Sound Dive Center is the first Dive Center in the Puget Sound to teach and provide Nitrox commercially to the recreation diver (1993). We currently have two specially designed NITROX compressor systems. With over 10,000 cubic ft of stored Nitrox, we can provide immediate “cold & slow fills” at 32% or NN1(NOAA Nitrox 1). Higher and custom “Hydrocarbon Free” mixes can be provided up to 50%, with our special “oil less Rix” compressor.

We have taught Nitrox Specialty classes to the Military, National Parks (Olympic) Rangers, Diving safety officer(s) at Battle NW, plus over a 1000 recreation divers. We use special Nitrox mixes in our Rebreather classes. We even teach Instructors how to teach Nitrox to their students.

Nitrox has been around since we first swam in the oceans. Its normal and not exotic.  When you dive you always choose Nitrox. Whether you choose the right mix is up to your educated or non-educated choice.

What are we talking about. This thing called Nitrox is not that gas that the dentist gives you (nitrous). It is by definition, any mix of nitrogen and oxygen from 1% to 40% o2 and the corresponding match of Nitrogen. Yes, even air is Nitrox. Yes, you are ….as we speak, a Nitrox diver. Your choice of mixes is 21%… or “21 mix.”

What does it do:
Nitrox will increase your bottom time for some depths, to over double your AIR time. It decreases the amount of Nitrogen that “on gasses” into your body, and subsequently increases the amount of O2 that “on gases” into your tissues. This tends to make you feel much better after a dive.

What’s in a name: Nitrox, EANx, SafeAir, NNI and NNII, Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) and even heard it call “Hyper Air.”. Its all the same stuff. Just depending on the store that you are going into, will dictate the name that is used. It all should be, as is the case with air (21% mix), clean, free of moisture and and free of contaminates.

Why now:
Well for once our government has come up with some direct benefits to the diving community. NOAA, Dick Rutcousky and a host of other people researched Nitrox for the NOAA diving program. They wanted to stay down longer during their U/W research. NN1 or “NOAA Nitrox One” (32%) came first, and later “NOAA Nitrox Two” (36%). That was in the late 80″s and early 90’s.

But once again, why did it not catch on until 96 or 97. Well, as we get older, we don’t embrace change.

Luckily, there was a group of us who saw the writing on the wall and invested into this. In the Summer of 94, SDC put in a “Rix” Nitrox compressor system and was one of three in the Puget Sound to actively train divers in NITROX. Using the ANDI certifying agency, most staff embraced NITROX (not all the staff wanted it then, but do now).

15 years later, all manufactures, agencies and dive stores now promote, endorse and support Nitrox diving.
SDC endorsees the NAUI Nitrox training program. We currently train Nitrox divers, instructors.

Requirements:

• Be at least 13 years of age. (Divers under the age of 15 must be interviewed by either an Instructor or Dive Shop Staff). **
• Be in good physical condition. (link to Medical questionnaire)