Should there be an "Advanced Nitrox" and "Rec Nitrox?"

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

A lot of times I do not understand why dummified versions of the same thing are taught to recreational divers with chunks of useful information skimmed over or missing from the curriculum. I was also wondering if the distinction between Sport Nitrox and Technical Nitrox is universal or are there agencies who do not split their Nitrox courses that way? TDIs Advanced Nitrox course does not train divers to do Decompression. It only trains divers in knowing ideal mix for each depth, calculating Equivalent Air Depth other issues that come with breathing and handling higher 02s.

In other words, that course without Decompression Procedures course is really not a technical diving course. It is just the proper way of teaching Nitrox. should that level of education not replace the diluted courses that are being taught as "Rec?"

Just a thought.

 

[Stoo]

I guess the thing is that diving with something like 100% O2 in a bottle can lead to a pretty quick demise. It's much less an issue with 32.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

I guess the thing is that diving with something like 100% O2 in a bottle can lead to a pretty quick demise. It's much less an issue with 32.

Which is why an indepth Nitrox course makes more sense right? You would not use 100% O2 but you may wish to use 50% at 50 feet.

 

[Stoo]

True enough. I suspect that many divers take up Nitrox diving strictly for recreational diving with no intent of doing anything beyond that... Resorts tend to bank 32 so anything other than that likely isn't available anyway.

 

[decompression]

I've seen the nitrox course split in the last 15 years after teaching a couple hundred EANx courses. As mentioned it is now;
1) an entry level resort/rec dive that just wants a bit more bottom time
2) a stepping stone to technical nitrox use

For rec there is almost no desire to use nitrox beyond the standard rec mixes and for tech it gives them the background info for accelerated deco.

 

[tursiops]

A lot of times I do not understand why dummified versions of the same thing are taught to recreational divers with chunks of useful information skimmed over or missing from the curriculum. I was also wondering if the distinction between Sport Nitrox and Technical Nitrox is universal or are there agencies who do not split their Nitrox courses that way? TDIs Advanced Nitrox course does not train divers to do Decompression. It only trains divers in knowing ideal mix for each depth, calculating Equivalent Air Depth other issues that come with breathing and handling higher 02s.

In other words, that course without Decompression Procedures course is really not a technical diving course. It is just the proper way of teaching Nitrox. should that level of education not replace the diluted courses that are being taught as "Rec?"

Just a thought.

There may be some confusion. SDI/TDI actually have three courses: SDI's Computer Nitrox, TDI's Nitrox, and TDI's Advanced Nitrox. The first two cover to 40%; the AN goes to 100%. The SDI course uses a computer, the TDI classes are based on tables, but computers are OK.You assert that without decompression it is not technical diving. Not true; overheads, penetrations, multiple tanks for redundancy, pure O2.....these are all in the technical realm. (As Stoo says, 100% can kill you easily, even out of the water if mishandled. That's technical.) So the reasons there are simpler courses for recreational diving is because recreational divers (by definition) are not supposed to be in situations that require technical skills or high-percentage O2...so they don't need the additional information.

 

[uncfnp]

"Should there be an "Advanced Nitrox" and "Rec Nitrox?"

Yes

 

[Centrals]

I did PADI basic nitrox(1997) and then Adv Nitrox(1998) with IANTD.
The Adv Nitrox would allow short deco with 50% O2 and with twin set/tank with H-valve.

 

[DevonDiver]

One agency that does it a little different is ANDI. They have the Limited SafeAir User (LSU) and Complete SafeAir User (CSU) levels.

SafeAir is just their trademark for nitrox; in their facilities, it has a higher standard for blending/production.

Limited SafeAir is the basic nitrox level; allowing standard mixes of 32% and 36%. The Complete SafeAir is the full theory and qualifies up to 50%. This is so 'advanced recreational' divers can make use of an 'ascent gas' for safety and conservatism.

There is no technical nitrox - it's already covered on CSU. When training technical diving (ANDI Technical Scuba Diver), nitrox use for decompression is

 

[Hawkwood]

True enough. I suspect that many divers take up Nitrox diving strictly for recreational diving with no intent of doing anything beyond that... Resorts tend to bank 32 so anything other than that likely isn't available anyway.

I believe it was Pete Guy who often (?) said that you could teach a recreational diver all they needed to know to be safe based on what they were going to end up using, in 10 minutes.