thanks for the replies so far.
I dont want to start the agency arguments, what i would like to know is more along the line of should i be a PADI AOW before taking the nitrox class and is there any pre reqs if I am an OW from another agency.
Thanks
I'm not an instructor, but, to the best of my knowledge, the only pre-requisite for taking the PADI EAN class is that you be certified as an OW diver from one of the agencies they recognize (which is most of them, including SSI).
I would tend to feel that having the AOW cert could only be a bonus, even though it's not required. It's a chance to do some more dives and gain a little more experience in different environments.
I recently did the PADI EAN class online in preperation for an upcoming trip and found it to be an *interesting* experience. It did teach the basics, but I didn't feel that I got anything out of it. If I hadn't done any research ahead of time, would I have learned a fair amount? Sure. But I had already done some basic research about diving with gases other than air, so I didn't really get anything out of the online class. I plan on repeating the class next year with a different instructor/agency, just to get a more in-depth experience.
Sorry if this was a rambling post.....I didn't intend for it to be. Basically, yes, you can take the PADI EAN class with no problems and, no, you don't need to be AOW before taking the class. Have fun taking the class!
Kristopher