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!

 

[tursiops]

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!

Perfectly OK, and within training standards.
PADI calls this "Dive Today," and is available to any diver at least 12 years old.
You do some paperwork (Risk Release, Medical form), and can even do it on Dive 4 of your OW course...you do not need to already be OW certified. You do NOT have to do all the Knowledge Development stuff, but there is a short briefing about benefits and hazards of Nitrox. You DO have to be shown how to analyze a tank, mark a tank, and set your computer. The instructor has to monitor your analyses, and ensure your computer is set correctly. All this may be credited toward the full Nitrox course.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Not at all if they screw up and bring a cylinder of 100% on the boat. Then you get down, have a massive seizure. Possibly bite the tabs off the mouthpiece. Your airway is closed off until the CO2 generated by the seizure increases enough to trigger the breathing response. So you take a big breath in. But there's no reg in your mouth. Your lungs fill with saltwater and for a second you feel the burning. Until you die.

I keep an 80CF AL of 100% on my boat....... but I do try my best to make it clear that no one ever dives with it! Thinking about even adding some skull and crossbones stickers!

 

[TMHeimer]

I started reading some of the posts so I see you've got all the info. needed. This is the first I've heard of this and I guess the "briefing" is OK. Just make sure you don't exceed the depth for the Nitrox mix you're diving. I can't see a problem if you have everything set up and the mix verified by the dive Op. It would be easier for the future to just get the card. Many years ago they even dropped the 2 dive requirement for the course.

 

[Lorenzoid]

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.

Hair splitting. Same thing.

 

[BoltSnap]

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

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

 

[Lorenzoid]

The answer is a resounding no! @Peter Guy was once denied nitrox when presenting his trimix card. He then asked for trimix, but without helium, but was still denied.

I think I recall @boulderjohn having an anecdote on this.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I think I recall @boulderjohn having an anecdote on this.

I wouldn't be surprised if John and many other people have run into this where they hope common sense prevails and a trimix card would suffice for nitrox, deep diving, etc.. But I've spoken to dive center owners who are so desperate for staff that all they require is the ability to fog up a mirror, so sometimes things get dumbed way down.

 

[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!!!

 

[Belzelbub]

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

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’. If you can’t get past 60’ without digging, 32% will be fine. I did see the post where this may actually be within standards. Still seems strange to me, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done safely. It just sounds to me a bit like a “trust me” dive which I dislike.

There are a couple things you can do to make it as safe as possible. Make sure the computer is set correctly. You’ll want to verify that the gas is set correctly, and that the PPO2 is set to 1.4. You’ll also want to verify the gas in your cylinder. Either analyze yourself, or witness the analysis. They should calibrate using a known gas first. Then make sure the gas is set correctly on the computer. The analyzer will probably give you a decimal like 32.5. Round down.

Since it looks like they are using Shearwater Peregrines, that helps.
You should be able to find the Peregrine manual here: PEREGRINE™ - Product Support, FAQs & Downloads - Shearwater®
If it’s like the other Shearwater manuals, it will be easy to read and understand. Make sure you know how to navigate to the gas mix and PPO2 settings.

I am using my own gear, to save on costs. I dive a back inflated BCD (Scubapro Ladyhawk). Definitely prefer this to the jacket style rentals I've used. Is there much of a difference between using a rear inflated BC vs a back plate and wing?

There are some here that insist on a BP/W for diving in the shallow end of a swimming pool. For single tank rec diving, you can dive what you have. No need to go out and replace your Ladyhawk if you like it.

 

[BoltSnap]

Not at all if they screw up and bring a cylinder of 100% on the boat. Then you get down, have a massive seizure. Possibly bite the tabs off the mouthpiece. Your airway is closed off until the CO2 generated by the seizure increases enough to trigger the breathing response. So you take a big breath in. But there's no reg in your mouth. Your lungs fill with saltwater and for a second you feel the burning. Until you die.
Reasonably safe would be to take the class or choose another op that lets you dive air on these dives where nitrox offers no real benefit on a 2 tank dive.

He already knows everything from these anonymous armchair internet experts.