Nitrox vs. advanced Nitrox

[fearnosurf]

Outstanding article and some very valid points.

My reasoning for suggesting Adv Nitrox instead of Padi's (my dive shop does not offer TDI's Nitrox, just PADI's Nitrox, then TDI's Adv. Nitrox) is if I'm going to be diving something that has potential lethal implications, I want to know as much about it as possible, rather than a "dive this at this fsw and this mix at this fsw" I like the how's and why's. I'm sure I can leave otu Deco, as I agree I need much more experience, but do you still belive that TDI Adv Nitrox needs to wait?

What i would like to learn from a Nitrox course:
Proper Mixture/Depth
saturation
oxygen toxicity risk at XXX depth/Mix
Would XX% EAN be safer than XX% EAN at XX Depth

I'm not challenging any input, I'm trying to find out as much as possible so that I know I'm going to learn as much as possible.


Edit******
BTW, THat is the exact course listing I'm planning on (other than the Nitrox part)

 

[String]

The TDI Advanced Nitrox course is concentrating on using rich mixes (up to 100%) to aid in decompression - thats why its so often run as adv nitrox/deco procedures in one course. The basic is more than adequate and id recommend against a new diver rushing straight into the advanced nitrox (and they may well not have the skills required for the dives perfected either). If a shop offers TDI Advanced nitrox id find it very odd they wouldnt offer the basic as well.

What i would like to learn from a Nitrox course:
Proper Mixture/Depth
saturation
oxygen toxicity risk at XXX depth/Mix
Would XX% EAN be safer than XX% EAN at XX Depth

All of which is taught in the basic nitrox course (TDI at least, i cant speak for padi as i dont know its content).

 

[fearnosurf]

Great Thanks!

 

[StSomewhere]

Please read and digest the attached abstract written by Jeff Bozanic.

The problem is compounded by the proliferation of nontraditional equipment and techniques used within the recreational community. These include the use of: enriched air nitrox (EANx) as a breathing gas (including use as primary gas, travel mix, and decompression gas), open circuit scuba trimix (helium/nitrogen/oxygen mixtures)...

How old is that abstract?

 

[Kim]

I always thought that a basic Nitrox course was a prerequisite to Advanced Nitrox. I never heard of an agency that taught Advanced straight away - is there one?

I like Uncle Ricky's list of courses to be done first. I think that the name 'Advanced Nitrox' is a part of the problem sometimes. It's about so much more that it's a pity they don't call it something else (although DSAT has started to do so). People who see 'OW' then 'AOW', can be forgiven for thinking that 'Nitrox' & 'Advanced Nitrox' are in a similar mould.

 

[String]

TDI commonly offer what they call "combined nitrox" which is the basic and advanced course rolled into one weekend of 2-3 days but a basic nitrox IS a requirement before you can enroll on the advanced.

 

[paolov]

i agree with the experienced guys here. Advanced Nitrox goes into decompression diving procedures and utilising best mixes for a particular planned dive.


hence advanced nitrox is not recommended for OW. though an AOW would be better before taking a basic nitrox but not a requisite.

 

[mania]

At least within the IANTD before doing Adv. Nitrox you have to have basic Nitrox cert.
I agree with Kim that the name for Adv.Nitrox is not the best one as it in fact has nothing to do with advancing nitrox, it's much more an intro to technical diving.
Mania

 

[TX101]

All bickering aside I have an actual question.

I am new to diving, in fact I'm getting my Cert this weekend. This is a lifelong dream of mine fulfilled!

I am going to take a Nitrox course next, so I am trying to figure out which I should take?
PADI's Nitrox $100
OR
TDI's advanced Nitrox combined with Deco procedures $400

I am really interested in going into Tech diving, so should I go ahead and take this course instead?

The minimimum diving requirement for the TDI course is 25 dives + basic nitrox, so you can't take it anyway.

In terms of o2 theory/MOD calculations/etc. there is nothing new on the advanced nitrox course - you are just using different numbers for your calculations. It brings more dive skills into play - eg. gas switching.

Also note that the TDI course does not officially teach accelerated deco! Students are taught to use the high o2 mixture as a saftey factor and deco on an air schedule. Accelerated deco isn't taught until extended range and/or intro. trimix.

So as Walter said, do lots of diving before you even consider the advanced nitrox course. The 25 dive minimum is ridiculous and should really be 50 at least.. maybe even 100.

 

[fearnosurf]

Cool, Thanks for the info. As you see I'm new to diving so I thought I'd ask here

I'm doing the National Geographic Open Water because it seems to be the most robust of the Open Water Certifications. I like the extra enphasis on Bouyancy UW Navigation that it has. I'm doing 6 dives (4 Padi OW, & 2 NatGeo) for my check out dives. I'm also doing a Discover Enriched Air Nitrox to see if it's something I'd like to do. I know alot of people aren't PADI fans, and truthfully neither was I, until I had a bad experience at a local NAUI dive shop. We did an Intro to SCUBA (NAUI's version) to see if my wife could clear her ears (bad ear problems), these are our experinces there: I had an incredible stomach ache and was very fatigued the remainder of the day. Some say it could have been bad air, I have no idea, but I can tell you it was caused in that shop. My Father-in-law was given a tank with 500 psi to dive with, I questioned the instructor, and he said at 11 feet, he'll be able to dive an hours with that" about 30 minutes later my father-in-law ran out of air at 11 feet. He surfaced with no problem, then I surfaced to check on him because the Instructor was working with my wife doing boyancy control. He was fine, luckly. Well, the instructor noticed that we had surfaced so he left my wife at the bottom and came to see what was up. My wife cam off theground a bit too much and suddenly shot to the surface. She hadn't added anymore air to her BCD so I guess it expanded just enough and she breathed out and went up. SInce she has ear problems, it wound up rupturing her ear drum. so she had to goto her ENT. And we couldn't dive for a month. I played hell getting them to take the class with me this go around becuase of the bad experiences at the other shop. so back to the point: I went PADI because the instructors were great, very patient, kind and understanding. I had no fatigue or stomach ache, we didn't run out of Air, and my wife was recommended to try the ProPlugs, which she did, and now she can equalize faster than me. :-/

I'll log at least the 6 check-out dives this weekend, and hopefully I'll have enough time left to do another. Then it's vacation city so I'll get a few more under my belt soon.