OVERVIEW
This is course is to provide the diver with the information necessary to utilize EANx as a breathing medium. The course may be taught as a stand-alone specialty course to certified divers or the knowledge and skills training may be integrated into the Scuba Diver course.
QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are considered competent to utilize EANx in open water diving activities without direct supervision, provided the diving activities and the areas dived approximate those of training.
COURSE POLICIES
- Dives shall not exceed a depth of 130 fsw (40 msw) or 1.6 atm PO2 , whichever is less. No planned dives requiring actual decompression stops on the appropriate EANx tables are to be permitted. (Maximum PO2 of 1.4 is to be taught with 1.5-1.6 as contingencies.)
SKILL REQUIREMENTS
At least two dives are to made using EANx, one of which is to be a repetitive dive. The student is to analyze his or her own breathing mixture and to plan and safely execute each dive.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
The following topics are to be covered: history of nitrox as a breathing gas; Dalton’s law of partial pressures; physiology of oxygen and nitrogen; depth limits, advantages, disadvantages and risks of nitrox; oxygen toxicity; hazards and precautions of handling oxygen; the concept of Equivalent Air Depth; use of EANx with Standard Air Dive Tables; common gas mixing procedures; and gas analyzing procedures.
PREREQUISITES FOR ENTERING THE COURSE
- Age. Minimum is 15 years.
- Certification: Scuba Diver certification or the equivalent is required unless combined with the Scuba Diver course. The instructor is to ensure adequate student knowledge and capability before any open water training and shall use skill or other evaluations to do so.
