RAID Advanced Deco Instructor

Teach Mixed-Gas Decompression Diving to 50 Metres with Confidence and Professional Authority

Start Your Instructor Development

Begin your progression toward becoming a RAID Advanced Technical Instructor.

Why Become a RAID Advanced Decompression Instructor?

The RAID Advanced Decompression Instructor rating qualifies you to teach divers their first full mixed-gas trimix program. At this level, divers begin operating beyond air/nitrox limitations and build the deeper-water capability required for normoxic and hypoxic trimix diving.

Your role as an Advanced Decompression Instructor is to guide divers safely into mixed-gas decompression, teach advanced gas planning, improve deep-water stability, and ensure absolute performance at 50 metres / 165 feet using helium-based gases.

This instructor rating is ideal for experienced technical professionals who want to expand their teaching capability into mixed-gas technical training.

What This Instructor Rating Allows You to Teach

  • RAID Advanced Decompression Diver (50m Trimix)

  • Mixed-gas decompression procedure fundamentals

  • Helium-based gas planning and END principles

  • Precision ascent management for longer decompression profiles

  • Stage-handling, gas-switching & emergency problem-solving

  • Team communication at deeper, more complex depth ranges

As an Advanced Decompression Instructor, you become the bridge between entry-level decompression training and full normoxic trimix development.

What You’ll Learn in the Advanced Decompression Instructor Course

This instructor development course prepares you to deliver mixed-gas decompression training to RAID’s high technical standards. Training will enhance your:

Academic Teaching Skills

You will learn how to:

  • Delivering trimix theory clearly and accurately

  • Teaching END, gas density, MOD, and decompression modelling

  • Structuring academic sessions to match RAID standards

  • Explaining complex gas strategies in a student-friendly format

In-Water Instructor Skills

You will be trained in:

  • Demonstrating mixed-gas decompression skills flawlessly

  • Managing student buoyancy, trim, and stability under task load

  • Running controlled gas-switching sessions

  • Managing scenario-based emergency drills

  • Evaluating diver performance during multi-stage decompression

Safety, Control & Team Management

You will learn the values that distinguish RAID instruction:

  • Conducting pre-dive briefings for complex mixed-gas dives

  • Managing gas-switch safety and student stress

  • Identifying early signs of narcosis or task overload

  • Running fully structured ascent and decompression profiles

  • Maintaining strict adherence to RAID mixed-gas protocols

RAID Advanced Deco Instructor Course At A Glance

  • Teaching Depth Range: Up to 50 metres

  • Breathing Gas (Students): Trimix (helium + O₂ + nitrogen)

  • Decompression Gases: Up to two (including 100% oxygen)

  • Configuration: Twinset or Sidemount

  • You Will Teach: Full mixed-gas decompression profiles

  • Program Structure:

    • RAID online instructor theory

    • Confined-water instructor development

    • Open-water instructor evaluations

  • Certification Earned: RAID Advanced Decompression Instructor

RAID Advanced Deco Instructor Requirements

Depending on your background, Stuart may request a practical evaluation dive.

  • Be 18 years or older

  • Be a certified RAID Decompression Instructor

  • Be certified as a RAID Advanced Decompression Diver (50m Trimix) or equivalent

  • Have logged a minimum of 150 dives, including:

    • 40 technical decompression dives

    • Multiple dives deeper than 40m

    • Mixed-gas experience at 45–50m

  • Hold current First Aid, CPR & Oxygen Provider certifications

  • Hold a valid RAID Instructor membership

  • Meet all RAID professional medical and administrative requirements

A skills-evaluation dive may be required for divers with older certifications.

Advanced Deco Instructor Structure & Evaluation

Your training is delivered through a structured, three-phase pathway consistent with RAID’s technical instructor development framework.

Step 1: Academic Instructor Development

You will learn to teach:

  • Mixed-gas theory and gas-density principles

  • Advanced decompression models

  • Gas-switch planning and safety checks

  • END selection & helium planning

  • Risk assessment and emergency planning

You will also be evaluated on:

  • Presentation structure

  • Accuracy of technical content

  • Clarity and professionalism

Step 2: Confined-Water Instructor Evaluation

This section evaluates your ability to manage students during:

  • Stage cylinder handling

  • Gas-switching under load

  • Precision buoyancy and trim

  • Valve drills in twinset or sidemount

  • SMB deployment with deep-simulation tasking

  • Progressive skill demonstrations

Confined-water work establishes your control and instructional consistency before open-water evaluation.

Step 3: Open-Water Instructor Evaluation

Your in-water evaluation includes:

  • Demonstrating mixed-gas skills to instructor level

  • Running full pre and post-dive briefings

  • Conducting deco dive simulations

  • Supervising gas-switch sequences

  • Managing ascent profiles with accurate stop timing

  • Addressing student errors or emergencies effectively

Successful completion grants you global teaching status for RAID Advanced Decompression Diver.

Instant access to your online learning, course preparation modules. Begin training immediately.

Certification & Teaching Rights

Once successfully crossed over, you will receive:

Equivalent RAID Instructor Status

  • All RAID courses equivalent to your previous instructor level

  • RAID recreational-level programs matching your prior experience

  • RAID specialities aligned with your existing certifications

Expanded Pathways

You can now progress into:

  • RAID Technical Instructor (OC)

  • RAID CCR Instructor pathways

  • RAID Pro-level upgrades

  • RAID Instructor Trainer development (with experience)

Why Complete Your RAID Instructor Crossover With Stuart Girdler?

Your crossover is personally evaluated and trained by RAID Instructor Trainer & Examiner Stuart Girdler, offering:

  • Decades of international teaching and professional diving experience

  • Clear, structured, disciplined instructor development

  • Expertise across recreational, technical, and rebreather instruction

  • A supportive but high-standard approach to instructor evaluation

  • Real-world focus on safety, precision, and consistent performance

Stuart’s role is to ensure you meet RAID’s standards confidently and begin teaching with clarity and capability.

How To Begin Your Training

You can begin immediately with RAID Free Learning, gaining instant access to online learning modules, course preparation materials, trimix fundamentals, extended-range decompression theory. Ready to begin your trimix journey?

Instant access to your online learning, course preparation modules. Begin training immediately.

OPEN CIRCUIT TEC

RAID OC Tec courses focus on advanced open-circuit diving skills, including gas planning, decompression, and deep diving techniques for extended range exploration.

CLOSED CIRCUIT TEC

RAID CCR Tec training introduces divers to closed-circuit rebreathers, offering precision, efficiency, and longer dive times through cutting-edge technology

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