New Technical OC Instructor Ratings

What’s changed, your new instructor title, and how the structure affects your teaching permissions.

The Technical Instructor Pathway (December 2025) document () formally replaces the old “Deco 40 / 50 / 60 / Trimix” instructor naming system.

This is a major clarification update for all current RAID OC Technical Instructors.

Below is the updated and corrected version of the article — with explicit instructor name changes front-and-centre.

1. Why the Standards Have Changed

RAID has reorganised the Technical OC instructor system to make your rating easier to understand and easier to communicate. The goals of this update are:

• Clearer progression across 40m → 45m → 50m → 60m → 80/100m

• Alignment with modern twinset/sidemount technical configurations

• Consistency between diver pathway and instructor pathway

• Removal of the outdated “Deco XX” terminology

• Reduction of confusion when instructors held older, legacy ratings

The Technical Instructor Pathway PDF is now the definitive reference for your teaching permissions.

2. What Has NOT Changed

• Your existing instructor ratings remain valid.

• No instructor loses teaching privileges.

• You are still recognised at the same training level you previously earned.

The update simply clarifies:

👉 "If you were qualified to teach X level before, you still teach that level, the name has simply been updated to match RAID’s new standardised structure.”

This removes ambiguity and ensures global consistency.

3. The New Instructor Names (Critical Update)

As of November 2025 the new Technical Instructor Pathway PDF explains your instructor titles.

New Name: Decompression Instructor

Old Rating: Deco 40 Instructor
What You Teach Now:

• 40m Nitrox Plus

• 40m Decompression Diver
  Configurations: Twinset + Sidemount*

This new name now matches the diver-level terminology and removes all ambiguity.

*A certified RAID Decompression Instructor is defined as an in-status RAID Twinset Decompression Instructor, or RAID Sidemount Decompression Instructor, or higher.

New Name: Advanced Decompression Instructor

Old Rating: Deco 50 Instructor
What You Teach Now:

• 45m Decompression

• 50m Advanced Decompression (Air/Nitrox)
  Configurations: Twinset + Sidemount

New Name: Advanced Decompression Trimix Instructor

Old Rating: Deco 50 Trimix Instructor
What You Teach Now:

• 45m Limited Trimix Decompression

• 50m Advanced Trimix Decompression
  Configurations: Twinset + Sidemount

This is the first instructor level where Trimix becomes part of your teaching remit.

New Name: Normoxic Decompression Instructor

Old Rating: Deco 60 Instructor
What You Teach Now:

• 55m Extended Decompression

• 60m Normoxic Trimix
  Configurations: Twinset + Sidemount

This name clearly shows the transition into normoxic depth ranges and gas mixes.

New Name: HYPOXIC TRIMIX INSTRUCTOR

Old Rating: Hypoxic Trimix Instructor (unchanged)
What You Teach Now:

• 80m Limited Hypoxic Trimix

• 100m Hypoxic Trimix
  Configurations: Twinset + Sidemount

This title remains aligned with global technical diving nomenclature.

4. Old Rating → New Rating → Teaching Permissions

This mapping is directly from the Technical Instructor Pathway PDF:

5. What’s New in the Diver Pathway

The updated Technical OC Training Flowchart () now presents a linear, modernised progression:

Decompression → Advanced Decompression → Normoxic Trimix → Hypoxic Trimix

Key updates instructors must note:

• Nitrox Plus is now formally recognised as a stepping stone

• There are two prerequisite paths into 40m Decompression

• Trimix and Hypoxic levels are now explicitly separated

• The RGDS must always be checked for dive hours, dives, and prerequisites

This alignment ensures your instructor title now matches the level your students progress into.

6. What This Means for Your Day-to-Day Teaching

✔ No more “Deco 40 / 50 / 60” language — it’s fully retired
✔ Instructor permissions now match diver-level names
✔ You can give students clear, modern, professional guidance
✔ Twinset + Sidemount are explicitly authorised at every tech instructor level

This prevents misunderstandings and ensures every RAID course worldwide follows the same naming structure.

7. How to Communicate This to Students

Use language like:

“RAID has modernised the technical instructor system. My instructor title now matches the depth and course levels I already teach — nothing about the training has changed, only the naming structure.”

Focus on:

• Clarity of progression

• Depth-based naming consistency

• Removal of legacy terminology

• Improved student understanding

8. For Instructor Trainers

This change helps you:

• Deliver instructor development without outdated legacy naming

• Align your IT briefings with current RAID standards

• Reinforce consistency on evaluation dives

• Present a globally standardised OC Technical pathway

It also prevents new instructors from learning outdated terminology from legacy materials.

9. Summary: The Core Message

RAID has NOT changed what you can teach.

RAID HAS changed what your instructor rating is called.

The new names reflect depth, gas mix, and decompression level, not legacy course codes.

Your new instructor title accurately communicates where you operate in the OC Technical pathway, aligned with the official Technical Instructor Pathway PDF.

CCR Technical Pathway information will follow as soon as possible.