PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox)

Private Course in Cabo San Lucas

Nitrox, or enriched air, is a breathing gas with more oxygen and less nitrogen than regular air. Regular air has 21% oxygen, while recreational nitrox blends go up to 40%. Because you absorb less nitrogen, you get longer no-decompression limits and can often shorten your surface intervals, which makes the biggest difference on days with two or more dives.

You need an Open Water certification from PADI or another recognized agency, and to be at least 12 years old. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. There's no minimum number of logged dives, so you can take the course right after your Open Water. If you add nitrox dives, you'll need to complete the PADI medical questionnaire before diving.

The theory is done online with PADI eLearning and takes a few hours, at your own pace, before you arrive. In Cabo, you'll meet your instructor for a practical session of about one hour. If you add nitrox dives, they're done on one of our regular dive trips.

No. Dives are optional in the PADI Enriched Air Diver course, so you can get certified with the eLearning and the practical session alone. That makes it easy to fit into a short trip or a non-diving day. That said, the best way to learn is to use it, so you can add nitrox dives if you'd like.

Yes. You can book the course with two nitrox dives on one of our dive trips in the Cabo San Lucas Marine Park or the Corridor. Nitrox tanks and full scuba gear are included. Your instructor will be with you while you analyze your own tank, set your computer and plan the dive, putting everything from the course into practice.

No, and it's the most common misunderstanding about nitrox. Enriched air doesn't let you go deeper: it gives you more time at moderate depths. Because of the higher oxygen content, every blend has a maximum depth. For the two most common blends, that's around 110 ft (34 m) with 32% oxygen and 95 ft (29 m) with 36%. Learning to calculate and respect that limit is a key part of the course.

Yes, when you're trained and follow the rules. Nitrox reduces the amount of nitrogen you absorb, but it adds two simple habits to every dive: analyzing your tank yourself before you use it and staying above the maximum depth for your blend. The course teaches you both, step by step, with your instructor.

Yes. Nitrox can be one of the elective adventure dives of the Advanced Open Water course, for an extra fee, and the eLearning for both can be completed at home before you arrive. Let us know when you book and we'll plan the schedule with you.

The course price includes private instruction, PADI eLearning and the practical session with your instructor. You can book the course on its own or with two nitrox dives, and you'll find both prices in the Price & What's Included section of this page.

For the practical session, just bring your own dive computer if you have one, so you learn to set it up on the model you'll actually use. If you add nitrox dives: - Swimsuit, sunglasses and a hat or cap - A sweater or jacket for the boat - Seasickness medication, taken before boarding, if you need it Personal travel or medical insurance is not included, and gratuities for the captain and crew are always welcome but entirely up to you.