Extended Range Diving Course and Nitrox Qualification

[mrrrk]

Does anyone know if "PADI Enriched Air Diver" is a suitable entry qualification for the Extended Range Diving Course? It allows you to use up to 40% so I'm assuming it's equivalent to BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver - although I'm not entirely clear on why there's are separate Nitrox Diver and Advanced Nitrox Diver courses or what they qualify you for.

I'm a BSAC Dive Leader so should be okay otherwise.

Cheers!

[PeteM]

Does anyone know if "PADI Enriched Air Diver" is a suitable entry qualification for the Extended Range Diving Course? It allows you to use up to 40% so I'm assuming it's equivalent to BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver - although I'm not entirely clear on why there's are separate Nitrox Diver and Advanced Nitrox Diver courses or what they qualify you for.

No I don't think it is, it is the equivalent of basic nitrox.

Basic nitrox: One mix through out dive (actually limited to 32% or 36%), no deco. So very similar to PADI EAD

Advanced Nitrox: Any mix up to 50%, allows gas switching, allows gases to be carried beyond their MOD, allows deco on rich mixes but calculating them as if you are still on bottom gas.

HTH

Pete

[Adrian Kelland]

Does anyone know if "PADI Enriched Air Diver" is a suitable entry qualification for the Extended Range Diving Course? It allows you to use up to 40% so I'm assuming it's equivalent to BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver - although I'm not entirely clear on why there are separate Nitrox Diver and Advanced Nitrox Diver courses or what they qualify you for.

I'm a BSAC Dive Leader so should be okay otherwise.

Cheers!
Progression.

The basic Nitrox course allows the use of 2 gases 32 and 36 and can be done by an Ocean Diver easily within the MODs of those gases. No deco diving.

Adv Nitrox allows upto 50% as both a diving and deco gas.

While there is some info here (http://www.bsac.org/techserv/tecpuba5.htm) on SDC equivalencies, it does not mention PADI Enriched Air Diver as equivalent to our Adv Nitrox. Now this could be for 1) not equivalent 2) PADI branding change or 3) never been required. Probably one to contact HQ about and get the link updated as required.

Adrian

[Tristan Green]

As others have indicated the PADI Enriched Air Nitrox course is the entry level nitrox course - equivalent to the BSAC Basic Nitrox course.

I took the PADI EAN course while on holiday then went on to complete the BSAC Adv Nitrox and BSAC Extended Range Diver courses. You will find the advanced course a whole different course - if you are looking to move to extended range diver then I recommend that you complete the BSAC Adv Nitrox course to become familiar with the minor differences between the PADI and BSAC entry level courses and get your diving skills up to scratch to hold a decompression stop.

For those that don't know, the PADI course certifies you to use any single gas mix between 21% and 40%, not just limiting you to 3 standard gas mixes of 21%, 32% and 36%. They use the PADI air tables to plan the no-deco dive together with an Equivalent Air Depth for the mix you are breathing. The BSAC have prepared specific tables for each of the nitrox mixes so there is less maths to get to grips with, but it does limit you to only set mixes.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Tristan

[JamesW]

I think you need a Advance Nitrox cert BSAC or TDI should be ok.
Thanks

[mrrrk]

Okay, thanks for all of that. Instructor at our club is looking to run a course so I think I'll put my name down!

[Paul Oliver]

I doubt you will regret it, over the last couple of years i have done about 50 ERD dives and it is a massive step forward in both enjoying my dives and the quality of wreck i am getting to see in the 35-50m range with some good long bottom times.

[SteveCT]

Basic nitrox: One mix through out dive (actually limited to 32% or 36%), no deco. So very similar to PADI EAD
The PADI course allows any mix up to 40%.

Steve

[David Walker]

The PADI course allows any mix up to 40%.

Doesn't make much difference - the key points are that its only one mix for the dive (ie you don't decompress on something different) and you're not qualified for deco anyway.

[thedivingdane]

Hi. If you are talking about TDI extended range then Padi Nitrox does not cover the prequalification rec. You have to be a TDI decompression and advanced nitrox diver.
With decompression and advanced nitrox cert. you can dive to 50 m with accel. decompression with the use of up to 100 O2 as decogas. The two courses are often linked together so that you in reallity only atend one course.(You have to do both exam ofcourse):)

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi. If you are talking about TDI extended range then Padi Nitrox does not cover the prequalification rec. You have to be a TDI decompression and advanced nitrox diver.
With decompression and advanced nitrox cert. you can dive to 50 m with accel. decompression with the use of up to 100 O2 as decogas. The two courses are often linked together so that you in reallity only atend one course.(You have to do both exam ofcourse):)
It is the BSAC Extended Range course discussed here.

Adrian

[ardhill]

I wanted to do the extended Range course too.

I also have the PADI EANx, but did need to do the BSAC advanced Nitrox to qualify for ER.

I am doing the combined Nitrox right now and can tell you that it does cover more than the PADI nitrox course. The PADI course is very good for a 'recreational' nitrox course, but BSAC Advanced does go further.

If you are interested in Extended Range, then I would say that you will enjoy the advanced nitrox (assuming a good instructor).

[JamesW]

If you can't wait for the BSAC Adv EANx why not do the TDI Adv EANx.
Thanks