PADI ENRICHED AIR SPECIALTY DIVER COURSE

The PADI Enriched Air Diver course, also known as the Nitrox course, is a short and simple course that teaches you how to safely dive using enriched air. Enriched air contains more oxygen and less nitrogen than regular air, which means you can stay underwater longer and have shorter surface intervals between dives. Many divers also say they feel less tired after diving with nitrox, especially on multiple dives in one day.

After you’re certified, you’ll be allowed to use enriched air blends with up to 40% oxygen on your dives. Many dive centers around the world offer nitrox tanks, so having this certification opens up more options, especially on dive trips or liveaboards where you’ll be doing multiple dives per day. It’s one of the most useful and popular PADI specialties and is a great choice for divers of all levels.

 The PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty Course is a theory-based course that teaches you how to safely dive using enriched air, commonly known as Nitrox. Unlike regular air, enriched air contains a higher percentage of oxygen and less nitrogen, which allows you to extend your bottom time and shorten your surface intervals, especially during repetitive dives. This makes it a valuable course for divers who are planning dive trips, liveaboards, or simply want to make the most of multiple dives in a day.

The course can be completed in a classroom with an instructor or through PADI’s online eLearning platform. It doesn’t require any in-water training, although some instructors may offer optional dives to help you apply what you’ve learned. The focus of the course is on understanding how to manage oxygen exposure, how to analyze the oxygen content of a scuba cylinder, and how to plan dives using enriched air. You’ll also learn how to set your dive computer correctly and ensure that tanks are labeled and handled properly.

Once certified, you’ll be qualified to use enriched air blends with up to 40% oxygen, which is the limit for recreational diving. This certification is widely recognized and accepted at dive centers around the world. It’s a quick and useful course that adds flexibility and safety to your diving, making it a popular choice for both new and experienced divers looking to expand their skills.

To enroll in the PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty Course, you must meet the following prerequisites:

You need to be a certified PADI Open Water Diver or hold an equivalent certification from another recognized training organization. There is no minimum age beyond what’s required for the Open Water Diver certification, so as long as you're a certified diver and old enough to dive (typically 10 years and older for Junior Open Water), you're eligible to take the course.

There are no required dives for this course, which makes it accessible and easy to complete, even during a surface interval or between dive trips. It's often completed in just a few hours, either online or in-person with an instructor.

Upon certification as a PADI Enriched Air Diver, you will be qualified to plan and conduct dives using enriched air mixtures containing up to 40% oxygen. This means you’ll be able to enjoy longer no-decompression limits on your dives, especially during repetitive dives, allowing you more bottom time and shorter surface intervals compared to diving on regular air.

You’ll also have the knowledge and skills to safely analyze the oxygen content in your scuba tanks and set your dive computer correctly to match the gas mixture you’re using. This certification helps you dive more efficiently and can reduce fatigue often associated with multiple dives in a day.

Being certified as an Enriched Air Diver opens up opportunities to dive with enriched air at many dive centers worldwide, making your diving experience safer and more enjoyable. It’s a valuable specialty that enhances your overall diving skills and is often one of the first specialty courses divers choose after their Open Water certification.