Nitrox Now or Later

[grouchyturtle]

I finished my OW a few months ago.

I've seen a lot of people jumping into AOW right away.

I'm holding off for now. I want to get some more dives in on my own first (more experience, get more comfortable in the water, etc.)

Please lets not start the AOW doesn't make you an advanced diver argument here. It's been said enough times already and I think everyone agrees.

Here's the questions:

1 - If part of AOW is doing a deep dive, why not do Nitrox before doing AOW, that way you can do the deep dive with nitrox?

2 - Can you do some of dives that count towards AOW without doing the whole class? Although I want to hold on AOW, it seems there are some classes that count towards AOW that would make sese to take now (Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Navigator)

 

[Diversauras]

Nitrox now...

 

[raxafarian]

Don't see any reason why you can't do Nitrox first...with one exception...

You need to be able to control your depth and not exceed the MOD (max depth) for the mix you are using.

Therefore... I guess I would recommend that a 'new' diver not dive close to the limits of either MOD or PO2.

It's just a new tool to learn... TDI doesn't require dives for the cert. Not sure if PADI does... but I think they do. If you go the PADI route, then your nitrox dives will be shallow... then you can use nitrox on your deep dives for AOW.... You probably won't gain anything other than a safety margin, because others in your AOW/deep class will probably be on air.



I say go for it... just need a little common sense and some basic math.

 

[caymaniac]

I'd say get Nitrox cert. now, but you must realise that it could become a bit more expensive to dive Nitrox on a consistant basis.

Caymaniac

 

[MikeFerrara]

grunzster,
You can do a single AOW dive without committing to the entire class. Also you don't need to do nitrox ahead of time to use it during your OW course. As long as the book work, including the test, is completed you can do your nitrox dives at the same time you do an AOW dive. PADI does require two dives for nitrox but they can be combined with dives from other courses. This may also mean a discount.

Just for the record I don't understand and don't agree with a nitrox class that doesn't require dives.

 

[landlocked]

I had someone show suprise that I was diving Nitrox before having my AOW cert. It was my impression that Padi required AOW before Nitrox. Is this correct? I certified SSI which requires a number of specialties for AOW certification one of which, in my case, was Nitrox.

My vote is Nitrox now, don't wait. It really isn't that difficult, in fact, in many cases it makes diving more simple. Also, you don't need to dive Nitrox every dive but it can be a valuable tool in the box when a certain dive would recommend it. I especially try and use it for higher altitude dives (6000 feet plus), dives between 40 and 100 feet and as often as possible on multi-day dives. I really do recoup from a dive quicker when I breath Nitrox. The only dives I really like to dive with air are usually no deeper than 25 feet (8 meters) and lasting no longer than 40 minutes.

 

[raxafarian]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...


Just for the record I don't understand and don't agree with a nitrox class that doesn't require dives.

my guess : because you already know HOW to dive, and you are not doing anything different underwater with nitrox, than you do with air. Your planning is different, but the execution of the dive remains the same.

 

[O-ring]

It was my impression that Padi required AOW before Nitrox. Is this correct? I certified SSI which requires a number of specialties for AOW certification one of which, in my case, was Nitrox.

You do not have to be AOW to take the Nitrox course.

 

[Spectre]

raxafarian once bubbled...
TDI doesn't require dives for the cert.

It's recommended, but not required. Actually TDI doesn't even require an Open Water certification, as long as you are enrolled in an OW course at the time.

:box:

If you are a new diver getting nitrox certification, make sure you plan your mix based on maximum depth you could possibly reach, not based on what you 'plan' to be diving. If you have a problem and end up down in the sand, the last thing you need is a CNS hit on top of the rest of the mess...

 

[grouchyturtle]

You probably won't gain anything other than a safety margin

That's exactly what I was thinking.

PADI does require two dives for nitrox but they can be combined with dives from other courses.

Does that mean with any course, as long as the book work and test is done, you can combine dives?

To be completely sarcastic - Say I did a deep, night dive on a wreck, from a boat, in a dry suit, with nitrox, while shooting video, and being propelled by a DPV! Would that count towards all or most of those specialties?

To be a little less sarcastic - All my dives for OW were from a boat. Would that mean all I have to do is the book and test to certify for the boat diver specialty?