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!

 

[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.

 

[tursiops]

As others have alluded to, one of the protocols of nitrox diving is that the diver personally measures or “analyzes” the oxygen percentage of the tank he will be using.

No, the instructional guidance is that you must verify the O2 content. You are not required to perform the measurement yourself. You can watch someone else do it. Perfectly OK.

 

[BoltSnap]

Half a day is outrageously long for a nitrox class.

The course I teach is at least 10 hours in class plus two dives. BUT, I teach a NAUI course!!!

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Here's what people need to walk away with from a nitrox course:
1. How to calibrate an O2 sensor
2. How to analyze a cylinder
3. Determine the MOD for a specific oxygen percentage for a ppO2 of 1.4.
4. How to label the cylinder (gas content, name, date, MOD)
5. adopting the policy of always measuring non-air fills.
6. Programming one's dive computer with oxygen percentage
7. Understanding the benefits of nitrox of reduced nitrogen absorption (longer dive times, shorter surface internals - this can be done with tables or dive planning software)
8. Understand the increased risk at depth for oxygen toxicity. There's pulmonary toxicity too due to exposure to a high ppO2 exposure, but that takes a lot of diving to become an issue.

Now dive centers will want you to know how to fill out the paperwork, but that is a CYA for them. It has no bearing on your safety.

Even if a dive boat banks EAN32, you still measure it. And you abide by the MOD of the oxygen percentage that you measured.

Now that isn't a whole lot, but it is important to get right and become an ingrained habit. I would still recommend taking nitrox from your LDS before you go on this trip.

But I can't imagine bloviating for hours on nitrox, but I don't like the sound of my own voice. There is the theory of interference in education that I learned about from John Adsit. People can google that and read more, but what I take away from that is determine what is absolutely critical that the student learns, and don't introduce things that have no relevance. Example, my students don't need to hear about how nitrox was called voodoo gas in the 90s and agencies were against its use. How does that make divers safer? It doesn't so leave that stuff out. Don't bloviate with unnecessary information.

 

[Adamastor]

1. How to calibrate an O2 sensor
2. How to analyze a cylinder
3. Determine the MOD for a specific oxygen percentage for a ppO2 of 1.4.
4. How to label the cylinder (gas content, name, date, MOD)
5. adopting the policy of always measuring non-air fills.
6. Programming one's dive computer with oxygen percentage
7. Understanding the benefits of nitrox of reduced nitrogen absorption (longer dive times, shorter surface internals - this can be done with tables or dive planning software)
8. Understand the increased risk at depth for oxygen toxicity. There's pulmonary toxicity too due to exposure to a high ppO2 exposure, but that takes a lot of diving to become an issue.

1. You blow air on it and read 21% ?
2. You blow the gas on the sensor and read the O2 % ?
3. 5th grade calculus.
4. You just learn that you must label the cylinder.
5. OK
6. You can also simply read your computer manual anytime.
7. You've just explained them in one sentence, you can also apply 5th grade calculus to a dive table on air.
8. That's the only part that needs to be insisted on, and you just need to give the 1.4/1.6 limits and what CNS may look like, nobody expects a medical lecture.

Your post is basically enough to dive with a given Nitrox blend

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

1. You blow air on it and read 21% ?

Wait, you don't actually use oxygen when you breath?

2. You blow the gas on the sensor and read the O2 % ?

Huh?

3. 5th grade calculus.

So you've never actually taken calculus. You meant algebra.

4. You just learn that you must label the cylinder.

Yes with 4 pieces of information

5. OK

Ok.

6. You can also simply read your computer manual anytime.

True

7. You've just explained them in one sentence, you can also apply 5th grade calculus to a dive table on air.

again, not calculus. Working through dive software/tables is more than a sentence.

8. That's the only part that needs to be insisted on, and you just need to give the 1.4/1.6 limits and what CNS may look like, nobody expects a medical lecture.

Who said anything about a medical lecture?

Your post is basically enough to dive with a given Nitrox blend

Many things can be self taught. Nitrox is one of them. You can go to diveraid.com and download their nitrox course materials and go through it.

In fact, you could buy your own air compressor, boat, and dive gear from the internet and you never have to ever see a diving instructor and dive to your heart's content.

But some people prefer a structured course that's ready to go to teach them what they need to learn. And dive services want some assurance that you have had some training. But as I said, you can forego all of that and do whatever you like. You just have to buy equipment.

 

[Adamastor]

In fact, you could buy your own air compressor, boat, and dive gear from the internet and you never have to ever see a diving instructor and dive to your heart's content

I'm pretty sure that's illegal in most parts of the world, unless you have your privately-owned sea or smth.

 

[RZomerman]

diving wise underwater there is no difference - it doesn't taste different nor breath different - you will feel clearer in your head (most of the times - although at 30-60' you probably don't even feel the difference) - but you should be aware of the limits imposed - understanding what this does to your body and your dive is "essential" and you will need to learn some ground rules on how this mix is made, how to mark your cylinders and how to analyze, analyze and analyze so you don't end up with 100% o2 at 30m depth.. but the actual dives during the training are.. well.. not that spectacular..

 

[BoltSnap]

*Reasonably safe* (same risks as a standard air dive to 60'?)

You don't know what you don't know.