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Preface
This NAUI textbook, NAUI Nitrox Diver is written
to provide students in NAUI Nitrox Diver course
with the knowledge necessary to safely use any
Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) breathing mixture up to
EAN40. Specific learning objectives are stated at the
beginning of each chapter. Review these carefully before
and after studying each chapter to make sure you meet
the educational goals.
If this book is being used as part of a course of
instruction, your instructor may schedule the course in
any sequence desired, so long as curriculum requirements
are met. The chapters in this book should be read in
the order assigned by your instructor, not necessarily
sequentially. You may not be assigned some sections
to read at all, but you are encouraged to read the entire
book at your leisure in order to learn as much as you can
about the varied aspects of enriched air diving.
This book is not intended to teach you nitrox
diving activities without the guidance and supervision
of a qualified NAUI Instructor. Local information,
techniques and practices for all areas cannot possibly be
incorporated into this text. This publication provides
only part of your education for nitrox diving. The bulk
of what you will learn will be provided by the instructor.
Do not attempt to participate in any of the activities
described in this book without the supervision of a
qualified instructor.
You may be just starting your diving education
and nitrox diving is being integrated with the other
aspects and requirements of entry-level diver training.
Or you may have already learned the fundamentals
of diving and are learning about nitrox diving as part
of another continuing education course, e.g. NAUI
Advanced Scuba Diver, or as a specialty NAUI Nitrox
Diver certification course unto itself. NAUI’s extensive
instructor qualification process and the trust we place in
our instructor members makes this flexibility in course
delivery possible.
In any scenario, by the time you begin learning about
nitrox diving, you should understand basic scuba diving
theory. You are qualified to dive only under conditions
similar to those in which you have received training. The
purpose of this book, when used as part of a course of
instruction, is to specifically increase your understanding
of nitrox diving and to expand your knowledge
concerning EANx diving theory. Upon successful
completion of your course, you will be qualified to utilize
nitrox when conducting open water diving activities.
Enrollment
As stated previously nitrox training can be integrated into the NAUI Open Water Diver course and so there are no
certification prerequisites for enrollment into NAUI Nitrox training. The minimum age for full certification is 15 years.
Junior certification can be issued to persons ages 10 to 14.
If you have enrolled in a continuing education program you are usually expected to provide your own equipment
for the course. This includes full open water scuba gear with a properly cleaned and labeled nitrox cylinder,
instrumentation, and an alternate air source. To qualify for certification, you will need to attend all academic sessions,
demonstrate the ability to safely participate in all open water training activities (if required) and demonstrate
understanding and retention of the material presented by scoring at least 75% on a comprehensive examination.
Responsibilities
You and your instructor have responsibilities during the NAUI Nitrox training. Your instructor must determine that
you have the necessary background and experience to safely participate in the activities of the course, provide an
academic session, and if open water dives are included, an on-site briefing for each activity, ensure that you are properly