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!

 

[Bob DBF]

Daft question: would a trimix/CCR cert be acceptable?

Tell them the mix, and to hold the helium.

 

[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

 

[Adamastor]

• Knowing when/if you can switch to/from NITROX mode.
• When/if you can switch NITROX blends.
• Understanding what alerts/alarms for NITROX MOD the computer will produce (one local guy will take students down to 33ft on this very gradually descending sloping area with their computer set to 100% so they experience the various alerts the computer makes, and the first time they seem isn't when its actually happening). To be crystal clear, the student diver is not on 100% O2, just setting the computer to it so it can flip out and the student can observe.

Wouldn't that be Advanced Nitrox ?

 

[azstinger11]

Wouldn't that be Advanced Nitrox ?

Just basic run of the mill nitrox for OW divers. Setting the students computer to 100% is just so the instructor can show them what their computer would do if exceed the mod of a mix in the shallows. So instead of setting it to 32% and needing to hit 111/132ft to see it, can see it at 13ft/20ft. Yeah people should read their dive computer manuals, a large number don’t. So seeing the alerts/warning during training can be pretty beneficial.

No gas switching, no gas mixes above 40%, just run of the mill nitrox.

If he had a pressure tank he’d just use that I’d imagine. Dunno not my course, not my students, not my instructor.

 

[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.

 

[Alekseolsen]

Back in the day, 2002, we read a nitrox manual, attended a half day class with a reasonably challenging exam, and did two nitrox dives, things have changed...

I just wonder what the half day in class and two nitrox dives taught you that have not been described in this thread in a few sentences already?

 

[Adamastor]

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

Same difference, bro.
Your computer does calculus following a model. You do algebra for chosen values.

Nothing a 10yo didn't learn in school.

 

[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.

 

[lowwall]

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

Not for recreational diving in the US. A handful of public dive spots require checking in and showing a cert card, but other than that there is no distinction between certified and uncertified recreational divers in public waters. You can also buy every bit of dive gear you want without showing a card. The only time you are going to be asked to show a card is if you are buying a fill. And that's because the shops' insurer insists on it, it's not a legal requirement.

Of course, private dive operations can and almost universally do require divers to be certified or part of a class. But again, that's because of liability concerns. It's not a legal requirement.

 

[Wibble]

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

Where is it illegal to own a boat, compressor and dive kit without qualifications? May not be sensible, but not illegal.