Should I get Nitrox cert for Bonaire?

[gypsyjim]

I would do the nitrox course before I go. Even the newer, short course is enough to show to get nitrox tanks, although I am not thrilled by that short course.

With a nitrox cert you can dive either gas, air or nitrox, and nitrox does give you a safety margin, especially if you are going to dive a lot. Which is what Bonaire is all ab out!

As for going nitrox, because of increased buddy choice, I would not even consider that as a reason, because air and nitrox divers mix freely. You can even switch between gases, yourself, as long as you, and your computer track the %. Some days you may even have to switch over between gases, as sometimes the resorts there can run low on one gas or the other throughout the day.

With the cert you have a choice of gas to dive. Without it you have no choice.

Oh, and....ENJOY BONAIRE!

 

[KY_BOB]

With the cert you have a choice of gas to dive. Without it you have no choice.

Oh, and....ENJOY BONAIRE!

IMO: that hit the nail on the head. I did a couple of deep dives on air and the rest on nitrox.

I'll add, If your planning on doing 2 40-50' dives a day, there's no reason. Most divers there want to do 3,4,5... dives a day. Then there is a reason.

 

[gypsyjim]

I was doing some GUE training this summer, and they really suggest nitrox for all diving shallower than @100'. In that agency's opinion there is enough of a safety margin to be worth paying a bit more, and on Bonaire it cost the same as air!

I still dive air at times, but will go nitrox when it is available. On Bonaire I dive a LOT, and much less N2 accumulating in my system is a big safety margin.

 

[galvanni]

I was doing some GUE training this summer, and they really suggest nitrox for all diving shallower than @100'. In that agency's opinion there is enough of a safety margin to be worth paying a bit more, and on Bonaire it cost the same as air!

I still dive air at times, but will go nitrox when it is available. On Bonaire I dive a LOT, and much less N2 accumulating in my system is a big safety margin.

Ok, it's done - I'll get on the course tomorrow and start the study.

So I guess the possibility of switching gases could be possible. So I still have not gotten my first computer yet - deciding between Oceanic Veo 3.0, Mares Nemo Wide, or one of the Suuntos (Vyper non AI or Zoop). What should I look for in particular with respect to this gas switching when deciding between the computers?

 

[gypsyjim]

You might want to start a separate thread in the computer forum, on that question. You will probably get a lot more responses there.

I purchased an N2ition, and it does allow for gas changing, but you do have to remember that once you dive it with an O2 %, you need to remember to set the O2 % for every dive, including air (21%). If you forget to set that % and start a dive your computer tends to scream at you.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

As for going nitrox, because of increased buddy choice, I would not even consider that as a reason...
Oh, and....ENJOY BONAIRE!

I've been on a boat more than once where people were reluctant to dive with the only air diver. Of course, they always managed to get a buddy, but they were usually buddied up with the air hogs or the newbies. (Not that there's anything wrong with that ) When people spend a lot of money to go diving, they want to maximize their diving. Oh, no one will say anything, they'll just kinda wander away or look busy when the Captain's trying to find you a buddy.

 

[gypsyjim]

On Bonaire I have never witnessed this, but dives there tend to be a bit more shallow than a lot of ocean, boat dives elsewhere, so SAC rate is usually more a limiting factor than whether or not divers are on nitrox or air. It is the cumulative effects of multiple dives that begins to separate the two groups, rather than limits on any one dive. At least that has been my experience.

 

[KY_BOB]

Ok, it's done - I'll get on the course tomorrow and start the study.

So I guess the possibility of switching gases could be possible. So I still have not gotten my first computer yet - deciding between Oceanic Veo 3.0, Mares Nemo Wide, or one of the Suuntos (Vyper non AI or Zoop). What should I look for in particular with respect to this gas switching when deciding between the computers?

Good choice. You would hate to be loaded up with nitrogen and have a potential buddy wanting to do a dive on the Hilma Hooker (97' to the bottom).

As for computer choice, that would make a good new thread. FWIW: I think all nitrox computers will track your nitrogen as long as you change it's sittings between dives on different mixes. You don't have to have a "gas switching" computer unless you plan on changing gas underwater.

I have a VEO 3.0, it has a lot of flexibility, which I love, but is not the simplest computer on the market to use. I bought it so I could switch gasses underwater for deco purposes.

 

[KY_BOB]

If you forget to set that % and start a dive your computer tends to scream at you.

Been there, done that, got the pissed of computer. ...for some reason, it didn't like me diving straight O2 at 4ata.

(galvanni, you'll understand that once you take the nitrox class and laugh at it)

 

[Basscat]

YES! It's an easy cert to get at an area dive shop, probably just classroom time and a test. If you dive a computer it takes care of most of the work when you are diving, and 5 dive days are no problem on Nitrox. Go for it.

I posted this in the wrong section accidentally so I'm posting it again here.

Should I get Nitrox cert before going to Bonaire? I don't want to be in the minority if that's what everyone is using down there - I'm going as a single diver, so I need to find buddies.