What is Nitrox?

Mother Nature provides us with a breathing gas called air. However she never said air is the perfect gas for breathing under water. Air contains approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. When the percentage of oxygen is increased and therefore the percentage of nitrogen decreased, we call it Enriched Air Nitrox or EANx.

Contrary to beliefs that Nitrox is used only in deep diving - in fact the ideal depth for breathing Nitrox is between 12 and 40 meters, which are accepted sport diving depths. When properly used, EANx can provide the sports diver with the following advantages:

• Longer no decompression dive time
• Less decompression
• Less decompression stress
• Shorter surface interval time
• Longer repetitive dive time
• Additional safety if used with air tables/computers

This course, which provides an overview of the use and application of EANx for safer diving, also represents the foundation for more in-depth training and the stepping stone towards Technical Diving. The course consists of approximately four hours of theory and two Nitrox dives from our dive boat. Once certified you will be qualified to use the advantages of Nitrox mixtures containing up to 40% Oxygen.

Course duration: 1½ days.

Prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification with 10 logged dives