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 NITROX DIVER

Understanding Nitrox at tech level
In a Nutshell

The TDI Nitrox Diver course is designed for divers who want to use enriched air nitrox (EAN) to enhance safety and extend bottom time.

This training teaches you how to analyze your gas mix, understand the benefits and risks of oxygen, and use dive tables or computers suited for nitrox blends ranging from 22% to 40% oxygen.
 

Using nitrox helps reduce nitrogen absorption, allowing for longer no-decompression limits or shorter surface intervals. However, it also requires a solid understanding of oxygen toxicity and depth limitations.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for certified divers who want to begin using enriched air nitrox.
 

You should already be comfortable with:

  • Basic open water diving skills

  • Standard dive planning procedures

  • Dive computer use

  • Fundamental gas management concepts
     

This course builds awareness and precision when using oxygen-enriched breathing gases.

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age: 18

  • SDI Open Water Scuba Diver (or equivalent)

Skills & Challenges Ahead

Switching to enriched air nitrox represents a step forward in dive management. With increased oxygen content, it becomes essential to understand depth limitations and the risks associated with oxygen toxicity, especially during extended exposures.

sing nitrox requires greater planning discipline, including gas mix verification, proper dive computer settings, and strict adherence to safety protocols. This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to safely maximize the benefits of nitrox, whether for longer dives without decompression or more efficient surface intervals between dives.

Training Content (overview)

In-water training includes:

  • Surveying techniques for cave exploration

  • Use of compass, slate, and digital tools for data collection

  • Line survey methods: azimuth, depth, and distance recording

  • Maintaining precise buoyancy and trim while surveying

  • Communication and teamwork during survey dives

  • Navigation and marking of reference points

Land-based training covers:

  • Survey tool setup and calibration

  • Land-based practice of survey procedures

  • Data interpretation and plotting techniques

  • Sketching and creation of cave maps from collected data

  • Review of collected data

  • Refinement of surveying techniques and workflow

  • Thorough briefings and debriefings to reinforce every exercise

Academic presentations explore:

  • The role of cave mapping in safety, exploration, and conservation

  • Planning and execution of structured cave surveys

  • Data accuracy, error management, and best practices

  • Psychological and physiological factors affecting survey efficiency

  • Cave conservation ethics and responsible mapping

  • Gas management considerations specific to cave surveying

Course Duration
 

Minimum durations shown

Cave Survey

4 days

Divers who have not trained with CDT Mexico previously, or who have been inactive beyond defined timeframes, may require a 1-day skills assessment.

Get Ready

Training is not about collecting a card.
It’s about earning real autonomy, safety, and confidence.
The objective: divers who can plan and execute dives independently.

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