Do I need to be a certified diver?

Yes. You must hold an Open Water Diver (or comparable) certification to enroll in the SSI Nitrox course.

Is this a diving course with in-water training?

No. This is a non-diving, half-day course focusing on academics and practical cylinder analysis and computer setup; it can be combined with diving specialties separately.

How long does the course take?

The program is a half-day session—typically 3–4 hours—after you complete the required online academics before arrival.

What certification do I receive?

Upon completion you earn an SSI Enriched Air Nitrox certification for 32% or 40% oxygen mixtures.

What age is allowed to take the course?

The course is open to divers ages 10 and up who meet the certification prerequisite.

Can I bring a group larger than four?

Yes; contact instruction@looekeyreefresort.com or call (305) 872-2215 to arrange sessions for groups larger than four.

SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Course at Looe Key Reef — Extend Bottom Time in the Florida Keys | Scuba | Water Activities

Learn to plan your dives around oxygen-rich gas and push safe bottom times with the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox course run from Looe Key Reef Resort off Ramrod Key, Florida, United States. In a focused half-day classroom and hands-on session you’ll convert textbook theory into routine practice: analyzing Nitrox cylinders, logging mixes, and setting a dive computer for 32% or 40% oxygen blends. The course is non-diving but practical—bring your dive computer if you have one—and requires an Open Water Diver certification before enrollment.

Looe Key sits on a shallow spur-and-groove formation of living reef and consolidated limestone, a platform of coral heads, gorgonians, and elkhorn and brain corals that attracts schooling snapper, parrotfish, and occasional green sea turtles. That reef structure makes Nitrox especially useful here: longer no-decompression times let you explore the patch reefs and swim-throughs without cutting a second dive short. The site is inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, an area with a long history of reef protection and restoration efforts; local operators like Looe Key Reef Resort actively teach responsible diving and reef stewardship.

The course blends concise classroom modules—complete your online academics before arrival—with a practical lab where you’ll identify, analyze, and document mixes in Nitrox cylinders and practice dialing your computer to match the chosen fraction of oxygen. Instructors keep classes small for hands-on time; to book groups larger than four, contact [email protected] or call (305) 872-2215 to arrange an expanded session. On completion you’ll receive SSI Enriched Air Nitrox certification for 32% or 40%, a credential that increases your bottom time and shortens surface intervals so you get more time exploring Looe Key itself.

For visiting divers, the value is immediate: less time on the boat waiting, more time over coral ridges and under ledges where rays and grouper shelter. Practical benefits mix with conservation-minded training—learn pre-dive oxygen checks and cylinder labeling protocols that reduce mistakes and protect the reef. Whether you’re combining Nitrox with a deep or wreck specialty or simply want to squeeze two productive dives into a morning, this course is an efficient, safety-forward upgrade to your diver toolkit.

Recommended for travelers ages 10 and up who already hold an Open Water (or comparable) certification, the half-day format fits into a Keys itinerary—complete your online academics before arrival so the in-person session focuses on practical skills. This is a perfect add-on for divers planning multiple dives over a day or combining training with specialties like deep or wreck diving. Instructors emphasize small-group feedback and realistic scenarios: analyzing cylinder O2 content with test kits, lining up paperwork, and logging planned mixes. If you’re traveling in a group larger than four, email [email protected] or call (305) 872-2215 to coordinate scheduling.