IANTD Advanced Nitrox Diver

This Program is designed to extend the diver’s knowledge in the use of EANx for Sport diving. It further develops diving skills and provides a greater understanding of the EANx concept of diving.

The Program employs EANx mixes up to 1.5 PO2.

This program qualifies divers to do dive to 42 msw and do decompression stops required dives up to 15 minutes.

What do I need to start?

- IANTD Advanced EANx Diver Student Kit.
- A safety or decompression gas cylinder (if used) rigged as either a pony or stage cylinder. Gas cylinders must be oxygen clean and oxygen serviceable where needed.

What will I do?

All lectures completed with IANTD Course-specific Slides pertaining to the theory in the IANTD
Advanced EANx Diver Student Kit.
This Program must include a minimum of 120 minutes of OW bottom time completed within 4 dives, 2 of which must be to depths between 30 msw and 42 msw If combined with a Deep Diver Program, the total dive time for both Programs must include a minimum of 160 minutes completed within 6 or more dives. Even if the time and skill requirements are met within fewer than 6 dives, the minimum 6 dives must be made. If combined with a Deep Diver Program 3 dives must be made to depths between 30 msw and 42 msw.

Students are taught the use of EANx mixtures to a maximum of 40% oxygen for the non decompression portions of the dive. To teach the fundamentals of safety and decompression stops EANx mixtures that contain 1.5 PO2 for decompression may be used. This too is calculated at the deepest depth to which the gas will be switched.

Program Limits

There may be no more than 4 students per Instructor. This ratio may be increased by 2 students for each assisting IANTD Divemaster, up to a maximum of 8 students with 2 IANTD Divemasters per class session.

No dives may be conducted to depths greater than 42 msw.

All dives must be conducted using EANx (maximum 40% oxygen). PO2’s as high as 1.5 may be used at the decompression or safety stops. No dives made me made with any PO2 greater than 1. 5.

All appropriate safety or required decompression stops must be performed.

Mandatory decompression stops are limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.

Water Skills Development

A confined water session must be completed before conducting any OW dives.
Demonstrate proficiency in a variety of dive techniques and employ precision buoyancy control.
Swim in a simulated out-of-air situation (without breathing, and exhaling slowly) without a mask for a distance of at least 50 feet (15 meters), and commence gas sharing; or appropriate Rebreather gas management drill for out-of air diver. While gas sharing, swim for 3 minutes, then replace and clear mask.
On an OW dive, demonstrate dive planning abilities, especially for avoiding CNS exposure risk.
Perform a gas sharing ascent using the alternate second stage.
Perform valve shutdowns on each dive.
Deploy lift bag 2 times, using it as an ascent platform.
Demonstrate a safe attitude and awareness to the Instructor’s satisfaction.
Remove and replace tank and BCD at a depth greater than 6 msw.
Remove and replace tank and BCD at surface.
Demonstrate acceptable navigation / orientation abilities.
In an area where a depth is attainable beyond the planned depth, evaluate that the student has the discipline not to exceed the dive plan.
Demonstrate accident management / control techniques as described in text. If entering the Program based on previous experience, complete the IANTD Deep Diver water skills.
Recommended watermanship evaluation, to be completed during the Advanced EANx course (80% = passing (80 / 100 Points)

Skill One
Swim for a distance of 270 meters underwater in SCUBA gear. Score 25 points if completed in less than 7 minutes, and subtract one point for each additional 30 seconds required to complete the skill.

Skill Two
Swim for a distance of 15 meters in SCUBA gear without breathing, then commence gas sharing and swim for a distance of 250 feet (75 meters) without a mask.

Skill Three
Remove SCUBA gear underwater and perform a free ascent to the surface. Take three breaths, perform a surface dive, and don SCUBA gear. Repeat removal and replacement on surface.

Skill Four
Simulated emergency lift bag ascent from a depth no shallower than 15 meters, including a 3-minute safety stop. Evaluate on skill in deploying lift bag and on maintaining a tight reel and neutral buoyancy during safety stop. Score 25 points if performed correctly, and subtract 3 points for each mistake made, or five points if the student jams the reel or has to repeat the skill.

How long will it take?

The IANTD Advanced Nitrox Course is conducted over 3 days. There will be a day of theory followed by a pool session and then four dives over two days.

What will I need?

Must be qualified as an IANTD EANx Diver and IANTD Deep Diver with proof of a minimum of 30 logged dives or sufficient experience to satisfy the instructor that the student has the ability and knowledge to continue into this level of training.

Must be a minimum of 15 years of age with a parent or guardian authorization, or a minimum of 18 years of age without guardian approval.

What can I do after this?

Looking forward means looking deeper. The IANTD Normoxic Trimix Course will allow you push those boundaries few even dream about. Allowing you to expplore the depths down to 65m but using helium to remove the effects of narcosis, this is the first step to true technical diving.

Would you like to see more? Go to the page Open Circuit Courses.