Nitrox Diving: What Is It and Why You Should Get Certified

The thrilling benefits of Nitrox make it a must-have certification for divers of all levels

The PADI Enriched Air Diver Speciality Course is a quick and affordable certification that brings scuba diving to a new and exciting level.

Because of the many perks associated with Nitrox, it is no surprise that it is the most popular PADI specialty course.

So, what is Nitrox, and what makes it so appealing?

What Is Nitrox and How Does It Work

Commonly known as Nitrox, the term is an abbreviation of Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx).

Compared to normal air used in scuba tanks (78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen), enriched air is a 22%-40% oxygen and nitrogen gas blend.

© PADI 2019

Photo: The telltale yellow and green sticker indicates oxygen-enriched tanks.

Benefits of using Nitrox

As you have learned from your dive training, when you dive your body absorbs nitrogen. By making a safety stop and the end of each dive and always making a slow ascent, you are giving your body time to eliminate the excess nitrogen, thus minimizing the risks of decompression sickness.

With nitrox, you are breathing more oxygen and – consequently – less nitrogen. This has a strong ripple effect on different aspects of diving:

Extended allowable bottom time

The reduced percentage of nitrogen that you breathe with nitrox allows divers to extend their no decompression time. This means spending more time underwater!

Dive table: EANx32 and EANx36 consist of 32% and 36% oxygen, respectively.

Compared to normal air, Nitrox significantly extends the no-decompression limit and can even double the allowed bottom time.

Shorter Surface Intervals

If you are doing more than one dive in a day, breathing and absorbing less nitrogen equals shorter surface intervals needed to “off-gas” before it is safe to dive again.

Longer Dive Times

For divers who use normal air, doing repetitive dives means shorter dive times. This can be especially disappointing if you wish to explore an exciting dive site.

With nitrox, however, you can enjoy longer dive times because you have less residual nitrogen in your body.

Less Exhaustion

Have you ever felt tired and drowsy after a heavy diving schedule? Although it is not scientifically proved, many divers report feeling more alert when diving with Nitrox.

Are You Ready for The PADI Enriched Air Diver Certification?

Photo: Diving with Nitrox in Komodo National Park

If you are at least 12 years old and are a Junior Open Water Diver, Dragon Dive Komodo is the ideal place for your Nitrox diving course.

Dragon Dive Komodo offers daily diving trips and liveaboards to Komodo National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage. Plunge into a rich and diverse ecosystem with breathtakingly beautiful sites with coral reefs, green turtles, manta rays, sharks, and much more!

So, are you ready to go to Nitrox and spend more time underwater? Get certified today! 

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