Nitrox cert by correspondence or online?

[Bicster]

I can't go diving for the next three weeks because I'm on-call at work and my backup is out of the country. After that, I'm off on a diving vacation. I really want to get Nitrox certified before I go. Is it possible? Can I take a class online or by correspondence? A friend of mine loaned me the PADI video and I watched it ... it's pretty simple stuff. I know PADI requires a few dives to complete the cert though, so I won't be able to do the PADI course. I guess I could take it while on vacation, but if there's a way to do it beforehand, please let me know...

My searching isn't turning much up other than the TDI class, and there isn't a TDI shop convenient to me.

Thanks!

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

You'll probably get a lot of lectures about how you need to have a real class, etc, but it makes sense to me that one could take Nitrox without dives. The diving isn't any different...there are just different rules and a few more variables that are extremely important to understand.

Some agencies (SSI maybe?) don't require dives...you could look into that.

Or if you're going to do some boat dives on vacation, you should be able to knock it out pretty easily. If you have the knowledge reviews filled out and have watched the video, maybe talk to an instructor where you're going, and see if it's possible to just take the exam when you get there, and assuming you do OK, then the dives won't be any different from what you were already doing, except you'll use Nitrox.

Good luck!

Gregg

 

[HowardE]

I am sure that this question will spark a heated debate (yet again) about nitrox certs, etc... But let me just say that if you DO take the padi "course" while on vacation, that the course USUALLY INCLUDES the dives, and there are NO SKILLS... you just dive, so it's not like you're missing out on a good dive.

If you find a good shop, they won't make you sit through more instruction, they'll probably just give you the written test, and let you dive.

 

[Bicster]

You'll probably get a lot of lectures about how you need to have a real class, etc, but it makes sense to me that one could take Nitrox without dives. The diving isn't any different...there are just different rules and a few more variables that are extremely important to understand.

Exactly. I don't see why the dives are necessary.

I could take a "real" class, but the dives are not an option for me at this time. The nearest diving hole is 2-2.5 hours away from me, and I need to be able to be at work within 20 minutes or so if something goes wrong. Not to mention that my underwater mobile phone is broken at the moment

 

[HowardE]

Again... Not that the dives are necessary. However...

the class + dives usually = less than either of them by themselves...

So if you're already going to be diving from a boat - For example... My wife and I did our nitrox class in Boynton Beach, FL. It cost

$150 for the 1st person, and $125 for the second (for the "PADI Course").

2 Tank Day Dive -------------- $55.00 (regular dive price)

so for 2 people we paid $275 - $110 = $165 for 2 people

So... we paid $82.50 each for the Nitrox C-Card, and the Course... The shop let us borrow the books, and we went diving.


Edit: - So take the course while on vacation. Get the card, go dive more.

 

[Damselfish]

I don't think the dives are necessary. But the PADI class is not a big burden to do on vacation anyway, especially if you have already read the book at home and worked through the exercises. Possibly watch a video, take a test which doesn't take much time, and analyze a few tanks. Then dive, which you were going to do anyway. Some places it's even a good deal, with special rates on Nitrox for the rest of your visit.

 

[Warren_L]

Exactly. I don't see why the dives are necessary.

I could take a "real" class, but the dives are not an option for me at this time. The nearest diving hole is 2-2.5 hours away from me, and I need to be able to be at work within 20 minutes or so if something goes wrong. Not to mention that my underwater mobile phone is broken at the moment

This issue has been discussed quite a bit in the past. You need to realize that the dives themselves are not the key component of the course. By doing some dives, what this forces you to do is to go through the procedure of obtaining a fill, doing the analysis, and planning the dive, then doing the dive. If you dive where you do not have a hard bottom at or above your MOD, then you need to be aware of this as well as tracking things like your O2 clock, running the proper tables (or adjusting your computer for different mixes if you dive by computer). So while the diving itself is no different than perhaps any other dive, all the other stuff is what's important IMHO. And besides, what better reason for a dive?

 

[scubapolly]

I can't go diving for the next three weeks because I'm on-call at work and my backup is out of the country. After that, I'm off on a diving vacation. I really want to get Nitrox certified before I go. Is it possible? Can I take a class online or by correspondence? A friend of mine loaned me the PADI video and I watched it ... it's pretty simple stuff. I know PADI requires a few dives to complete the cert though, so I won't be able to do the PADI course. I guess I could take it while on vacation, but if there's a way to do it beforehand, please let me know...

My searching isn't turning much up other than the TDI class, and there isn't a TDI shop convenient to me.

Thanks!

NAUI offers 2 different nitrox certs. Nitrox and nitrox diver. The only difference is that for the Nitrox, you don't need to do the dives.

Disover SCUBA www.discoverscuba.com and the Ocean Corporation www.oceancorp.com are both NAUI shops in the Houston Area.


Hope this helps.

Polly

 

[Blackwood]

You have to learn to analyze your breathing gas, and this is best done with a hands on example.

 

[dl348]

I'm another one who thinks that the dives should not be required for Nitrox certification. The two most important concepts in any entry level Nitrox class are gas analysis and dive planning, both of which are performed ON LAND.

I use my regulator and BCD inflator button the same exact way whether it's 21% Nitrox (which is of course air) or 22% Nitrox in my tank. It's no different.

Just my .02