Dive training agency RAID has launched two new courses designed to bridge the gap between recreational and full-on technical diving.

The news has been announced as the DEMA Show begins in Las Vegas, with a new ‘more logical’ course flowchart set to be released to accompany the new courses.

RAID’s new ‘Nitrox Plus’ course is, according to the agency, ‘designed for recreational divers who wish to extend their underwater time and gain insights into technical diving. But without investing in tonnes of new kit.’

The course is a two-cylinder programme going beyond the regular nitrox certification with instruction on how to plan for, carry and use a stage cylinder while remaining within the 40m depth limit for recreational scuba diving.

The ‘Decompression Diver’ course provides an entry point into technical diving for those who are interested in the field but uncertain if they wish to commit to the full technical programme.

Participants in the Decompression Diver course will be introduced to either dual-tank sidemount or twinset diving, with a third cylinder slung for decompression.

Diving remains limited to 40m but the course teaches the advanced techniques, planning and gas management required for safe decompression diving.

The Decompression Diver course prerequisites include RAID’s Deep 40, Nitrox, Sidemount or Twinset Diver courses and at least 20 hours of logged dives – but the training can also be included as part of the Sidemount or Twinset Diver courses, with the diver then certified as either a ‘Twinset Decompression Diver’ or ‘Sidemount Decompression Diver’.