Is nitrox "briefing" enough without certification?

[Snakekid97]

Hi all,

I have a basic OW certificate with about a dozen OW dives. I recently moved to a coastline, but I haven't gone diving in the ocean in about a year (although I have done a couple of quarry dives since). I recently talked to a local PADI instructor/dive charter owner about easing back into things. After scheduling a date to go out on his charter, I found out they only use nitrox on all of their dives. They claim it's the better way to dive. Their website states " If you are not Nitrox certified, don’t worry, we will give you a Nitrox Briefing that lets you dive Nitrox that day...We will also put a _ Dive Computer on your wrist set for 32% so you can track your NDL."

I have read that I should have a certification for nitrox (which I don't have). My question is: would you trust a "Nitrox briefing that lets you dive Nitrox that day" or does this seem to be a questionable practice? I have no prior experience with Nitrox.

I should add, the charter is a 2-tank trip on reefs 40-60' deep over about a 3-hour period.

Thanks!

 

[MB NZ]

Don't new divers learn with a computer a now? If so, what's the difference? Air is nitrox 21%.

 

[Snakekid97]

if you haven't tried a BP/W, this might be a good way to see if you like it. Check with them first of course to see what they use for rental gear.

I am using my own gear, to save on costs. I dive a back inflated BCD (Scubapro Ladyhawk). Definitely prefer this to the jacket style rentals I've used. Is there much of a difference between using a rear inflated BC vs a back plate and wing?

 

[Adamastor]

I never understood the idea of "Nitrox certification". It's basically 5th grade calculus to find your MOD and then simple OW planning to not exceed it.
"Advanced Nitrox" does warrant its own certification though, switching gas for deco and harmonising for different mixes within the dive team should be taught under supervision.

 

[RobPNW]

Hi all,

I have a basic OW certificate with about a dozen OW dives. I recently moved to a coastline, but I haven't gone diving in the ocean in about a year (although I have done a couple of quarry dives since). I recently talked to a local PADI instructor/dive charter owner about easing back into things. After scheduling a date to go out on his charter, I found out they only use nitrox on all of their dives. They claim it's the better way to dive. Their website states " If you are not Nitrox certified, don’t worry, we will give you a Nitrox Briefing that lets you dive Nitrox that day...We will also put a _ Dive Computer on your wrist set for 32% so you can track your NDL."

I have read that I should have a certification for nitrox (which I don't have). My question is: would you trust a "Nitrox briefing that lets you dive Nitrox that day" or does this seem to be a questionable practice? I have no prior experience with Nitrox.

I should add, the charter is a 2-tank trip on reefs 40-60' deep over about a 3-hour period.

Thanks!

It only takes a half day to get the cert and be legit. Also, Nitrox seems kinda ridiculous for 2 tanks at an average depth of 50 feet.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Daft question: would a trimix/CCR cert be acceptable?

Never thought about the Nitrox cert! I suppose nowadays you can't be trusted with plastic -- you'll only throw it into the ocean -- so they'd need to look you up on the diving database to see if you're qualified...

Not a daft question at all. One long time member of this board who was also an instructor and tech diver was refused a fill by a PADI operation in Hawaii. His trimix card wasn't good enough.
There are a lot of people filling tanks around the world. Bound to be a few morons among them.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

*Reasonably safe* (same risks as a standard air dive to 60'?)

Not at all if they screw up and bring a cylinder of 100% on the boat. Then you get down, have a massive seizure. Possibly bite the tabs off the mouthpiece. Your airway is closed off until the CO2 generated by the seizure increases enough to trigger the breathing response. So you take a big breath in. But there's no reg in your mouth. Your lungs fill with saltwater and for a second you feel the burning. Until you die.
Reasonably safe would be to take the class or choose another op that lets you dive air on these dives where nitrox offers no real benefit on a 2 tank dive.

 

[L13]

Not at all if they screw up and bring a cylinder of 100% on the boat. Then you get down, have a massive seizure. Possibly bite the tabs off the mouthpiece. Your airway is closed off until the CO2 generated by the seizure increases enough to trigger the breathing response. So you take a big breath in. But there's no reg in your mouth. Your lungs fill with saltwater and for a second you feel the burning. Until you die.
Reasonably safe would be to take the class or choose another op that lets you dive air on these dives where nitrox offers no real benefit on a 2 tank dive.

Same thing could happen on an air dive. They could still accidentally bring a cylinder of 100% and kill you. equal probability (since they use banked 32% instead of banked air).

 

[L13]

... I assumed the EAN course would run $100-200

correct.

which would mean giving up another day out diving (unless a dive comes with the class).

No, class does not involve a dive.

The bottom depth is 60' max, from my understanding. It sounds like the consensus here is that if I read some of the available free material on Nitrox, ask to verify the mixture myself, and stay within the planned dive it will be perfectly safe.

Yes. Nitrox 32% is safe to twice the depth you are going.

 

[L13]

It only takes a half day to get the cert and be legit.

Half a day is outrageously long for a nitrox class.

 

[Josh the diver]

Not at all if they screw up and bring a cylinder of 100% on the boat. Then you get down, have a massive seizure. Possibly bite the tabs off the mouthpiece. Your airway is closed off until the CO2 generated by the seizure increases enough to trigger the breathing response. So you take a big breath in. But there's no reg in your mouth. Your lungs fill with saltwater and for a second you feel the burning. Until you die.
Reasonably safe would be to take the class or choose another op that lets you dive air on these dives where nitrox offers no real benefit on a 2 tank dive.

so same risk as diving nitrox 21%!