Is nitrox "briefing" enough without certification?

[Snakekid97]

Hi all,

I have a basic OW certificate with about a dozen OW dives. I recently moved to a coastline, but I haven't gone diving in the ocean in about a year (although I have done a couple of quarry dives since). I recently talked to a local PADI instructor/dive charter owner about easing back into things. After scheduling a date to go out on his charter, I found out they only use nitrox on all of their dives. They claim it's the better way to dive. Their website states " If you are not Nitrox certified, don’t worry, we will give you a Nitrox Briefing that lets you dive Nitrox that day...We will also put a _ Dive Computer on your wrist set for 32% so you can track your NDL."

I have read that I should have a certification for nitrox (which I don't have). My question is: would you trust a "Nitrox briefing that lets you dive Nitrox that day" or does this seem to be a questionable practice? I have no prior experience with Nitrox.

I should add, the charter is a 2-tank trip on reefs 40-60' deep over about a 3-hour period.

Thanks!

 

[happy-diver]

Okay, so do you go to your nitrox course book in hand with an empty head
Or do you go prepared having learnt the book so to discuss the finer points

 

[Snakekid97]

In 2004 PADI brought out Discover Enriched Air, a no-dive certification that allowed use of 32% using air tables or computers, under indirect supervision of a PADI pro. eLearning for this became available in 2005. The requirements for two EANx dives to receive full EANx certification was dropped in 2006. Sometime after that Discover Enriched Air quietly disappeared and is no long available. It was a useful tool for those who did not have access to open water to do the required two dives for the original PADI nitrox course.

Is this to say that the OP is now operating against PADI guidelines?

Provided that the bottom is actually at 60’. There’s a difference between a planned dive to 60’ where the sand is at 120’ vs a dive where the sand is at 60’.

Sounds like the most common shallow sites they go to are Kewalo Pipe and Nautilus Reef. From what I have found online they have max depths of 65' and 50', respectively.

My point is that thing have become much easier since then... not much reason to not be nitrox certified, is there?

The main reason I haven't looked into it is cost. I am a graduate student doing research here, living on an internship stipend. I spoke to the owner and he said it will cost whatever it cost him, which is around $147. He said he provides the Nitrox class for his divers at his cost as a courtesy and because it's "a better way to dive" and that the cost includes the e-learning and certification costs.

That said, that $150 would come out of the money I have budgeted for diving here, which means I'd be giving up a two-tank dive on a charter. Because I am only OW certified and only doing shallow water dives, I am not sure how beneficial a EAN cert would be for me.


Sorry for the delayed response. It seems like this has been a popular thread and it took me some time to read through things.

 

[Celt]

Is this to say that the OP is now operating against PADI guidelines?


Sounds like the most common shallow sites they go to are Kewalo Pipe and Nautilus Reef. From what I have found online they have max depths of 65' and 50', respectively.


The main reason I haven't looked into it is cost. I am a graduate student doing research here, living on an internship stipend. I spoke to the owner and he said it will cost whatever it cost him, which is around $147. He said he provides the Nitrox class for his divers at his cost as a courtesy and because it's "a better way to dive" and that the cost includes the e-learning and certification costs.

That said, that $150 would come out of the money I have budgeted for diving here, which means I'd be giving up a two-tank dive on a charter. Because I am only OW certified and only doing shallow water dives, I am not sure how beneficial a EAN cert would be for me.


Sorry for the delayed response. It seems like this has been a popular thread and it took me some time to read through things.

Hopefully someone in your area will step in and help you out. Is there any public library or voluntary services you can get in touch with. What about clubs you could join, do you have scuba clubs in your area.

 

[Nedster]

Is it safe enough? Probably.

I find the practice questionable, though truthfully you can learn what you need to know about nitrox pretty quickly. The biggest concern for recreational divers is maximum operating depth, which is based on the partial pressure of oxygen in the mix. Partial pressure is calculated by multiplying the atmospheres of pressure by the percentage of oxygen. At 66 feet, the PP02 is (3 ATA x .32) or .96. You don't want to exceed a partial pressure of 1.4.

The reason 32% Nitrox is popular, IMO is that the .32 works out to about 1.6 at 130 feet, so you should never get to the point where you are going to have oxygen toxicity problems if you stay within recreational depths.

