Advanced Training vs. Nitrox

[ScubaJoy65]

Living in Charleston, I keep looking for dives I can do each weekend. I feel like I'm limited in what I can dive as my certification is OW Padi - which is only to 60 feet - and most area dives go deeper. I'm contemplating getting my next certification level but want to know should I do Advanced or Nitrox next? It seems to me that Nitrox would be better so I could have longer bottom time when I dive deeper. Any thoughts?

:scubadive

 

[clifftondiver]

You may be able to find an instructor who does multiple certs at the same time. The Nitrox cert doesn't require any checkout dives, but the AOW does. So you do the book work for the Nitrox and AOW and dive with Nitrox during your AOW checkout dives. I did the AOW, Nitrox, AND drysuit certs in one weekend, plus he cut the 4 of us a break on the certs since we did multiple.

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board.
AOW and nitrox both have their benefits and compliment each other. IMO the best option is to take both at the same time. Many shops off them as a package deal and sooner to later your going to want both anyway. I would also encourage you to just spend some time diving any place you can. With only a few dives behind you, your air consumption is going to be your major limiting factor and there is no way to improve it better than diving. Until your bottom time is getting close to your NDL, nitrox is not going to be much of a help.

 

[altaskier]

It's better from a safety and enjoyment point of view to increase your skills than it is to change your gas. Do AOW first.

 

[BelchFire]

I just completed the 2-6-2 program at 40 Fathom Grotto just north of Ocala, Fl. It's a combined course that teaches you Advanced and Nitrox. I'm now certified to 130 feet, with a Nitrox rating as well. I would highly recommend it and the Commercial Diving Academy. It was a great experience. And it's not TOO terribly far from you.

 

[ScubaJoy65]

Thank you all for your quick response. I'm amazed that I just posted this less than an hour ago and I had four responses.

You've all given me something to think about. I can't wait to go on another dive. We did four this weekend off Myrtle and had an amazing time.

Thanks again,
Joy

:scubadiver

 

[Sas]

If I had to pick I'd do AOW over Nitrox, but ideally both. On my tables at 18m I'd get 50mins and with my size tank (10L steel, or even a 12L) I'd be hitting my air limit before my deco limit so Nitrox would not benefit me much. Though you might have a much better SAC than me! I haven't done Nitrox but really want to asap as it will extend my 20m-30m dives by a bit That is where I see the main benefit for myself. My 2c anyway.

 

[highdesert]

While taking AOW will not make you an "expert" by any means, you will touch on subjects that you would not in the Nitrox class. One of them is the chance to make a deeper dive, which is a good confidence builder, I believe.

Conversely, in the Nitrox class, you will learn reasons why EAN (Nitrox) is not suitable for many if not most deep dives. And if you're a weekend diver, not doing multiple dives over multiple days, the advantages of Nitrox will not be as great for you.

Both good classes ... IMHO, if you can take only one class, do the AOW first.

 

[TSandM]

If you have to make a choice between classes, for time or money reasons, I'd base the decision on your gas consumption. If you aren't coming anywhere near your NDLs at a given depth because you're using up your gas, Nitrox will offer you little advantage (even in safety, because if you can't get anywhere near your NDLs, you're limiting your own nitrogen loading).

I'd also recommend talking to several shops or instructors about their AOW classes. Ideally, you would like one that is something more than just five dives -- something where the instructor has put some time and thought into the value he wants to give you for the class.

Nitrox classes nowadays sometimes don't even require a dive, so it would be something you could do during your surface interval time.

 

[Lee Taylor]

Living in Charleston, I keep looking for dives I can do each weekend. I feel like I'm limited in what I can dive as my certification is OW Padi - which is only to 60 feet - and most area dives go deeper. I'm contemplating getting my next certification level but want to know should I do Advanced or Nitrox next? It seems to me that Nitrox would be better so I could have longer bottom time when I dive deeper. Any thoughts?

:scubadive

As you gradually go deeper you will know instinctively when you need nitrox. When nitrogen loading became the limiting factor of my dive, I knew it was time for nitrox. In other words I had taken ample air with me but could not use it all because my computer "nitrogen loading" bar graph started to approach the upper limit (the nitrogen saturation level).