Enriched Air Nitrox Certification - Why such variance in cost?

[togatown]

My wife and I just got our Nitrox certification 3 weeks ago prior to going to GC. In January, we signed up at our local dive shop and paid $ 280 each. The fee included 2 packets that included a DVD, a paperback Nitrox course manual, a paperback Nitrox practical calculation booklet, and three laminated plastic Nitrox dive Tables. A few weeks later, we then attended a 6 hour class at the dive shop where we rewatched the video, went through all the sections of the manual, and answered the chapter knowledge checks. Then we did a bunch of problems using the tables. After which, we each analyzed a couple of tanks using a handheld analyzer, then took our 25 question test, and had our Ecards in just a few days. Did I feel it was a bit expensive, yes, but still felt it was worth it, as my wife prefers instructor led courses instead of elearning. And the instructor was very good, and made sure we were comfortable with the material. IMHO, the perfect cost would have been $ 200-225 for what we got but hey, just my thoughts.

 

[Efka76]

Me and my wife just recently completed PADI AOWD and Nitrox course. In order to get Nitrox certification we had to pay in addition USD 187 (each) to our AOWD course. When we we doing our AOWD dives, 2 of them were with Nitrox. We received electronic PADI Nitrox manuals, spend half day in class with instructor, did knowledge review, watched Nitrox course video. Also, we we taught how to use gas analyser, did practical exercise, were taought how to fill Nitrox journal, analysed our tanks and filled that data on our tanks. Also, the price above includes certification card from PADI.

Initially i thought that we overpaid for Nitrox course, however, by reading these posts i understand that we got a very good deal.

 

[oly5050user]

My wife and I just got our Nitrox certification 3 weeks ago prior to going to GC. In January, we signed up at our local dive shop and paid $ 280 each. The fee included 2 packets that included a DVD, a paperback Nitrox course manual, a paperback Nitrox practical calculation booklet, and three laminated plastic Nitrox dive Tables. A few weeks later, we then attended a 6 hour class at the dive shop where we rewatched the video, went through all the sections of the manual, and answered the chapter knowledge checks. Then we did a bunch of problems using the tables. After which, we each analyzed a couple of tanks using a handheld analyzer, then took our 25 question test, and had our Ecards in just a few days. Did I feel it was a bit expensive, yes, but still felt it was worth it, as my wife prefers instructor led courses instead of elearning. And the instructor was very good, and made sure we were comfortable with the material. IMHO, the perfect cost would have been $ 200-225 for what we got but hey, just my thoughts.

So it should be $225 for 6 hours of the instructors time , plus materials? The learning materials alone probably cost $100.then the cost of certification card,fee that LDS keeps for itself to keep lights on and pay rent, that leaves less than $40 to pay instructor for 6 hours of their time.Works out to something like $6. per hour!! Better off to do online elearning associated with a facility that will charge you nothing for 30 minutes of their time to complete on hand requirements and quick review. Less expensive for you and makes more sense to the LDS.

 

[boulderjohn]

maybe your computer went bad since you exceeded Max. Depth of 126 ft. using PPO of 1.4 ata

You are generally permitted to go to 1.6 for brief periods of time.

Are you going to answer the question?

 

[pconsidine]

You are generally permitted to go to 1.6 for brief periods of time.

Are you going to answer the question?

I Am at work -don't have my EAN charts in front of me- but will take a stab at it later. But 26 mins. is not what I consider a brief period of time.

 

[mi000ke]

My wife and I just got our Nitrox certification 3 weeks ago prior to going to GC. In January, we signed up at our local dive shop and paid $ 280 each. The fee included 2 packets that included a DVD, a paperback Nitrox course manual, a paperback Nitrox practical calculation booklet, and three laminated plastic Nitrox dive Tables. A few weeks later, we then attended a 6 hour class at the dive shop where we rewatched the video, went through all the sections of the manual, and answered the chapter knowledge checks. Then we did a bunch of problems using the tables. After which, we each analyzed a couple of tanks using a handheld analyzer, then took our 25 question test, and had our Ecards in just a few days. Did I feel it was a bit expensive, yes, but still felt it was worth it, as my wife prefers instructor led courses instead of elearning. And the instructor was very good, and made sure we were comfortable with the material. IMHO, the perfect cost would have been $ 200-225 for what we got but hey, just my thoughts.

Not to beat a dead Nitrox tank, but Red Sail on Grand Cayman advertises $99 to get nitrox certification (and the OP did ask about variation in cost). I'm guessing the course portion is online (that's how I got mine - with a different shop on island - and it took about 2 hour and no books). Just had to analyze the tanks and answer a few questions when I showed up on island.

 

[boulderjohn]

I Am at work -don't have my EAN charts in front of me- but will take a stab at it later. But 26 mins. is not what I consider a brief period of time.

Who said I was at that depth for 26 minutes? I was only there for a minute or so. The rest of the dive was much shallower.

Of course, that doesn't make any difference for the tables, so it will not affect your calculations.

 

[togatown]

So it should be $225 for 6 hours of the instructors time , plus materials? The learning materials alone probably cost $100.then the cost of certification card,fee that LDS keeps for itself to keep lights on and pay rent, that leaves less than $40 to pay instructor for 6 hours of their time.Works out to something like $6. per hour!! Better off to do online elearning associated with a facility that will charge you nothing for 30 minutes of their time to complete on hand requirements and quick review. Less expensive for you and makes more sense to the LDS.

If those materials cost $ 100, then I'm in the wrong business.
There were 4 people in our class, so I hope the shop gave their instructor a little more out of the $ 1320 they collected from us.
At the end of the day, we were happy with our certification.

 

[boulderjohn]

If those materials cost $ 100, then I'm in the wrong business.
There were 4 people in our class, so I hope the shop gave their instructor a little more out of the $ 1320 they collected from us.
At the end of the day, we were happy with our certification.

The shop for which I last taught gave the instructor $10 per student to teach a Nitrox class.

 

[pconsidine]

The shop for which I last taught gave the instructor $10 per student to teach a Nitrox class.

And to think I became a Instructor for the money, might be time to look for work at Mickey D's