One thing I like about SDI is that they don't require you to spend a lot of time using tables in the nitrox course. Tables you'll forget how to use two weeks later...

I agree with the others that suggest that you could do the course prior to showing up, and just take the test and be certified. That would take care of your concerns.

RAID has free eLearning, so you could read their materials to educate yourself before you go, but really the best answer is to just take the course before you dive. Even though you have to use tables, you should be able to finish the PADI course with a little refresher. I'd do the PADIs elearning if it is available, as PADI books are sheer drudgery.

I 100% agree with this post. Just do the nitrox course and learn about the benefits/drawbacks of using nitrox. Of course, it goes without saying, always analyse your own tank. Don't take anyone's word for it.

 

[Angelo Farina]

Is this to say that the OP is now operating against PADI guidelines?


Sounds like the most common shallow sites they go to are Kewalo Pipe and Nautilus Reef. From what I have found online they have max depths of 65' and 50', respectively.


The main reason I haven't looked into it is cost. I am a graduate student doing research here, living on an internship stipend. I spoke to the owner and he said it will cost whatever it cost him, which is around $147. He said he provides the Nitrox class for his divers at his cost as a courtesy and because it's "a better way to dive" and that the cost includes the e-learning and certification costs.

That said, that $150 would come out of the money I have budgeted for diving here, which means I'd be giving up a two-tank dive on a charter. Because I am only OW certified and only doing shallow water dives, I am not sure how beneficial a EAN cert would be for me.


Sorry for the delayed response. It seems like this has been a popular thread and it took me some time to read through things.

Unfortunately now the industry (or, better, the shops, if you dive with them) require a cert for everything: night diving, boat diving, UW photography, Nitrox, Deco, Accelerated deco with Oxygen, Solo, rebreathers, etc...
I come from an old period (the seventies) where there was just a single certification in three levels (one, two or three stars). And when you had got the 3-stars certification, you was allowed to to do EVERYTHING, except perhaps trimix below 60 meters.
Nowadays, many diving centers (I NEVER use "shops", people who sell equipment are crap diving operators in my view, as there is an evident conflict of interest) ask me for those "specialty" certification, which i do not have.
I just show them my old 3-stars instructor card, explain what I have done (and what i have NOT), and usually they allow me to do anything which was considered "normal" at the time.
But this in Europe, or in Europe-style tropical resorts, where basically all what is required is the DAN insurance, and after this they are happy whatever card you show them.
As you are in another world, USA, where litigation is much more common, the requirement for a Nitrox cert is quite universal, and earlier or later you must save the money for getting it.
My understanding is that it is a purely theoretical class, not requiring pool or sea diving. In theory it could be possible to get it in one hour directly in the diving center, as all that you need to show is your capability to measure the O2 percentage in your tank, to mark it properly with O2 percentage and MOD, which you read from a table or calculate with a simple formula. And finally how to set you computer for the O2 percentage which you measured.
All this can be taught and verified in one hour.
The price requested for releasing the Nitrox card depends on the agency, but it can be as low as 50 USD.
But they will probably charge you 150...
Of course you need to rely on the diving center where you are, and they are affiliated with just one or two agencies.

 

[divingdayz]

For us, we require all our divers to have the nitrox certification before using nitrox. It's for both our their safety and our safety. It still astounds me the amount of divers that will say 'we trust you' when we ask them to analyse their own tanks. Know whats in your scuba tank.

 

[John Bantin]

... and the one thing a nitrox course teaches you is that you should check what's in your tank even if you are an air-only diver.

 

[Belzelbub]

... and the one thing a nitrox course teaches you is that you should check what's in your tank even if you are an air-only diver.

Yep. Regardless of mix, the only time I don't analyze my tanks is when I'm using the aquarium gear. They have an on-site compressor, air only. No O2 or non-air blends available.

 

[L13]

... and the one thing a nitrox course teaches you is that you should check what's in your tank even if you are an air-only diver.

And you just taught that to everyone reading this thread, without them even taking a course.

 

[Ducpilot]

Wow a lot of feedback on this issue. I took the PADI Nitrox course where you had to hand calculate both N2 and O2 saturation levels. I probably couldn’t do it manually now without a refresher. But it did provide sound comprehension of using enriched air. Agree, biggest takeaway is be sure of what’s in your tank. Going O2 toxic will likely lead to convulsions and result in drowning.