LAS PALMAS SCUBA FIELD GUIDE
Breathing Deeper in Las Palmas: SSI Nitrox Training with Pura Vida Diving
A 9-hour Enriched Air Nitrox program teaching planning and safe diving with oxygen mixes up to 40% that concludes with SSI Nitrox certification and optional open-water practice.
Breathing Deeper in Las Palmas: SSI Nitrox Training with Pura Vida Diving.
Adventure brief
Breathing Deeper in Las Palmas: SSI Nitrox Training with Pura Vida Diving
The Curso Aire Enriquecido Nitrox in Las Palmas teaches you to plan and dive safely with enriched-air mixtures up to 40% oxygen, showing how nitrox can increase no-decompression margins, improve safety, and shorten surface intervals; successful completion awards the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox certification (32% or 40%).
Las Palmas, a vibrant coastal city on the island of Gran Canaria in Spain's Canary Islands, offers a unique blend of rugged volcanic landscapes and rich Atlantic marine life. Underneath its crystalline waters lies a world beckoning divers to push their skills deeper and longer. Pura Vida Diving taps into this potential with its Curso Aire Enriquecido Nitrox, an intensive 9-hour program that trains divers to safely utilize enriched air nitrox for enhanced underwater experiences. This course is ideal for certified divers seeking to minimize nitrogen absorption during dives, allowing longer bottom times and shorter surface intervals—practical advantages that multiply the fun and safety of each dive.
Las Palmas stands out as a diving destination for its volcanic formations, abundant fish life, and underwater caves formed from historic lava flows. Pura Vida Diving’s course not only equips divers with technical knowledge about oxygen-enriched mixtures but also grounds them in careful dive planning tailored to this Atlantic hotspot. The certification, recognized by SSI, empowers divers to make the most of the Canary Islands’ temperate waters, where visibility often exceeds 30 meters and the marine ecosystem includes species like barracuda, groupers, and the occasional sea turtle.
Beyond the classroom, Pura Vida Diving is a local fixture in the adventure community, with instructors deeply familiar with the surrounding underwater topography. Their hands-on, methodical training enhances diver confidence and safety, critical when navigating the sometimes challenging currents around Gran Canaria’s coast. Whether you’re aiming for that extra minute inside a coral cavern or planning multiple daily dives, Pura Vida’s Nitrox course is a valuable step toward mastering the ocean’s demands here. This program is a standout offering amid Las Palmas’ rich diving scene, marrying technical rigor with the island’s natural beauty and marine diversity.
Route Schematic
Course itinerary
Key stops along the program, from meeting to theory and optional open-water dives.
Playa Blanca — meeting point
Group meet-up and orientation at Playa Blanca in Las Palmas where the course logistics and schedule are confirmed.
Theory — online and classroom
Complete the online knowledge portion followed by an in-person classroom theory session to learn nitrox planning and safety procedures.
Optional open-water practice (up to 2 dives)
If you opt for in-water training, you can complete up to two supervised open-water dives to apply nitrox techniques.
Participants younger than 10 cannot enroll; if water training is included you must hold an Open Water certification and present a medical certificate. Allow a minimum 24 hours after diving before flying.
Highlights
Course Highlights
Plan and dive with oxygen-rich mixes to 40% O2
The program covers the principles and planning needed to use enriched air nitrox safely—up to 40% oxygen—so you can extend no-decompression limits and make dives with increased margins.
Blended theory with optional in-water practice
The course combines online study with a classroom theory session and offers optional open-water practice (up to two dives) so you can apply nitrox procedures under supervision.
SSI certification to take on more comfortable dives
After finishing the program you receive SSI Enriched Air Nitrox certification (32% or 40%), enabling you to plan future dives using enriched-air mixtures.
What the day feels like
What the course feels like
Across roughly a day of training—about nine hours total—you move from self-paced online learning into a focused classroom theory session and, if you choose, one or two supervised open-water dives to put nitrox planning into practice and earn SSI certification.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and when to think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Recommended program length is about 6–10 hours, with the course offered as a 9-hour training day.
The course meets at Playa Blanca, Las Palmas.
Complete the Program of Knowledge (online component); if you include water training bring your diving certification card and a medical certificate as required.
Open-water dives are optional and limited to a maximum of two if you choose to complete practical dives as part of the course.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does the Curso Aire Enriquecido Nitrox take?
The recommended program duration is 6–10 hours, and the course is offered as a 9-hour training day.
Do I need an Open Water certification to take the course?
If you include in-water training, you must hold an Open Water diving certification; there is no minimum number of dives to enroll in the theoretical parts.
What is the minimum age to participate?
Participants must be at least 10 years old.
Will I receive a certification after completing the course?
Yes—upon completion you receive the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox certification for 32% or 40% oxygen.
How many open-water dives are included?
Open-water dives are optional and limited to a maximum of two.
Can I fly right after diving?
No — you must wait a minimum of 24 hours after completing your dives before flying.
How this guide was prepared
This field guide is synthesized using verified supplier specifications, route descriptions, and destination data. Some booking links may generate affiliate revenue for ADV Guides.
- Verified: 2026-08-10T12:52:37.631Z
Some booking links may generate revenue for ADV Guides or The Adventure Collective.
Availability, pricing, schedules and operating details can change.
Trip details and contextual sources were reviewed by ADV Guides Editorial.