and cave programs for the diver training agency which are set for release in late 2016 / early 2017.

Training Director Paul Toomer had this to say: “I cannot believe that RAID has attracted two of the most influential divers in the world today. I have been friends with Steve and Jill for quite a few years but I could only dream of being able to entice two instructors of this caliber to our ‘little’ agency. I think the cave world will be stunned by what Steve and Jill are producing. The program promises to be extremely cutting edge and forward thinking. Steve, Jill and RAID are planning a full range of periphery materials like videos, cue cards, slates etc., and also a full range of marketing materials.

“Just 10 years ago I was watching Steve and Jill dive and teach cave and now here we are working together. All I can say is, get ready for some serious cave action.”

Steve Lewis had this to say about the new partnership: “It’s a terrific pleasure for me to work with RAID, Paul and Jill on this project. They have both my respect and admiration, and I’m blessed to be given this opportunity to help with the development of RAID’s overhead program, which all three of us see as more than just another agency throwing its hat into the cave/wreck penetration market. Rather we feel we have raised the bar and produced an instructor and diver program that will help future cave divers enjoy their diving, respect and protect the environment, and develop lifelong skills to keep them from becoming statistics.”

Steve Lewis is a technical diving instructor trainer, prolific author, and an adventure travel, marketing, and training consultant for various clients in the public and private sectors. He is an avid cave diver, but also has a particular interest in WWII shipwrecks.

Lewis was elected to The Explorers Club in May 2005 for his exploration of deep wrecks in North America’s Great Lakes, and is a member of the College of Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). He is also a recipient of the Sheck Exley International Safety Award. He has been a member of several expeditions, and in 2007 led a team that assessed the Bell Island iron ore mine for “condition, safety and feasibility” of future research.

Their report provided the Bell Island Heritage Society with important information on artifacts left when mining operations ended in the 1940s. In 2016, he was part of the team that successfully revisited the  mine to continue the work begun nine years before. This recent project carried flags from the Explorers Club and RCGS, and was voted project of the year by the RCGS.

He has published dozens of articles about diving and diver training for various publications and has written several textbooks and instructor guides. He is a popular speaker and has made presentations focused on diver safety at many dive shows and seminars. His published books on diving include: The Six Skills and Other Discussions, a guide for technical divers and the very popular Staying Alive: Applying Risk Management to Advanced Scuba Diving.

On joining the RAID cave team, Jill had this to say: “It is a pleasure to work with Steve Lewis and RAID who are building a truly objective cave training program with very clear and demanding standards. The RAID program will permit students, instructors and trainers to know precisely what is expected in training while the quality assurance program will ensure a high bar for maintaining excellence and preventing attrition of knowledge. Steve Lewis brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to writing excellent materials that will benefit students as they prepare themselves for class.”

A pioneering underwater explorer and filmmaker, Jill’s photography and writing have been featured in prominent publications around the world. In recognition of her lifetime achievement, Jill was awarded the inaugural Medal for Exploration by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and was appointed as their first Explorer in Residence. Recognizing a lifetime devoted to water advocacy, Jill was also awarded the Wyland Icon and Sea Hero of the Year awards. Jill is a motivational speaker, prolific author of numerous books on technical diving and pioneer in the field of technical rebreather and cave diving. She founded www.WeAreWaterProject.com to spread water literacy and information that helps people to become better stewards of our water resources.

Jill wrote, produced, and starred in the PBS Documentary series “Water’s Journey,” and has numerous National Geographic and NOAA expeditions and film projects on her resume. Jill is a monthly columnist for Diver Magazine, and her articles and photos have appeared in publications as diverse as National Geographic and the Wall Street Journal. She is a Fellow of the National Speleological Society, The Explorer’s Club, Women Divers Hall of Fame and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Jill is an international speaker who has spoken at prestigious events such as TED as well as diving shows from Singapore to Poland and all over North America.

To find out more about RAID, visit www.diveraid.com.