Nitrox lessons $150 bucks--Why?

[jimisurf]

I just completed an ANDI Complete Safeair User Course. It set me back $225 (Canadian) which included courseware, 10 hours instruction and 2 dives on local wrecks in the Nanaimo area. It was worth every penny....

Jimi

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

dang we must be an exception hear in nc with our wreck divng I think the rate is like 90% of the divers use nitrox, one reason pertty much is for longer bottom times and yes some margine of safty and some say makes them not as tired but after two good dives with currents your tired at least most of the divers I see are !!!

 

[padiscubapro]

jimisurf once bubbled...
I just completed an ANDI Complete Safeair User Course. It set me back $225 (Canadian) which included courseware, 10 hours instruction and 2 dives on local wrecks in the Nanaimo area. It was worth every penny....

Jimi

Great deal. . How many were in you class?? Who ran it??

 

[jimisurf]

There were only 2 people in the course. The course was provided by Harry Wenngatz of Technically Speaking in Nanaimo, BC. Harry is ANDI IT#23 and ITD#6. He was much better than my previous cert instruuctors (much more experienced). I think that Harry has now taken the winter off, but he should resume in early spring.

Jimi

 

[padiscubapro]

jimisurf once bubbled...
There were only 2 people in the course. The course was provided by Harry Wenngatz of Technically Speaking in Nanaimo, BC. Harry is ANDI IT#23 and ITD#6. He was much better than my previous cert instruuctors (much more experienced). I think that Harry has now taken the winter off, but he should resume in early spring.

Jimi

I figured it was Harry, I was just surpirsed he ran the class so inexpensively.. I guess the cheaper cost of living up there makes a difference..

Harry has been around the block, and knows his stuff.. ITD is the the only goal left for me at ANDI.. There is no direct way to the rating.. When its time you get it.. for the last 2 years I have been involved with many of the duties (working on text books, new training programs, updating and creating exams ect) of an ITD, without the official hat...

I am glad you enjoyed your program... It reflects well on all of us.
ALot of your positive impressions is also a result of the materials required for the class.. The instructors have to work hard for the ratings and most enjoy teaching the material once they have mastered it.. The long classes for some (from the outside) may seem like a waste, but once people have taken the program they are usually quick to recommend it to others especially once they talk with people with "equivalent" ratings and see how much more was covered..

When the season starts up again, I would suggest you look into the wreck diver program, ANDIs wreck specialty (recreational and Tech) are pretty unique programs.. I also had a hand in Chapter 3 of that textbook so its a biased personal favorite..

Most of us ANDI ITs know who each other is since its such a small group (only about 110 so far in 15+ years). The rating is not given out easily, and new ITs are generally only made in an area once a prior IT has retired or moved on.. This helps the agency keep tight control over course content and instructors qualifications.

 

[slowhands]

The main apparent advantage of Nitrox is longer bottom time. But after diving with it on days when I do 2-3 dives, I fell far less fatigued. I did not learn of this effect when I took the class, but I definitely experienced it. I don't count on this, but I do welcome it. (Meaning I much prefer the longer bottom time Nitrox allows.)

I suppose $150 for the cert is steep, but it does include two dives with tank rentals in addition to the class. And I suspect there are higher liability costs associated with teaching it, so possibly there is some justification there. Costs may come down as it becomes ubiquitous.

 

[RichLockyer]

jviehe once bubbled...
http://www.americandivecenter.com/tdi_tech/tek_n2o2_door.htm

That's their TDI class.
Of course, my NAUI nitrox class wasn't much more. One evening of lecture... 7pm to 10pm, then two dives (unaccompanied)... turned in our logbook and we got our certs.

 

[dvleemin]

jimisurf once bubbled...
I just completed an ANDI Complete Safeair User Course. It set me back $225 (Canadian) which included courseware, 10 hours instruction and 2 dives on local wrecks in the Nanaimo area. It was worth every penny....

Jimi

Boy thats cheap! Here in Edmonton Aquatek wants $195 for a tdi course with no dives - although it does include 2 vouchers for a fill of nitrox.

Darryl

 

[TDunbar]

Nitrox/EAN/ Enriched Air has one official benefit - longer bottom time. All of the others - extras safety margin, feeling beter after trip.... are statisically insignificant or subjective, although I'm not to dismissing them.

On a dollars/minute of diving basis, Nitrox can definitely reduce your cost depending upon how much extra you pay for Nitrox. But as mentioned earlier, if you don't run out of air before you run out of ND time, Nitrox will do very little for you. The depths you mentioned are the perfect depth for reaping the benefits of Nitrox. That is one of the things you'll learn in the course. BTW, my shop charges $150 for a Nitrox cert too.

I dive Nitrox mainly on cert dives when I might be in the water 6 hours straight (tank changes excluded) or when on a multiday, dive your brains out trip.

Todd

 

[VTernovski]

Actually, according to the Meyer-Overton rule, Oxygen is more sulble than Nitrogen, and since the anasthetic potency of a gas is inversely related to its lipid sulubility. Helium is the least narcotic according to the Bunsen's solubility coefficients ( he = 0.015, N2 = 0.052 and O2= 0.110)

(--this data taken from the DIR-F book.)

Northeastwrecks once bubbled...


I believe that you are correct. Nitrox does not decrease Narcosis significantly.

The narcotic effect of a gas is a function of its solubility in lipids. Nitrogen and Oxygen have similar solubilities. Accordingly, there is a similar narcotic effect.

As for the comment about the Carribean divers who had to wait for the Nitrox diver, I fail to see a problem. This diver paid for Nitrox and was entitled to use it. Anyone else who had the training could have done the same. After all, why should a Nitrox diver be forced to abide by air tables?

When we travel to the Carribean, we routinely use Nitrox. I haven't done an air dive outside of a swimming pool in a couple of years.

On a happier note, once you've taken the course, you will be able to dive to the Nitrox NDL's, thereby eliminating the problem.

As for the price, the PADI course takes about 4 - 5 hours of lecture, followed by two OW dives. That's not an inconsiderable amount of the instructor's time.