Should you have to dive with Nitrox before getting Nitrox certified?

[Damselfish]

Getting Nitrox certified is a good idea, but despite what your instructor said I doubt it will cure your headaches - even if it seems to help there's still probably something else you need to fix. Others have already given a number of possibilities for that.

For basic Nitrox you don't really gain anything by doing dives as part of the class, other than a couple dives. Dives were still required back when we did it but there was no instructor with us, if you came back you got your card.

 

[RJP]

My main reason for wanting to do so is that I get headaches and feel kind of crappy after diving too long - kind of like how I feel after being stuck in an airplane for too long - and the instructor suggested that that probably wouldn't happen with Nitrox.

Google CO₂ retention... and find a new instructor.

---------- Post added September 7th, 2015 at 05:14 PM ----------

If you get headaches from diving you are either skip breathing or ascending too fast.

Or breathing too shallow, thereby not clearing CO₂ from your lungs.

---------- Post added September 7th, 2015 at 05:26 PM ----------

My main question is this - should there be dives required to get Nitrox certified? PADI doesn't require any dives at all and I could literally go sign up for their eLearning course right now, get Nitrox certified, and start diving with it tomorrow. That seems a little odd but the instructor said that dives aren't really necessary to understand the Nitrox differences.

I think that before a diver can receive their Nitrox card they should be required to do 10 "blinded" dives: five dives on Nitrox, five dives on air, with the mix unknown to the diver. If they can correctly identify what gas they were breathing based on how they "felt" after each of the ten dives they will not only receive their Nitrox card... they will also be allowed to post "I feel better after diving Nitrox" on ScubaBoard.

If they cannot discern which gas they were diving on all ten dives, they still get their nitrox c-card... but they will also be required to post "I can't tell the difference" in reply to every thread asking if nitrox "makes you feel better" after diving.

 

[AfterDark]

I'd like to see factual information presented about nitrox. Nitrox reliving headaches and combating fatigue is pure BS IMO. I'll accept that people who claim that it does are sincere in their belief but IMO it's just the power suggestion. The purpose for nitrox is to extend bottom time and reduce SI for repetitive diving. However if the diver cannot reach the NDLs or preferably exceed the NDLs on 21% with their tank of choice then nitrox will do nothing but cost that diver more money to dive. It isn't a miracle gas, it's just air with a higher O2%.

If I knew what I know now about nitrox before I got certified, I never would have become nitrox certified. I keep my nitrox cert card on my fridge to remind me of my folly. I used nitrox about 6 times never felt any different didn't increase my BT by one second because I hit my turn around pressure before the NDL. I haven't used nitrox in 3 years and never expect to use is again.

So to answer your question yes there should be dives, but the dives should be before the class so that divers can find out before spending their money if nitrox is worth it for them, IMO.

RJP posted while I was typing but he's right on the money with the headaches and the instructor advice. I like the "blindfold" trial dives even better than just diving nitrrox and knowing it!

 

[FinnMom]

New divers can also get headaches caused by strains to neck and shoulder muscles - carrying heavy loads, such as tanks. Generally feeling crappy and headaches can also be signs of dehydration.

Nitrox can allow you to stay at depth a little longer, come up a little faster, and on some liveaboards nitrox fills are free but air fills cost money - this last one was the end of the arguement for me. Two liveaboard trips already paid for the class. A little added theory is good for you: take the class. Then it's entirely up to you whether you want to use voodoo gas or not.

 

[ktomlinson]

The class is a good idea, just not for the reasons you initially thought! On the question of should you have to dive with an instructor for the certification? I don't think you should have to. I do think you should have to analyze your tank in front of them though.

 

[Centrals]

Nitrox can extent the bottom time(20-30m range) but only if your tank can last the pace. For most new divers this is NOT the case.
My suggestion is to put the course on hold until you are more economical on the gas consumption.
Working too hard under water, eg finning against current, will give me headache as well.

 

[beachbummer28]

My gas consumption isn't so bad; when my husband and I dove last, we both used AL80s and he had to surface after about 45 minutes, while I was left with 1800 psi. So I guess my limitation is my dive buddy, not my air! Heh. I do think the headache is probably from biting on the reg, as someone suggested on the first page. I just realized my jaw is sore after diving which obviously shouldn't be the case. I was thinking about getting Nitrox certified because we're going on a Caribbean vacation in a few months where we'll do multiple dives a day for a week straight.

 

[Centrals]

My gas consumption isn't so bad; when my husband and I dove last, we both used AL80s and he had to surface after about 45 minutes, while I was left with 1800 psi. So I guess my limitation is my dive buddy, not my air! Heh. I do think the headache is probably from biting on the reg, as someone suggested on the first page. I just realized my jaw is sore after diving which obviously shouldn't be the case. I was thinking about getting Nitrox certified because we're going on a Caribbean vacation in a few months where we'll do multiple dives a day for a week straight.

Do you think Nitrox will extent the bottom time for your husband? But at least you will surface with less N2 in your system.
Carbon dioxide retention(hypercapnia) is a interesting topic. So headache is not to be taken lightly.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

I agree conducting dives to get the Nitrox certified is unnecessary. It is the theory you need.

For our average dives I really don't think Nitrox makes a blind bit of difference. We don't bother with Nitrox for our local diving. I will say that it has made a difference on dive trips with multiple dives multiple days. We have both noted that the dive trips we did prior to Nitrox left us with much less energy. The dive trips we have done using Nitrox we were able to do more dives per day and for more days in a row.

Could it be placebo effect wouldn't rule it out but in all honesty.. I don't care. It works for us! If you can afford the course the knowledge is worth it and it gives you options. Having options is good

Headaches can be caused by a heap more things that would not be fixed by Nitrox. CO2 retention, jaw clenching to hold the reg and tilting the head back to look forward would be the most likely in my experience. Sinus issues may also need to be considered.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Your headaches, my vote goes with those that said:

1) jaw clenching too tight on mouthpiece. You don't need to bite down on it. Just relax your jaw, teeth not quite resting in the mouthpiece with lips over that. Your reg won't fall out, so relax.

2 ) new diver tension headache, relax relax relax

3 ) CO2 headache, breathing too fast and/or not fully expelling all on your exhale, relax, relax, breathe in slowly and fully, breathe out more slowly and fully, breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out, relax, relax, relax

4 ) now as to nitrox, don't bother with that until you have more dives and you're feeling relaxed and ready to do some gorilla diving vacations.

5) you need a new instructor buddy, sorry to tell you. Your instructor should have come up with #1 and #3 as soon as you told him about your headaches. That said, maybe your instructor meant if you were diving with a hangover nitrox might help