Nitrox Requirement

[Qix]

I think it would be a bit extreme to require nitrox training for initial open water training.

However, if possible I think it would be wise to spend 15 minutes or so making them aware of it. So why not do this for DPV's or other mixed gases, etc. Because Nitrox is more in their face. Just about every dive computer will have a nitrox mode so with some awareness they would better understand the risks of setting a EAN dive when on straight air or perhaps understanding the risks of using someone else's EAN fill on a dive boat, etc. And the majority of the people trained here go on to dive in your typical warm water vacations only. With a better understanding of Nitrox they might be able to make a better decision to how it will benefit them on their trips. A perfect example is dive trips to Bonaire. Nitrox just makes sense.

Now for Scuba Instructors, I think a nitrox certification should be mandatory. There's nothing more silly (or irritating) than those Instructors/DM's with zero mixed gas training telling students that Nitrox isn't necessary or costs too much or is a hassle, etc. Not to mention, instructors are the ones doing a crapload of CESA's and up and downs on a busy summer weekends so why not grab some EAN40 instead of doing it on air. They can get the fills for free or at reduced costs and there is no more weight or equipment to lug around (provided they test fills and label tanks before loading up). And there's a bonus, some of the students will ask about the tank stickers to which point the instructor might rally up some more business which is good for both and with very little logistics involved. I would think one of the best profit classes a scuba shop can instruct is the first Nitrox course. One classroom, one instructor, a few EAN fills, a few testers and one evening. Everyone is done when they walk out.

[DiverQueen]

Being as how so many of us are motivated by the almighty Dollar....Half price Nitrox Class if taken within 30 days of the completion of basic OW!  How's that sound??  I'm game for that deal!

[Shooter]

;D Only if you drop the dive tables  :  how many divers actually use them anymore? And if you're going to use dive tables  why not use the RGBM profile.Those are the tables, I used on my master test, made it a lot easier. Granted, it only allows three dives per day,  That's why it doesn't work for me.

There was already too much to focus on for me, without adding Nitrox. Maybe just a brief explanation, not to be tested though. It would also be nice if the Nitrox class could be completed in one day. 

[NorthlandDivers]

With SSI the EAN Nitrox course can be completed in one day as long as the text book has been read and the study guide questions have been done.  We do not have to do dives for the SSI EAN Nitrox Certification however they do need to test tanks to find out there O2 level and figure out the MOD for that % of Oxegen.  We have several tanks set up that we use just for class with different levels of O2 in each of them.

[arcFlash]

I carry and use tables. I dive time and tank pressure. My computer(s) are mostly depth. I still calculate SIT and rep dives the same as day one.

So far, it works fine and I'm not trying to get 6 dives a day in. If I do, I'll use the computers NDL and O2 clocks.

[LKunze]

As already mentioned, nitrox is a huge asset for liveaboards with as many dives as you can potentially rack up. 

For local diving it isn't as big a deal but can be useful for long day trips driving up to the iron range, Crosby or Wazee.  I find I feel less tired on the drive home after getting in 3 or 4 dives diving nitrox rather than air.  Nitrox isn't rocket science and is pretty easy to understand so I don't think it really adds much complexity. 

I'd dive nitrox all the time if I could afford it.  I wouldn't be able to afford to do as many dives as I typically do each year if I chose to dive nitrox a lot. That's why I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've bought nitrox fills in the past 2 or 3 years.  Air fills seem to be going up in price every year as well though and are approaching the price nitrox fills used to cost 4 or 5 years ago in many places.  I may be scaling back the number of dives I do in the future due to rising costs...fuel prices included but now I'm getting off topic.

Back to Lee's first post, I don't agree with "requiring" nitrox to be part of OW training but it wouldn't be a bad idea to offer a special package that included it perhaps at a discount.  That might encourage divers to get the nitrox training right away.

[Kirk]

Nitrox with basic open water class….  I don’t think it’s a really good idea.  I personally thought my 4-day basic open water class had enough new information.  Note, however GUE has been talking for a while about starting an open water class, in which I’m pretty sure they will be teaching Nitrox from day 1. 

On the other hand, diving Nitrox can be much safer (if one knows what is all about).  Though a brand new diver should, in my opinion, be getting used to just diving.  In my opinion, first learn to dive, and then think about the more complicated stuff.

Nittox can be really good.  During the winter, down in Florida, I dive Nitrox all the time.  I dive a lot of caves.  Depending on the depth of the cave, Nitrox + pure O2 makes a huge difference.  I just plugged into the deco software on my cheap used palm pilot (note, I only use this thing for dive software, have no idea what else to use it for), and ran a 100 minute dive at an average depth of 80 ft (a pretty typical North Florida cave dive), with 32% Nitrox with 100% O2 at 20 feet.  I got a total run time of 121 minutes.  Ran the same dive on air, and got 250 minutes.  More than twice as long, to get out of the water safe.

Up here, in the north, there are lots of great dives with Nitrox.  The Madeira and the Mesquite on 32% and the Emperor Stern on about 27 or 28%.
 
On trips to a quarry, I usually just dive air (defiantly clean air, I got some nasty stuff last season), with a bottle of O2 for deco if I need it.  If I’m scootering around Wazee for instance, looking for a new dive site (I’ve found a lot of really nice one’s, by the way), I’d rather not hit the 100 – 120 foot danger zone if I were diving 32%.  I’d rather be a bit narced than dead.

A few years ago a shop in South Minneapolis taught a class called Ice-Trox (a combination of Nitrox and Ice Diving).  I took it, and thought it was a really good idea.  My philosophy was why take a class in a classroom, when you should be diving.  However, why not teach that class when the only place to dive was under the ice.  From a marketing standpoint, I thought it was brilliant.   

In summary learn with air, for it is much more forgiving at depth, but one should learn the Nitrox tables and limitations if one catches the bug, and wants to do a lot of diving.  - Kirk   

[DiveMN]

I think EAN requires more attention to detail than most new divers can handle - they are already on cerebral overload just managing basic skills. I do think its a great early specialty to pick up.
Also, I agree with Deano that we're moving toward the day when all divers will be on rebreathers. The cost just needs to come down a bit.

[LRRP02]

after watching the board on what people are asking and remarks coming back too expensive I dont think rebreathers will ever get that low for most of your pocket books

[DiveCaptDean]

oh sure they will-

a SCR like a drager dolfin is not very expensive at all even right now..and a used one can be bought for less than 1500.00..compare that to the equipment on buys for recreational scuba...bc..regulator..octo..computer..they are not far off from each other..

and when it comes to tehnical diving and CCR's they arent that far off either..if you did purchase a set of twins..backplate..wing..harness..multiple regulators...i know that i have spend enough money on open circuit dive equipment to buy two  rebreathers...

so i do think the day will come when either a SCR or CCR will come down enough in price to most definitely make them very popular with all types of divers...