What is enriched air?

Enriched Air is just that, normal air, enriched with more oxygen. By reducing the amount of nitrogen in our cylinders and replacing it with oxygen, you can sometimes more than double your bottom-time underwater!

Enriched air is for deep technical diving... isn't it?

There are many misconceptions about Enriched Air (sometimes called Nitrox). Some people think it is a deep diving gas or that you need to take a big technical course to use it. Others believe it doesn't benefit the typical kiwi diver and you need heaps of special gear - The truth is very different!

The Facts about Enriched Air.

A lot of people diving Enriched Air use it to feel safer. If you do a dive to 18 metres, and spend 40 minutes of the 56 minute maximum, you are fairly close to the limits. But if you use 36% Enriched Air and do the same dive, you will have used only 40 minutes of a 2 hour and 5 minute maximum! Another benefit of Enriched Air, is that you can feel much better after a day's diving.

With our new Enriched Air Course you can start enjoying the benefits of Enriched Air today! No big course, no special gear! There are of course new rules, like different depth limits and new procedures for filling your cylinders, but after our program you will know everything you need to dive safely with enriched air.

How long does it take?

The program runs over two theory sessions over two evenings, and a 1/2 hour session on a Saturday morning learning how to check your fills. Then you can choose your days diving (2 dives) from any of our normal course schedule

Click here for the full Enriched Air course schedule!

What do I need to supply?

• PADI Openwater Diver (or equivalent) with 10 logged dives 
• A divers medical completed in the last 12 months
• 2 Passport Photos

Do I need special equipment?

You can dive with Enriched Air using the same equipment you normally use. No special equipment is needed at all! Usually cylinders have to be specially cleaned for Enriched Air, but thanks to Dive Centre's new advanced filling system this is no longer required!

Just a simple inspection, some new stickers and your cylinders are ready! For those of you who don't have any, there will be hire cylinders available.

Your Regulator, BCD, and the rest of your equipment does not have to be specially cleaned or altered!

How much does it cost?

The Enriched Air speciality costs $250.00 including your PADI manual, Enriched Air DVD, both 32% and 36% RDP tables, oxygen exposure table, certification fees, two sets of cylinder Decals and your first two Enriched Air fills (or 2 hire cylinders if you don't own tanks yet). You will do two dives on the Leigh Coast with one of our Instructors, and all this is included!

Dive Longer, Dive Safer and Feel Better with Enriched Air and Dive Centre.

Phone us on (09) 444 7698 or email us now and get into Enriched Air Diving!

Enriched Air Schedule

June 2010: Mon 14th & Wed 16th  (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 19th (1/2 hour)

August 2010: Mon 16th & Wed 18th  (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 21st (1/2 hour)

October 2010: Mon 11th & Wed 13th  (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 16th (1/2 hour)

November 2010: Tues 2nd & Thurs 4th  (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 6th (1/2 hour)

December 2010: Tues 7th & Thurs 9th  (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 11th (1/2 hour)

January 2011: Tues 18th & Thurs 20th  (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 22nd (1/2 hour)

February 2011: Mon 7th & Wed 9th  (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 12th (1/2 hour)

March 2011: Mon 14th & Wed 16th   (6.30pm-9.30pm) Sat 19th (1/2 hour)