Best Agency to get Nitrox traning from?

[beejw]

At the moment im tossing up between PADI, IANTD and TDI, but i would consider SSI as well.

In peoples experiences, which agency is the best for Nitrox traning?

Beej

 

[grazie42]

Having looked at PADI, IANTD & ANDI materials, I´d have to say that the ANDI litterature is the best of the bunch. I´d still definitely go with the instructor who offers the best course (overall) rather than agency though...

 

[jpcpat]

As with so many things, the material is basically the same. The instructor makes a bigger difference than the manual.

If you're thinking about deco diving, or something similar after Nitrox, see if one manual dovetails with it's advanced counterpart

 

[dl348]

I think they're all comparable, I personally took mine with NAUI. I like the OceanX calculator that they have.

Like everyone else has said, find a good instructor that you're comfortable with. That's more important than agency affiliation. Good luck.

 

[miamdiver]

naui nitrox course is very informative. bottom line is the instructor that you choose

 

[Clearwater]

I did the SSI nitrox course and found it pretty straightforward and informative. As others have mentioned, it's all up to the instructor. My nitrox instructor was a very technical type person (by profession) so he had a great understanding of the subject matter but unfortunately was not that great of an instructor. I still managed to get a lot out of the course, but mostly due to my own diligence. Some of the others really struggled with the tables and calculations on the exam.

 

[Steve_Dives]

My nitrox was with SSI, although I have also read the NAUI manual. SSI seemed to stress dive planning using the tables, with the more mathematical portion tucked in the appendix. I liked SSI's approach because it focused on using the tables to find your max depth, allowable time, etc. If you're out in the field, you'll probably be dependent on the tables - at least I don't bring a calculator along. If you go the SSI route, spend some time with the appendix so you know how to use the equations.

Like the other responses, the instructor is a big part of the class. An enriched oxygen gas taken too deep can prove fatal.

 

[Adobo]

At the moment im tossing up between PADI, IANTD and TDI, but i would consider SSI as well.

In peoples experiences, which agency is the best for Nitrox traning?

Beej

I would guess that any of the agencies will provide you more academic content that you need to dive nitrox safely.

Probably a more interesting question is, "which instructor will teach you the skills to rescue a diver that has suffered an ox tox hit?" Most of the divers I talked to answered me the same way when I asked them what they learned in nitrox class. The answer was, inflate their bc and send them up. Scary.

 

[wedivebc]

Having looked at PADI, IANTD & ANDI materials, I´d have to say that the ANDI litterature is the best of the bunch. I´d still definitely go with the instructor who offers the best course (overall) rather than agency though...

If the instructor is the most important factor the manuals and material take a close second. ANDI nitrox is the best manual/ program out there IMHO.

 

[rubbachicken]

i did the IANDT nitrox in hebrew
should have done it in english :shakehead
i've since reread through the books in english
i found it a very good course, although i have not read though the padi or other courses to make a comparison
the instructor's earnt their money with me