Nitrox Qualifications
BSAC does not automatically recognise and award a Skill Development Course 'Alternative Training' certificate, or issue BSAC Nitrox Diver qualification cards, to members who have received Nitrox Diver training from other agencies.
Although Nitrox training courses may have similar training objectives, the different approaches and priorities of each agency mean that they are far from identical. The main differences between the BSAC Nitrox Courses and those provided by other agencies are that the BSAC course is based on use of the BSAC Nitrox Decompression Tables for mixes of 21%, 27%, 32% and 36%, rather than alternative decompression tables and avoids the complex concept of Equivalent Air Depth. Other differences also apply.
Because of these differences, it would be inappropriate to say that the courses provided by other Nitrox training agencies teach the same things. They do not, so it would be wrong to award a Skill Development Course 'Alternative Training' certificate, or to issue a BSAC Nitrox Diver qualification card. It is also worth mentioning that if you held a BSAC Nitrox Diver qualification and applied to one of the other Nitrox agencies for their qualification, it would be denied for similar reasons.
However since the 1st February 2001 Advanced Nitrox was accepted as one of the optional courses for Advanced Diver (in the pre-October 2002 syllabus) on the basis of the skills covered in Advanced Nitrox. For this reason it appropriate to accept evidence of alternative training from other agencies for this level, so certificates of alternative training are available for Advanced Nitrox Diver equivalency only. Certificates will be issued until October 2004. Details of the process for this are contained in Information Sheet A.5 - 'Alternative Skill Development Course Certificates'.
Any BSAC member who holds a Nitrox Diver qualification issued by one of the Nitrox training agencies recognised by BSAC (these are currently ANDI, PADI, IANDT and TDI) may use Nitrox on Branch diving activities ensuring they stay within the safe diving practices recommendations.
They may also attend the Advanced Nitrox Diver course run by the BSAC, or if the holder of an Advanced Nitrox Certificate already, attend the BSAC Extended Range Diving Course.
| BSAC COURSE | OTHER AGENCY EQUIVALENTS |
| Nitrox Diver | ANDI - Complete Safe-Air User IANTD - Basic Nitrox Diver PADI - Enriched Air Diver TDI - Nitrox Diver ITDA - Nitrox Diver |
| Advanced Nitrox Diver Accepted as meeting the requirements for an optional Course for Advanced Diver Group B (in pre-October 2002 syllabus) |
IANTD - Advanced Nitrox Diver TDI - Advanced Nitrox Diver ITDA - Advanced Nitrox Diver |
| Extended Range Diver | IANTD - Technical Nitrox Diver TDI - Extended Range Diver ITDA - Extended Range Diver |
Page last modified: 2nd Nov 2006 - 09:57:46