What type of training is necessary for diving with nitrox?

Diving with nitrox requires specific training to understand the unique properties and risks associated with using enriched air. Nitrox diver certification provides divers with the knowledge and skills to safely plan and execute dives using nitrox mixtures, typically with oxygen content greater than air. This training includes understanding the effects of increased oxygen levels, managing the associated risks of oxygen toxicity, and properly analyzing and marking tanks filled with nitrox.

Having an open water diver certification or a deep diver certification might provide foundational diving skills, but they do not equip divers with the specialized knowledge needed for nitrox use. Specialized wreck diver certification also focuses on skills pertinent to wreck diving rather than the specific considerations related to the use of nitrox. Thus, the nitrox diver certification is essential to ensure divers are prepared to safely explore the underwater environment using enriched air.