3 RAID Courses Open Water to Nitrox RAID Certified Center

RAID Diving Courses
in Havelock Island, Andaman

Q: Is RAID certification valid worldwide?

Yes. RAID is ISO-certified and your certification is recognised at dive centres worldwide, same as PADI or SSI.

Q: What is the difference between RAID and PADI?

Both are internationally recognised. RAID uses performance-based training with digital-first learning. RAID Open Water certifies to 20m (vs PADI 18m) and Advanced to 35m (vs PADI 30m).

Q: What is the depth limit for RAID Open Water 20?

RAID Open Water 20 certifies you to dive to 20 metres, compared to 18m with PADI Open Water.

Q: How long does the RAID Open Water 20 course take?

3-4 days including theory, confined water, and 4 ocean dives. Complete eLearning at home to save time on your trip.

Q: What is RAID performance-based training?

Instead of just completing skills, RAID requires you to demonstrate competency. You practice until you can perform each skill confidently, which builds better divers.

Q: How much does a RAID Open Water 20 course cost in Andaman?

RAID Open Water 20 costs ₹24,500 + GST at Frogman. This includes all equipment, boat fees, certification, and course materials.

Train with RAID at Frogman in the Andaman Islands. Performance-based learning, no rigid timelines, and some of India's best dive sites right on your doorstep.

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RAID Dive Courses & Training in Havelock Island, Andaman

RAID (Rebreather Association of International Divers) is a fast-growing dive training agency, and Frogman is a certified RAID centre in Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep). Unlike agencies that follow fixed day counts, RAID uses a performance-based approach - you progress when you master each skill, not when the calendar says so.

The Andamans have good conditions for RAID training year-round: water at 27 to 30 degrees, visibility of 15 to 25 metres, and healthy coral reefs a short boat ride from shore. At Frogman, we keep group sizes small - a strict 2 to 4 student-to-instructor ratio - so you get proper hands-on training, not a production line. Explore our RAID courses below.

Explore Our RAID Diving Courses

RAID Open Water 20

From ₹28,000 + GST

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RAID Advanced 35

From ₹26,000 + GST

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RAID Nitrox (Enriched Air)

From ₹9,500 + GST

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Compare RAID Courses - Pricing, Duration & Depth

Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right RAID course.

Course	Level	Duration	Max Depth	Price	Prerequisite
Open Water 20	Beginner	3-4 Days	20m	₹28,000 + GST	None
Advanced 35	Intermediate	2-3 Days	35m	₹26,000 + GST	Open Water 20
Nitrox	Specialty	1 Day	N/A	₹9,500 + GST	Open Water 20

Why Choose RAID for Your Dive Training?

Performance-Based Training

RAID does not lock you into fixed day counts. You progress when you show you can do each skill properly. Some students finish faster, others take more time. Both are fine.

Online Theory, More Dive Time

All theory is done online before you arrive. Your time in Havelock goes to diving, not sitting in a classroom.

Deeper Certification Limits

Open Water 20 certifies to 20 metres (vs 18m with other agencies). Advanced 35 takes you to 35 metres. More range from day one.

Recognised Worldwide

RAID certs are accepted at dive centres across the globe. Your digital card sits on your phone. No waiting for plastic cards in the post.

RAID Course Progression Path

Start with Open Water 20, then add courses as your skills grow.

Step 1

RAID Open Water 20

Your entry-level RAID cert. 3 to 4 days of training with theory done online before you arrive. You learn buoyancy, navigation, and safety through ocean dives at Havelock sites like Nemo Reef and Aquarium. Certified to 20 metres worldwide.

Step 2

RAID Advanced 35

Go deeper. 2 to 3 days of advanced training covering deep diving, navigation, and buoyancy refinement. Certified to 35 metres, which opens up sites like The Wall, Minerva Ledge, and the SS Inchkeith that shallower certs cannot reach.

Specialty

RAID Nitrox (Enriched Air)

A 1-day specialty you can add any time after Open Water. Nitrox (enriched air, up to 40% oxygen) extends your no-decompression limits and reduces nitrogen buildup. Longer dives, shorter surface intervals, good for multi-dive days in Havelock.

RAID Courses in Andaman: Your Questions Answered

Is RAID certification valid worldwide?

Yes. RAID is an internationally accredited dive agency endorsed by the European Underwater Federation (EUF). Your RAID Open Water 20 or Advanced 35 card is accepted at dive centres across the globe, including PADI and SSI shops. The main difference between RAID and bigger agencies is brand size, not acceptance. Divers on forums report using RAID cards without issues worldwide, sometimes with a quick check dive if the operator has not seen the logo before.

