Enriched Air Nitrox Certification - Why such variance in cost?

[TMHeimer]

Check out dives for nitrox are silly IMO. They ALREADY know how to dive, so with nitrox what actual diving skills would they be looking for during a checkout dive?
I think it was smart to drop it.

When I did nitrox in 2000 it was $199.00. One class of theory at night during the week and following Saturday was the two required check out dives. That price included the materials and a 32% table and a 36% table, plus another table and chart to calculate any mix from 22% up to 40% and an O2 exposure table.

Later I did advanced nitrox through TDI and that was way more money.

The only "skill" would seem to be for the instructor to see that the student didn't exceed the depth limit for the mix and be at risk for OX TOX (makes a little sense, I guess). When I did the PADI course (not e learning) in 2006 I think it was about $150 CAD ($120US?) and the instructor was not required to be with us on the then required (and included) 2 dives. I'd look for the overall cheapest way. You can learn pretty much everything on your own except analyzing the tanks.

 

[The Chairman]

Wow. FREE NASE NitrOx Class in Cozumel with The Chairman!

 

[oly5050user]

I agree, $330 sounds wrong, but upon a little closer examination it seems to indicate that this course is a 'one-on-one' instructor to student experience in a minimum four hour classroom environment. Throw on the PADI fees and the now the price seems reasonable for what you get. The only question remaining is 'can I get the same learning in another (read more economical) learning environment?'

If I were to come into your shop, having completed the $129 PADI EANx course offered on Amazon, would you still offer the quick review exam, use gas analyzer, log mix on sheet for free? If so, I think you would be providing a service that many would want to take advantage of.

I would be very surprised if yo u found PADI online enriched air course for $129. Sounds like a scam.I think it is currently $189 or $200..but if it truly is $129, then yes you come in and get done at no additional fee.bring out completion sheet filled out with our facility as the facility of choice and there you go.

 

[Charles2]

I would be very surprised if yo u found PADI online enriched air course for $129. I think it is currently $189 or $200..but if it truly is $129, then yes you come in and get done at no additional fee.bring out completion sheet filled out with our facility as the facility of choice and there you go.

https://www.amazon.com/Online-Enric...=1519301244&sr=8-6&keywords=padi+enriched+air

I don't know anymore about the details of this, but as @Bob DBF said in his post, it is $129 and you can have it in a week.

 

[Charles2]

Wow. FREE NASE NitrOx Class in Cozumel with The Chairman!

There you go again, throwing in a monkey wrench.

 

[cburgert]

NAUI does require two dives if it is being taught as part of the NAUI Basic OPEN Water Certification Course or if the instructor is familiar with the student and their abilities. If not a check-out dive is required but does not count towards the course. Otherwise no open water dive is required. NAUI S&P 2018. Of course as always with NAUI the instructor executes a contract with the student which will specify the cost, number of dives required and any books or equipment required and estimated cost of those. The NAUI Instructor is always free and encouraged to add to the course and may require more dives if they choose to for any course they teach.

NAUI doesn't require any dives, just have to demonstrate the use of NITROX . At least that' how it is around here. I think if you want to do a check out dive with the shop you can ask.

 

[BoltSnap]

NAUI doesn't require any dives, just have to demonstrate the use of NITROX . At least that' how it is around here. I think if you want to do a check out dive with the shop you can ask.

If without dives, then it is a "recognition" card and if it is with dives, then it is a "certification" card. NAUI doesn't issue "certification" cards to divers/students if no diving was involved per standards. I don't know why would anyone want a "diving" "certification card" without doing dives. I require dives for the Nitrox certification where the students need to demonstrate proper and independent dive planning and gas management using various mixes of nitrox (tables, MOD/EAD/Best Mix calculations, gas supply, dive computers use). The first dive is a general review dive for all skills including very basic skills and buoyancy control in addition to the nitrox specific knowledge.

In my view, I don't understand the people who are advocating the watering down of the training and knowledge for Nitrox use for divers when many of them complain about the low level of diver general training and competency out there. It is true that one can argue that for the recreational use of nitrox, one doesn't need to know much more than "breath in, breath out and don't go deeper than your MOD" but this is just like saying "one doesn't need to know much more than "breath normally, don't hold your breath and don't exceed your NDL's" when they want to learn how to scuba dive in general. Just total BS!

I am not a "c-card" reseller, I am an "educator" and I take every opportunity and responsibility to train and educate my students in all of the courses I teach and the consequential certification cards offered and given to my students. The theoretical knowledge of nitrox use maybe "simple" if one wants to teach to the absolute lowest common denominator and just get it over with and issue the card in the shortest time possible, but they are missing a great deal of usable practical knowledge and skills in their training programs their students should receive and master. I see that the greater majority of divers out there lack in proper dive planning knowledge and skills without nitrox and if they don't learn how to plan and conduct their dives properly and then add the nitrox to the mix, it makes it even worse. Students deserve and need to practice the planning and conduct of the dive under the guidance of a professional instructor in a nitrox course.

 

[The Chairman]

There you go again, throwing in a monkey wrench.

I think NASE just decided to include free online NitrOx with every OW class. I don't know if shops are reducing their price in accordance with that or just how long NASE will be offering this, but I like the trend. I offer this to my OW students at no additional charge for me and now NASE is throwing in their part for free as well. I like it.

 

[rhwestfall]

Wow. FREE NASE NitrOx Class in Cozumel with The Chairman!

so, it is a $3k "Nitrox Class".(dives, lodging, meals & airfare included)....

Interesting enough, many O/W classes where EANx is heavily used include it in the curriculum now....

 

[The Chairman]

so, it is a $3k "Nitrox Class".(dives, lodging, meals & airfare included)....

It's all in the perspective, ain't it? However, I don't profit from either the trip or the class.

EDIT=> The Trip is actually $960 Double Ocp., $1135 Single Ocp., $925 Triple Ocp PLUS airfare. You can get the whole scoop here: ScubaBoard Invasion 2018 Cozumel Package Deal This includes a full week at Hotel Cozumel, all the diving you care to do, boat dives every day, all the food you care to eat and all the beer, wine and liquor you care to drink (all inclusive).