Online Nitrox Certification
- My buddy Rich (50,001 Questions) has been encouraging me to get Nitrox certified for the past 5 years or so and I always blow it off with "What do I need that for? You Nitrox guys always dive the AIR tables so what's the point?" (It's another layer of safety, right?) Besides, we don't have Nitrox instruction locally so it's a big inconvenience for me to go out of town to get it.
- Even so, I got some books on it and read up. So I understood the physiology and advantages. Plus, I see my Tech Diver buddies SwimJim and Eric using Nitrox in their deep wreck dives requiring decompression stops. They practice with it at Fortune Pond.
- So I figured to take a Nitrox course on my upcoming trip to Cozumel. But then I learned it is just a book work course and they certify you without an actual open water test. So I didn't need to be near a lake or the ocean. AND, I wasn't looking forward to spending a day of my vacation in a classroom.
- So then I looked online for a Nitrox class to take before my trip. And I think I found just about the most perfect solution for me:
https://www.onlinenitroxlessons.com/NitroxLessons.html
- It's a course that results in a Nitrox certification from SDI. There are 4 modules and you take a quiz after each one. Then you take a final exam which is basically a review of what you learned for the quizzes. If you get any questions wrong, you can re-take the quizzes (and the final) as many times as it takes to get 100% correct answers. I took the whole course in about 3-4 hours on Friday night after work!
- What's covered:
1. The first module explains what Nitrox is and gives laws of Physics and Physiolgy that apply to it. It gives formulas and has you do some calculations.
2. The second module gives some review of AIR diving and use of decompression tables to calculate repetitive dive times.
3. The third module presents Nitrox I (32%) and Nitrox II (36%) decompression tables and has you work through use of them for multiple dives.
4. The fourth module is on equipment requirements and diver responsibilities.
I will be receiving a my Nitrox Certificate by 2nd Day Fedex this week (for my trip) and my certification card 2-3 weeks from now.