Enriched Air (Nitrox
Enriched Air (Nitrox) is air that has a higher oxygen content. Originally introduced by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for research diving, is now widely accepted within the recreational dive community.
Typically, air contains two major components... oxygen (21%) and nitrogen (79%). Commonly referred to asenriched airfor recreational diving is considered blends of 22% to 40% oxygen with the most common being 32% and 36%.
Benefits and Risks
Nitrox offers several distinctive benefits including increased no-decompression limits and shorter service intervals while reducing risk. Also, nitrox divers have often reported that they feel less fatigued at the end of a full-day of diving than they typically would while diving air.
Unfortunately, there are also potential risk. It is a major misconception that nitrox allows you to "dive deeper for longer." The increase in oxygen content requires strict depth limits based on the oxygen partial pressure of the specific blend at depth. For instance, the recreational oxygen partial pressure maximum depth for 32% nitrox is 110-feet, where as the maximum depth for 36% nitrox is 90-feet compared to the 130-feet depth limit of air.
The greatest advantage of nitrox for divers is between depths of 50 and 110-feet. Imagine extending your bottom time and safety margin on an 80-foot profile while drifting effortlessly past Goliath Grouper on a coral reef, or over the hull of a 184-foot wreck. With air, your no-decompression limit at 80-feet is 30 minutes. With 32% nitrox, your no-decompression limit is extended to 45 minutes. With 36% nitrox, your no-decompression limit is extended to 60 minutes. Visualize the difference.
If you find yourself on multi-day diving vacations, would like to increase you no-decompression limits, or would like to add an additional safety margin into your dive profiles, enroll in a PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox)Diver course with Pura Vida Divers on your next dive charter.
with enriched air (nitrox)requires additional training and knowledge development from a certifiedEnriched Air (Nitrox) Instructor.
Course Information
With Pura Vida Divers' Instructional Team, you will learn how to analyze your enriched air (nitrox tanks and properly plan your dive profiles as well as gain an in-depth understanding of the benefits and risks of air (nitrox)
Typically completed in one day and offered daily on board Sirena, yourPADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver course include your twoenriched air (nitrox dives, enriched air (nitrox) tank rentals, soft weights, weight belt, training materials, certification and instructor fees, and photo. You must be certified as an Open Water Diver to participate in this course.
Bonus Savings- Now you can complete your PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver certification at the same time as almost any Continuing Education course.
Pura Vida Divers also offers the DSAT Gas Blender Course. You will learn the proper methods and procedures for blending enriched air (nitrox) and oxygen cleaning equipment. For additional information on courses and instruction, please visit Courses and Instruction.
To enroll in a PADI Enriched Air(Nitrox) Diver, TDINitrox Diver, or DSAT Gas Blender course, please Contact Us
