ooo hot topic.
I truly believe in one step at a time. Nitrox may not seem daunting to most divers, but as some of you have mentioned, when you are dealing with the psychological issues of simply breathing underwater, let alone controlling buoyancy and mask clearing, I don't think there is any need for a further challenge. Some people take to the water like fish, have gills n everything, but some need to start a little slower and I remember in my course, one guy had difficulties using the basic tables. Another had initial buyancy problems, never a good thing on Nitrox. Both guys, however went on to become decent divers. As we all know, oxygen is a less forgiving gas, so you don't want to lessen the room for error, when you are working with divers who are still finding their fins. They need to be in a position where there are as few issues to worry about as possible.
Having said all that, I do recall someone who really should have known better saying to me, and I quote: "Nitrox! You don't want to be doing that deep stuff at Advanced Open Water level, learn to dive first or you'll get yourself killed!" Even when I pointed out that he may have got nitrox mixed up with trimix, he was adamant. I was stunned! I'd been planning to volunteer for his conservation group but after that conversation, swiftly changed my plans! I have since noticed that his web-site no longer exists anyway, I digress. Yes I can see that PADI look like they are fishing for more cash, and maybe so, but "discover nitrox" aside, I do feel that the pace of training needs to work for your average person, and the basic OW course should and does take this into account. People can then progress on to more advanced stuff at whatever rate they choose.
I truly believe in one step at a time. Nitrox may not seem daunting to most divers, but as some of you have mentioned, when you are dealing with the psychological issues of simply breathing underwater, let alone controlling buoyancy and mask clearing, I don't think there is any need for a further challenge. Some people take to the water like fish, have gills n everything, but some need to start a little slower and I remember in my course, one guy had difficulties using the basic tables. Another had initial buyancy problems, never a good thing on Nitrox. Both guys, however went on to become decent divers. As we all know, oxygen is a less forgiving gas, so you don't want to lessen the room for error, when you are working with divers who are still finding their fins. They need to be in a position where there are as few issues to worry about as possible.
Having said all that, I do recall someone who really should have known better saying to me, and I quote: "Nitrox! You don't want to be doing that deep stuff at Advanced Open Water level, learn to dive first or you'll get yourself killed!" Even when I pointed out that he may have got nitrox mixed up with trimix, he was adamant. I was stunned! I'd been planning to volunteer for his conservation group but after that conversation, swiftly changed my plans! I have since noticed that his web-site no longer exists anyway, I digress. Yes I can see that PADI look like they are fishing for more cash, and maybe so, but "discover nitrox" aside, I do feel that the pace of training needs to work for your average person, and the basic OW course should and does take this into account. People can then progress on to more advanced stuff at whatever rate they choose.
