Why The Enriched Air Nitrox Course Should Be On Your To-Do List
Ben Lair Jul 07, 2025
Your Next Breath: The SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Course at 72 Aquatics
You’ve earned your Open Water certification and experienced the incredible feeling of breathing underwater. You’ve seen the beauty that lies beneath the surface. But now you’re starting to notice the limits. You’re on a trip, exploring a vibrant reef, and your dive computer reminds you that your no-decompression limit (NDL) is approaching. You have to ascend, leaving so much more to see. Your buddy on standard air feels the same. But then, you see another group of divers, still comfortably exploring below. What’s their secret? There’s a good chance it’s not a secret at all—it’s Enriched Air Nitrox.
Here at 72 Aquatics, we want to help you take your diving to the next level. The SSI Enriched Air Nitrox specialty is, without a doubt, the most valuable and popular continuing education course for recreational divers. It's your next logical step, and it will fundamentally change the way you dive for the better.
What Exactly is Enriched Air Nitrox?
The concept is quite simple. The air you’re breathing right now (and the standard air in a scuba tank) is approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) is simply a breathing gas that has a higher percentage of oxygen—typically 32% or 36% for recreational diving.
Why does this matter? As you learned in your Open Water course, it’s the absorption of nitrogen into your body’s tissues that limits your bottom time and requires you to take surface intervals between dives. By increasing the percentage of oxygen in your tank, you are proportionally decreasing the percentage of nitrogen.
Less nitrogen absorbed means more time underwater. It’s that simple.
The Game-Changing Benefits of Diving with Nitrox
Getting your Nitrox certification isn’t just about adding another card to your wallet; it’s about tangible benefits you’ll feel on your very next dive trip.
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Extended No-Decompression Limits (Longer Bottom Times): This is the number one reason divers choose Nitrox. By reducing the amount of nitrogen your body absorbs, you can safely stay at depth for longer. For example, on a dive to 70 feet, your NDL on air might be around 40 minutes. On a standard 32% Nitrox mix, that could be extended to 60 minutes. That’s 20 extra minutes to explore that wreck or hang out with that curious sea turtle!
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Shorter Surface Intervals: Planning a day with multiple dives? Nitrox is your best friend. Because you’ve absorbed less residual nitrogen on your first dive, you don’t need to off-gas for as long on the surface. This means less waiting and more diving, allowing you to maximize your vacation time. On a liveaboard trip with 4-5 dives a day, this benefit is absolutely indispensable.
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Increased Safety Margins: Many conservative divers use Nitrox but continue to use the dive profile for standard air on their computer. This provides a significant and valuable extra safety margin against decompression sickness (DCS).
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Less Reported Post-Dive Fatigue: While the scientific evidence is still being debated, a massive amount of anecdotal evidence from divers suggests they feel less tired after a day of diving on Nitrox compared to air. The theory is that the body is doing less work to off-gas the lower levels of nitrogen. All we know is, when you’re on a week-long dive trip, feeling more energetic at the end of the day is a huge plus.
The SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Course at 72 Aquatics
Becoming a certified Nitrox diver is easier than you think. One of the best parts about the SSI specialty is that no training dives are required! You can complete the entire certification right here in Tucson, making it the perfect course to take before your next big trip.
Our course at 72 Aquatics consists of two parts:
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Academic Learning: You’ll start with SSI’s fantastic online learning platform, which you can complete at your own pace from the comfort of your home. You'll learn the theory behind Nitrox, how to manage your oxygen exposure, and how to plan a Nitrox dive.
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In-Person Practical Session: Once your online learning is done, you'll come into the shop for a hands-on session with one of our experienced SSI instructors. This is where the knowledge clicks into place. You will learn how to:
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Properly analyze the oxygen content of a scuba cylinder.
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Log the gas mixture and sign out a tank.
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Program a dive computer for diving with Enriched Air Nitrox.
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Our instructors will walk you through every step, ensuring you are a confident and competent Nitrox diver, ready to safely enjoy all its benefits.
Your Arizona Passport to a Better Dive Vacation
As a dive shop based in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, we know that our community loves dive travel. The certifications and gear you get here are your passport to the world’s most incredible underwater destinations. The Nitrox certification is perhaps the most critical specialty for any dive traveler. When you invest in a trip to the Philippines, the Caribbean, or the Galapagos, you want to get the most out of it. Nitrox ensures you do.
Stop watching your vacation time tick away on a boat. Start spending it where you want to be: exploring the underwater world.
Ready to take your next breath with Enriched Air? Contact 72 Aquatics today to sign up for the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox course. Visit us online, give us a call at (520) 771-8214, or stop by the shop to get started.