This is the most popular specialty course. It’s no surprise really, as diving on enriched air Nitrox safely extends the time that you can spend underwater compared to air. It also provides greater repetitive dive times as well!
This course can be conducted without entering the water, but we can always arrange a day’s diving, allowing you to put into practice what you’ve just learnt.
The ‘PADI Enriched Air Diver’ course is designed to qualify recreational divers to use enriched air (‘Nitrox’) for no stop recreational diving. The program addresses the use of enriched air with 22 percent to 40 percent oxygen, with emphasis on enriched air with 32 and 36 percent oxygen.
Course Details
- The maximum number of students on each course is 4
- The practical applications are conducted by an Instructor, with the in water training led by an Instructor, with an additional safety diver and surface support
- You will need to undertake the independent study of the Enriched Air Nitrox Diving Manual, bringing the completed knowledge reviews with you, prior to starting the practical applications. The final exam must also be completed prior to in water training
- The practical applications are conducted at our local air filling station prior to the in water training dive. The whole course should take no longer than one day to complete.
- Cost of the course is £150.00 including two dives, or just £80.00 without the dives.
Before Starting The Course
- You must be certified as an Open Water Diver or above
- You must be aged 15 years or older
- Please read and understand the medical questionnaire
- If you would like to use your own equipment then please check this against the minimum equipment required for this course.
Course overview
Nitrox Diving Example – 21% (normal air dive)
Our Virtual diver ‘Dave’, conducts an open water dive on one of his favourite wrecks. This wreck sits in 24 mtrs of water. Using his Recreational Dive Planner, and diving on normal breathing air, he can make the following dive –
You can see that this dive lasts 29 minutes, with an ending pressure group of Q
40% Enriched Air Nitrox Diving
Conducting the same dive, but with a 40% mix, see what the increase could be –
‘Dave’ could spend 57 minutes in the water, almost doubling his dive time, and only ending three pressure groups higher as a T diver.
Multilevel 40% Enriched Air Nitrox Diving
Take the Multilevel Specialty and see, using nitrox, how you can increase further your dive time.
Knowledge Development
Before starting the open water training you’ll need to complete the knowledge reviews. These are found in the manual, with further information found on the dive slates (all items supplied).
There is also a final exam that must be completed before we start the in water training
Nitrox Diving - Open Water Training
Within this course we have two practical exercises to carry out; these are conducted out of the water, and two in water training dives.
Practical Application 1
Prior to entering the water, it is important to verify the contents of an enriched air Nitrox cylinder. In this practical exercise we are going to look at how to use an analyser to determine the oxygen content. We will also use this information to calculate our ‘Maximum Operating Depth’
Practical Application 2
Now that we can analyse and verify the contents of our cylinder, the next step is to obtain a Nitrox fill.
These photos are of the filling station at the National Diving and Activity Centre, Tidenham, Chepstow.
Open Water Training Dives 1 & 2 – Depth Ranges upto 40mtrs (certification level allowing)
These two dives are just for fun, but will include all aspects of dive planning associated with breathing Enriched Air Nitrox. Prior to the dives we will select the best mix for our depth, obtain the fill, analyse the contents and verify our maximum operating depth.
At the dive site we will set our computers, make a dive plan, and go and have some fun!
The intention is to carry out the second dive as a repetitive dive, so we will also look at calculating our ending pressure group from the first dive. Allowing for our surface interval, we’ll calculate our starting pressure group for the second dive, and incorporate this into our dive planning.
If you’ve taken the multilevel specialty, then we can also plan one or both of the dives as a multilevel dive.
Course Fee Includes
- Enriched Air Crew Pack – includes Manual, Dive Tables, Diploma & Chevron
- Certification costs
- All equipment* and enriched air fills
- Possibility of transport to and from the site (please contact us for details)
*If you are using your own equipment then please read and complete the Own Equipment Liability form
When Can I Start?
We run these courses to suit individual needs, so please contact us to discuss your requirements. The next course will be starting sooner than you think!
Other Relevant Courses
Nitrox diving works great with multilevel diving, and can be used to extend those bottom times on deeper dives, and give you some more time to explore your favourite wreck.