What is the difference between RAID and PADI?

PADI holds the largest share of global dive certifications and has a huge centre network. RAID is smaller but growing fast, rooted in technical and rebreather diving. The key difference is teaching style: RAID emphasises performance-based mastery with buoyancy and trim taught in neutral buoyancy from day one. PADI follows structured day-by-day training. Both are internationally recognised. For divers in Havelock, it comes down to which learning approach suits you.

What is the depth limit for RAID Open Water 20?

RAID Open Water 20 certifies you to dive to a maximum of 20 metres with a certified buddy, which is 2 metres deeper than the 18-metre limit common with other agencies. Around Havelock, this depth covers most coral reef sites, so your training dives and fun dives afterwards happen on the same reefs. Junior versions of the course have shallower limits: 12 metres for younger cadets and 18 metres for junior open water divers.

How long does the RAID Open Water 20 course take?

Most RAID Open Water 20 programmes take 3.5 to 4 days of in-water training. All theory is done online before you arrive, so your island time goes to diving. A practical plan: arrive in Havelock in the afternoon, start water sessions the next morning, and finish your final dives by day three or four, leaving 18 to 24 hours before your flight home.

What is RAID performance-based training?

RAID requires you to demonstrate specific skill outcomes including buoyancy, trim, emergency procedures, and environmental awareness to a set standard before certification. You progress when you master each skill, not when the calendar says so. Skills are taught and practised in neutral buoyancy rather than kneeling on the bottom, which builds better control from the start. All academics are delivered online with quizzes built in.

How much does a RAID Open Water 20 course cost in Andaman?

At Frogman in Havelock Island, RAID Open Water 20 is ₹28,000 + GST. Nitrox includes instructor training, boat trips, full scuba equipment (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank, weights), RAID online learning materials, and certification fees. Published prices across Andaman centres generally range from ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 depending on inclusions. Our price covers everything with no hidden costs.

What is the depth limit for RAID Advanced 35?

RAID Advanced 35 certifies you for no-decompression dives to a maximum of 35 metres, which is 5 metres deeper than the 30-metre limit offered by most other agencies. The course includes a minimum of six open-water dives covering deep diving, navigation and buoyancy refinement. Around Havelock, this 35-metre rating opens up deeper sites like pinnacles, walls and the SS Inchkeith shipwreck. At Frogman the course is ₹26,000 + GST.

What are the benefits of doing RAID Nitrox in Andaman?

Nitrox (enriched air) contains more oxygen and less nitrogen than normal air. Nitrox extends your no-decompression limits and cuts nitrogen loading on repetitive dives. On a multi-day Havelock trip with two or three dives a day, Nitrox gives you more time on the reef or a bigger safety margin at the same depth, especially between 18 and 30 metres. The course is ₹9,500 + GST and can be completed in a single day.

Will my RAID card be accepted at PADI centres?

Yes. Most PADI centres accept RAID certs at equivalent levels for fun dives and as prerequisites for further training. Cross-recognition between major agencies (PADI, SSI, RAID) is standard in the industry. If you later want to do a PADI specialty or pro course, your RAID card is usually accepted as proof of prior training, sometimes with a checkout dive.

What are the swimming and medical requirements?

RAID requires a 200-metre continuous swim and a 10-minute survival float, or a 300-metre swim using mask, snorkel and fins. These are not timed. You must also complete a medical questionnaire; if you answer yes to any listed conditions, a doctor must sign off on your fitness to dive. Common disqualifiers include uncontrolled heart or lung disease, epilepsy and pregnancy. Get your medical form signed at home before you travel to avoid delays.

When is the best season for RAID courses in Havelock?

Best diving conditions run October to May: flat seas, visibility of 15 to 30 metres, water at 27 to 30 degrees. December to February is peak tourist season, so book early. June to September brings monsoon conditions with rougher seas, though diving still happens on calmer days at sheltered sites. For the most reliable course schedules, aim for the main season.

How do I reach Havelock Island for a RAID course?

Fly into Port Blair from Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, or Mumbai (some routes connect through hubs). From Port Blair, take a government ferry or private catamaran to Havelock. The crossing takes about 2 hours. Ferries typically arrive in the afternoon, so plan to rest on arrival day and start diving the next morning. For RAID Open Water 20, budget 4 to 6 nights on Havelock. For Advanced 35 plus Nitrox, plan a full week.