SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 40
Course Prerequisites
The minimum age for participation is 10. Those taking the course need to have basic arithmetic skills. There is some basic algebra.
You must either have Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver certification, or be currently enrolled in an Open Water Diver class. Neptune does not normally teach Nitrox and OWD simultaneously.
You must have an active SSI Diver Training Record on file at the dive shop, and a current Medical History form. If you don’t, one can be started for you.
You must have a current SSI 1) Statement of Understanding, 2) Privacy Statement, 3) Medical History form, 4) Waiver and Release of Liability, and 5) Risk Awareness Verification (video 3). If you do not, please update them before the class session.
If you have several (around 15) dives under various conditions, and review the OWD course materials before class, the course material will make more sense.
This is an easy entry-level specialty course - if you take the time to study the academic materials thoroughly. The course is online, with review questions. You're expected to complete all sections prior to the class session, which will review the online material, give you a tour of Neptune's air fill station, and show you how to use an oxygen analyzer. There is a written multiple-choice exam.
There are no pool sessions or open water training dives. If you already have a nitrox dive computer, be sure to review the instruction manual before the class session, and be sure you know how to use it before your first nitrox dive. It would be helpful if you bring the computer and instruction manual to the class session. Also, the Neptune staff will gladly help you with this on a one-on-one basis.
Course Objectives
On completion of this diving specialty course, you should be able to:
- State the definition of Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx)
- Describe the benefits of Nitrox
- List the limitations of Nitrox
- List the effects of breathing more oxygen
- State the benefits of breathing less nitrogen
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of CNS oxygen toxicity
- Understand how to prevent CNS oxygen toxicity
- Understand how Nitrox impacts your Total Diving System
- Determine if your Total Diving System components can be used with Nitrox
- Analyze the Nitrox content of a scuba cylinder
- Use a nitrox-programmable computer for nitrox dive planning
- Manage your exposure to oxygen by using nitrox-programmable computers
- Handle your exposure to nitrogen using nitrox-programmable computers
- Perform nitrox dive planning and the decision making process
How the Course Works
- The academic portion of the course, including your at-home study of the online Navigation training materials and the class session should take about 6-8 hours. There are no pool sessions, or open water training dives.
- We expect you to study and complete the online course materials very carefully, before the first session.
- If you have a nitrox dive computer, bring it and the instruction manual to the class session.
- If you have an oxygen analyzer, bring it and the instruction manual to the class session.
- Plan on the class session going from 6pm to 9pm.
- Don't sign up for the class if you don't have the time for study.
- When you sign up, you’ll be given access to the online training materials at the SSI website.
- Please complete all sections of the online course, including the online review questions, prior to the class session. Set aside several hours to do this.
- The class session will also review the academic sections of the course.
- There's a written final exam, which you have to pass with a minimum score of 80%.
- You will be given a tour of Neptune's air fill station, shown how to use Neptune's oxygen analyzer, and how to check in and analyze your cylinders, and how to use Neptune's nitrox log book.