Nitrox Courses

[nixsie]

So reading the threads on Nitrox - keen to start using it. Sick of falling asleep as soon as I finish diving - worse on a long drive.

Question is £150 for Padi Basic Nitrox or £199 for TDI Combined Basic & Advanced Nitrox Diver

Need to some help on choice as I am likely to be travelling to OZ and other places so lookin go for best recongnized qual. I heard the combined is pretty good though - Being near Cardiff Chepstow looks the nearest place ?

[Richie]

TDI is probably the way to go - a seamless route through to Adv Trimix.

I think PADI are still working on the pricing for these courses

[chrisch]

Do you do decompression diving at all? If so the TDI combined is the way to go. If not then either the TDI Basic Nitrox or PADI EAN or IANTD Basic Nitrox are all much the same. The TDI one is usually cheapest from what I've seen.

The PADI one counts towards your MSD if you want one (why?). Also if you go on to teach the PADI one lets you teach PADI EAN. TDI and IANTD (et al) will recognise the PADI one if you want later to do an advanced course.

All advanced EAN courses relate to the use of high oxygen mixes for decompression. Most schools will expect you to have twin tanks and a wing in order to complete the course.

You will have no problems with the ticket in Oz.

Chris

[nixsie]

No Deco's at the moment, just moving into Nitrox to be honest. SO looking for best course to suit. Although not having Nitrox Cylinders and twins may hinder I think - have to check with NDC on their course.

[Gareth J]

Originally Posted by chrisch

All advanced EAN courses relate to the use of high oxygen mixes for decompression. Most schools will expect you to have twin tanks and a wing in order to complete the course.

You will have no problems with the ticket in Oz.

Chris

In reply to Chris's comment .

Most of what you have said is correct. However, the use of Twin Cylinders is not a pre-requesite of Advanced Nitrox courses. In fact the BSAC advanced (& Combined) Nitrox instructor notes advise instructors to keep the equipment as simple possible, single 12 with 3l pony.

In General

I would normally suggest the Combined coarse when asked, because its more cost effective & you get the addition of inwater tuition & to try the gas under supervision.

If you do do a Combined course remember that there is an in water assessment as well as the theory test.
The inwater assessment covers
1. Bouyancy control (not descending below a specified depth, MOD)
2. Deployment of DSMB (taught on course)
3. Regulator switching (taught on coarse, should be in your existing standard diving skills(regulator retrievel) )
4. Decompression stops (bouyancy again, ought to be in your standard diving skills, although taught as part of course)

What makes a good course is the Instructor, a good instructor will challange your diving skills & expand your capability. This often means they will expand the syllabus, or work on your weaker skills. You could find yourself doing skills from the ERD or advanced Decompression course, in addition to the requirements of the coarse you are doing!

All the courses are good, TDI, IANTD, BSAC, DIR, (the new lot?). But get a GOOD INSTRUCTOR. This is more important than the agency.

[J.D.]

Originally Posted by nixsie

No Deco's at the moment, just moving into Nitrox to be honest. SO looking for best course to suit. Although not having Nitrox Cylinders and twins may hinder I think - have to check with NDC on their course.

In that case I'd say TDI Basic Nitrox would suit you - no need for >40% if you're not using it for deco.

I did mine with Mark Powell a few of months ago - excellent instructor and it's only £80. See http://www.dive-tech.co.uk

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by James Davies

In that case I'd say TDI Basic Nitrox would suit you - no need for >40% if you're not using it for deco.

I did mine with Mark Powell a few of months ago - excellent instructor and it's only £80. See http://www.dive-tech.co.uk

I would go with that too 100%.

You do not need twins and you can rent a Nitrox tank for your nitrox dives or have your existing tank cleaned and re-labelled.

(In fact if you take the TDI Basic with Mark and have your tank cleaned and re stickered it will be cheaper than the £199 PADI course).

Chris

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Gareth J

.... In fact the BSAC advanced (& Combined) Nitrox instructor notes advise instructors to keep the equipment as simple possible, single 12 with 3l pony.

......

Mmm.. a very good reason not to do that course then..

Chris

[johnkendall]

Originally Posted by Gareth J

In reply to Chris's comment .

Most of what you have said is correct. However, the use of Twin Cylinders is not a pre-requesite of Advanced Nitrox courses. In fact the BSAC advanced (& Combined) Nitrox instructor notes advise instructors to keep the equipment as simple possible, single 12 with 3l pony.

That is because the BSAC Advanced Nitrox Course is not really Advanced. It lets you use up to 50% for deco, but doesn't let you use it to shorten your deco time.

HTH
John

[Gareth J]

Originally Posted by chrisch

Mmm.. a very good reason not to do that course then..

Chris

Chris, there is no difference between the TDI, IANTD & BSAC advanced (combined) coarse (other than the tables used).
If you are taking a Sports Diver (AOW) or Ocean Diver (OW), then they are probably still diving single cylinder, possibly with a pony.
It is a bit much to expect them to be using twinsets. There is a section relating to kit configuration & redundancy, discussing both Single cylinders with pony's & twinset's. There is also a practical review of the kit configurations the students are using. The actual kit requirement is twinset or single with pony.
The decompression elements of the assessment is normally somethig like 5 minutes at 9m & 5 minutes at 6m.
Depth limitations for the diving qualifications are 30 or 35m. At this depth a twinset is not required.
Accelerated decompression is the next level up!

My original Advanced Nitrox card was IANTD.
It covered exactly the same material as the other agencies, except at the time the manual was very poor (I don't know what its like now). The one advantage is that the Buehlmann tables where introduced, something new to me. But the remaining tables where far to complicated for what was needed.

Looking at the question, we are not being asked for advice on accelerated deco', just Nitrox, basic or combined.
I was very careful to highlight that I would suggest combined, in the long term there is more benefit over the basic & you save money & gain an inwater session.
The downside is that you have to pass the practical assessment. So if you have only just past Open Water or Ocean Diver it may be a bit too much to attempt.
If you have done Sports diver (possible AOW) it should be no problem.
Alternatively if you have a friendly instructor / competent buddy, you could learn, practice the DSMB & bouyancy elements in preparation

What is of far more relevence is the instructor, not the agency.

Anyway this is just a personal opinion ( I hold qualifications with most agencies, I've always been more interested in the instructor).