More Bottom Time? Yes, Please!
Imagine if your best dives didn’t have to end so soon. Wouldn't it be amazing if there was a way to extend your no-stop bottom time when planning your dives? Well, there is—it's called Nitrox or Enriched Air!
This is exactly why the Enriched Air/Nitrox Diver Course is the most popular specialty and often the first one divers choose after their certification. It’s all about more bottom time—and who doesn’t want that?
What Is Nitrox?
Enriched Air/Nitrox is a gas blend with a higher percentage of oxygen than regular air. While air is composed of 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen, Nitrox typically contains between 22% and 40% oxygen. By diving with Nitrox, you can extend your no-stop limits—especially in the 40-90 foot range where most recreational diving happens. This means you can stay underwater longer, have more time to explore, and dive more often in one day.
Nitrox diving has another advantage: many divers report feeling less fatigued after Nitrox dives compared to regular air dives. This allows you to spend less time resting and more time enjoying your vacation or diving experiences.
How Does Nitrox Work?
When you dive with air, nitrogen builds up in your body the deeper and longer you dive. With Nitrox, the increased oxygen percentage decreases the amount of nitrogen your body absorbs. This extends your no-decompression limits (NDLs), allowing you to stay down longer and dive safer.
Many modern dive computers are designed to accommodate Nitrox, and adjusting your computer settings is easy to ensure you're diving safely with the enriched air.
The All-Inclusive Nitrox Course
All three agencies PADI, SDI and TDI offer an online Enriched Air/Nitrox Diver course that teaches you how to dive with Nitrox.
This course includes everything you need to start diving with Nitrox, from theoretical knowledge to practical considerations.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Course Topics Include:
- Understanding Nitrox and how it differs from regular air.
- How to select the right Nitrox blend for your planned dive depth.
- How to analyze your Nitrox mixture for safety.
- How to calculate oxygen exposure limits to avoid oxygen toxicity.
- Special equipment considerations when using higher oxygen percentages.
- How to safely plan Nitrox dives by factoring in both nitrogen and oxygen exposure limits.
What’s Included:
- Online eLearning course: Complete your theoretical knowledge at your own pace with interactive lessons. (2 hours)
- Nitrox check lesson: A 10-minute in-store review to reinforce your knowledge and ensure you're ready to dive safely with Nitrox.
- Lifetime Nitrox Certification: You’ll receive a certification card that is valid for life and recognized internationally.
Study Materials: PADI, SDI, and TDI eLearning codes
You can choose the Nitrox course that works best for you. All three options provide the knowledge and practical skills to dive safely with Nitrox.
Here's a breakdown, but all identical: Read Blog
- PADI Enriched Air Diver Course: PADI is a large diving organization with drastically higher prices due to global advertising and new ownership.
- SDI Enriched Air Nitrox Course: SDI offers an in-depth recreational course focused on practical application, including in-store training and one-on-one instructor support.
- TDI Nitrox Course: A more technical option for divers who want to dive deeper and gain a deeper understanding of the physics and physiology of diving with Nitrox.
Course Prerequisites:
- You must be a certified diver (Open Water or equivalent).
- You must be at least 12 years old and medically fit to dive.
FAQs:
What does the course cover? The course includes everything you need to know about diving with Nitrox—safety, equipment, and dive planning. You'll have lifetime access to the PADI, SDI or TDI Enriched Air Diver manual for reference after certification.
How does the eLearning work? Once you sign up, you’ll get access to interactive presentations, including videos and quizzes. The eLearning course is designed to be done at your own pace and takes around 1-2 hours to complete.
How long does it take to complete? The online portion of the course takes approximately 1-3 hours to finish. After that, you can do the practical application, which involves reviewing key concepts and checking your Nitrox analysis equipment with your instructor.
How do I get certified? Once you finish the eLearning portion, you will complete a short review and practical application session. No dive is required for certification, but you can choose to apply Nitrox to any future dives you do with your dive shop.
Ready for More Bottom Time?
Sign up for the Enriched Air/Nitrox Diver Course today and get more time to enjoy the underwater world. With Nitrox, you can dive safer, longer, and more efficiently. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, Nitrox is a great way to enhance your diving experience!
