Nitrox
History
In the beginning, there was a need for a Nitrox history to help justify
that diving Nitrox was an ok thing to do. Now, with the experience of the many people
diving Nitrox, this history is much less important. But, for completeness, here it is.
1959
USN |
1979
NOAA |
1989
IANTD |
1996
PADI |
In 1959 the United States Navy (USN) documented it's procedures for the military use of
Nitrox in the USN Diving Manual.
In 1979 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) followed suit and
published it's procedures for the scientific use of Nitrox in the NOAA Diving Manual.
In 1989 Dick Rutkowski, a former NOAA diving safety officer, started teaching Nitrox use
to the recreational diving community.
In the early 1990's, the agencies to teach Nitrox to the recreational community were not
the main line scuba agencies. Instead, new organizations like Dick Rutkowski's IANTD
(International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers), and later Ed Betts' ANDI
(American Nitrox Divers International), and still later Bret Gilliam's TDI (Technical
Divers International) put Nitrox into the recreational lexicon.
In 1996 the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) announced full
educational support for Nitrox. While other main line scuba organizations had announced
their support of Nitrox earlier, it was PADI's endorsement that was needed. With PADI
committed, the history of recreational Nitrox was complete.
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