re-rstone: yes he does need an instructor to sign off and file for his certification, not question there.
No I did not suggest that he dive uncertified, what I suggested is that he MAY have the option of dong his ow obligation without an instructor standing / diving there. This is the policy of some diving organizations, you do there classroom, bookwork, and exam. Buy the nitrox fills from them, satisfy the gas analizing portion of the course, sign for the gas, go and do your ows, documenting the plan, the dive, the end results of your O2 accumalation, demenstrating that you understand the whole process then return to the instructor, any questions??, here is your card.!!
The nitrox course is mostly academic, you are not teaching a person to dive, they already now how to dive. You are teaching them how to safely use nitrox, best of all how to use Nitrox to your advantage, whether creating a safer dive or getting a longer bottom time.
If you reread my earlier statement, it's clear that I am not a fan of that type of course, having the instructor on site / dive adds to the experience greatly no matter what level of diver that is completing the course.
I'm not sure where you got that I was PADI, I'm not!! I've been and remain NAUI for almost 30 years.........
Fishkiller...........I don't see why you couldn't combine another speciality with you Nitrox ow?? With the Advanced diver course we run, you may opt to add Niitrox to the course, for the OWs, nitrox must be used on a repetitive profile, we usually do it on the wreck dive and deep dive part of the course. This sort of works well for us, in that the students that did not take the nitrox wish they did, especially when they see that the Nitrox students get to play in the water longer...............
mho
john