News
High Profile Diving Educators Join RAID UK
RAID have announced that two of the most prominent UK diving educators have joined the RAID Team. Paul Haynes and Charles Hawkes have joined the training agency as RAID Instructor Trainers.
Paul and Charles need no introduction to the dive world and their respective resumes read like an encyclopaedia of diving.
Paul first dived in 1989 while serving as a Royal Marine Commando and quickly developed a passion for sports diving. A Director of Haynes Marine (www.haynesmarine.com), a specialist diving consultancy, Paul has a strong background in sport, occupational and military diving, and is an enormously experienced Technical diver.
Known for his North Sea deep shipwreck exploration, amongst his other credentials, Paul holds several rebreather instructor trainer qualifications with BSAC and PSAI. He has worked on many diving expeditions, including on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) the race to recover the ships bell from H.M.S. Prince of Wales, which was sunk in a depth of 75 meters / 225 feet in the South China Sea during WWII. Consequently Paul is a well sought after international speaker and because of his outstanding reputation within the Technical diving community and interpersonal skills, he will deliver an exceptional level of technical instructor development training for RAID.
Charles first started diving in 1976 in Fiji. He became a PADI instructor in 1986 and a PADI Course Director in 1998. He is a DSAT Tec Rec instructor Trainer. He also holds qualifications with DAN, TDI, ANDI, BSAC and IANTD. Charles has extensive dive retail experience, having managed and owned a busy five star IDC centre in Scotland for a number of years before becoming a freelance Course Director.
More recently Charles has gained substantial experience working within the offshore and marine training industry, developing various training programmes and training systems including evaluating training techniques to include a variety of survival, marine, medical, radio and firefighting programmes.
Together Paul and Charles are proven people trainers with versatile skills in sales, marketing and communication. They bring unique training techniques to RAID’s growing online training platform and will work closely with RAID UK Directors James Rogers and Paul Toomer in educating divers and instructors to the RAID diver training system.
“The highly innovative approach to online learning and documentation management pioneered by RAID, combined with elevated diving standards, low carbon footprint and a comprehensive suite of training programmes offers divers and diving Instructors an exciting and progressively structured personal development path,” says Paul Haynes. “As a consequence I am delighted to be asked to join the RAID technical training management team and feel privileged to be part of what I feel is the most exciting development in the sport diving industry for a generation”.
“In the world of global training and instruction, more and more industries are choosing computer based training systems for their in house and remote training programs,” says Charles Hawkes. “It is refreshing to see the way Raid have collaborated with industry experts to produce their suite of outstanding diver programmes. I’m looking forward to helping them roll out their refreshing ideas and concepts.”
RAID International CEO Jim Holliday says, “We’re not going to brag about the achievements we’ve made at RAID in such a very short time since our relaunch earlier this year. We just want people to consider us as a serious alternative to other training agencies by taking a look at the quality of instructors, stores and diving personalities that have come on board since our relaunch. These highly creditable dive industry personalities know we have something special and I would like to personally add my congratulations and welcome Paul and Charles to our team”.
For more information about RAID, visit www.diveraid.com.
Gear News
Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Marine Life & Conservation
Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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