Is there any reason to do a Nitrox 'course'?

[Rhone Man]

I have to part company with a few of the opinions expressed.

Breathing EAN32, all else being equal, will significantly reduce your DCS risk. The risk of O2 toxicity, if you are staying within recreational limits, is quite frankly a fantasy.

The idea of pushing helium into recreational diving strikes me as sheer lunacy from a cost/benefit point of view. For the most fractional variation of the gas's narcotic properties you enhance your DCS risk (if you ascend too fast) and exponentially increase the cost of the dive.

I have never done a BSAC course in my life, but when I got my original PADI OWD certification in 1984 the tables clearly provided for non-accelerated decompression. The implication was, once you were certified you could go ahead and conduct small deco obligation dives, although they never claimed to "teach" deco. Now they explicitly prohibit planned deco diving.

I hadn't realised PADI had reduced the age restriction for enriched air down to 12. Apologies. Did they comment on their previous publications where they suggested children should not use nitrox because of unspecified risks?

 

[Sevenrider860]

No comments about unspecified risks with children. The Appendix contains the findings from the DAN Nitrox Workshop from November 2000. Nothing about about risks to children in the consensus recommendations.

I don't remember the PADI table having any deco information in the early 80's so I did not carry it (or maybe it was they were limited in the max depth...long time ago ). I used the Navy Dive tables back then.

 

[Dan Sumners]

I am now 'trained' in Nitrox! Thanks again for your comments.

I found a local trainer offering both the PADI and NAUI courses. I was originally going to do the NAUI one, but opted for the PADI as a) it doesn't require dives any longer so the cost is lower and b) the trainer is having issues getting materials from NAUI.

The good points were a demonstration of and opportunity to use gas analysers; someone to ask questions of (although I didn't really need to); and we were given an overview of their gas blending panel. The booklet (provided) and DVD (shown) said exactly the same things. (As an aside, I noticed at least two people in the video managing equipment incorrectly as per PADI's own standards!)

The overriding bad point was that the course focused on computer diving and tables were not included with the materials (although the trainer gave us photocopies - which I thought was frowned upon?).

Whilst I understand most people have computers now (as I do), I do think everyone should know how to plan a dive without one and thereby make contingency plans for computer failure. At one point the trainer even said, "anyway, when was the last time anyone sat down with their tables and planned a dive?", which worried me slightly.

Again, thanks for your advice, much appreciated.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Breathing EAN32, all else being equal, will significantly reduce your DCS risk.

If the rate of incidence for DCS is already less than a percentage point breathing 21%, how can EAN32 make a significant reduction?

 

[DevonDiver]

If the rate of incidence for DCS is already less than a percentage point breathing 21%, how can EAN32 make a significant reduction?

I guess it's only 'significant' if you're one of the hundreds of recreational divers to get chambered each year

Sucks to be one-in-a-million​, I suppose

 

[Sevenrider860]

The overriding bad point was that the course focused on computer diving and tables were not included with the materials (although the trainer gave us photocopies - which I thought was frowned upon?).

This is because the majority of recreational divers are now using computers and the course is produced for the majority. PADI acknowledges this in the introduction. I don't think giving copies is frowned upon as the book has "See your instructor to learn more about using enriched air and oxygen tables." You can always carry an Equivalent Air Depth table ( or do the math ) and use the standard RDP for contingency planning. PADI has some information regarding computer failure on Page 28.

The statement by the instructor was true. Few recreational divers plan their dives with tables (or with their computer) anymore. On your next dive observe how many people will look at the computer to see what their NDL times will be for the second dive. The majority usually just get in the water and follow what the computer tells them.

Congratulations on getting the training. Now you can make your own determination about how you "feel" after a day on enriched air versus 21%!

---------- Post added June 13th, 2013 at 08:51 AM ----------

I guess it's only 'significant' if you're one of the hundreds of recreational divers to get chambered each year

Sucks to be one-in-a-million​, I suppose

My parents used to shake their head and tell me I was "one-in-a-million". I always thought that was a complement!

 

[DevonDiver]

This is because the majority of recreational divers are now using computers and the course is produced for the majority.

The PADI Nitrox course is available in either computer or table format. Ask your instructor...and/or express a preference.

 

[BVickery]

The PADI Nitrox course is available in either computer or table format. Ask your instructor...and/or express a preference.

Got to agree. When I took my Nitrox a couple years ago we had tables and our instructor made sure we knew how to work them.

 

[TSandM]

The fact is that almost no one plans dives with tables any more. Computers are readily available and inexpensive, and tables are so conservative as to be almost punitive, when divers are doing the sort of multi-level dives that are almost ubiquitous. Tables would prohibit almost all of the commonly done shore dives here in Puget Sound!

The sad part is that, although one CAN plan dives using a computer, almost no one does that, either.

 

[rhwestfall]

although one CAN plan dives using a computer...

FWIW - and maybe it should be another thread, I be curious as to what/how folks due this...

I have my methods, but would love to hear others methods. Perhaps some examples of planning of ML profiles?