Nitrox is a breathing gas with more oxygen and less nitrogen. The magic of Nitrox lies in its reduced nitrogen content compared to standard compressed air. Excessive nitrogen buildup can lead to decompression sickness (DCS), a potentially dangerous condition. Nitrox minimizes this risk by decreasing the nitrogen component and increasing the oxygen content relative to air, which translates into extended bottom time. More oxygen means less nitrogen, and less nitrogen means you can stay down longer and enjoy shorter surface intervals. At shallower depths and shorter dives, it also introduces a margin of safety that protects against DCS.

After completing your eLearning, we will meet for a classroom demonstration where you will analyze the gas content in tanks provided for you. We offer two options for students interested in Nitrox:

Recreational open water divers just looking to increase their bottom-time and expand their gas options should consider the PADI Enriched Air or SDI Computer Nitrox Diver course. This class will teach you the practical details of diving nitrox, including analyzing your gas and using your dive computer to track your NDLs. This is a quick easy option that will get you in the water fast (and safely).

Divers interested in pursuing a tech/cave path, or who like learning about dive theory and physics, should consider the TDI Nitrox course instead. This is a much more in-depth program that covers the dive physics and biology involved, including topics such as equivalent air depth (EAD) and oxygen exposure limits. We recommend that students considering future training in advanced nitrox or deco procedures take TDI Nitrox first. This course is appropriate for any new or beginning divers with an interest in the science behind diving.

Please note, this class does not include any actual dives. For that reason, although this course can be taken on its own, we recommend pairing it with Advanced Open Water (AOW) or the Deep Diver specialty to gain additional in-water experience.

Prerequisite: Open Water certification, or equivalent

Course Details: PADI Enriched Air Diver or SDI Computer Nitrox Diver or TDI Nitrox (pick your course when booking; please note, there is an additional $150 surcharge for upgrading to TDI Nitrox)

Total time commitment: 1 day (no dives)

Minimum age: 18

Maximum Course Size: 4 Students

Course Cost: $200 USD* - This course consists of eLearning and classroom demonstrations. No dives are included, but you may add a dive for an additional $110/student. We recommend pairing the class with Advanced Open Water or Deep Diver to get additional experience.

This price includes certification/training for the SDI Computer Nitrox Diver course; you may upgrade to a PADI certification or the TDI Nitrox course for an additional $150/student.