Diving using Nitrox?

[matts1w]

In regards to your ability to stay at 70' for longer than 35 minutes on an AL80 or Steel 72, you are either part fish or your endangering yourself and your buddy because you dont understand gas management (specifically Rock Bottom Pressure).

Good lord.

 

[MBH]

Good lord.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[Nemrod]

I think this comes from the heavily promoted and non existent seperation between tech and recreational divers. It is really simple in that all divers should have some plan and knowledge of where they are about to dive--a dive plan---imagine that. In your predive planning one can easily determine if Nitrox will be benificial or not--if it is then use it and if not then don't. Now, how is that misleading, reckless, irresponsible, deadly or whatever adjectives may be applied to a common sense approach that I employ as do others. To dismiss the real and factual advantages Nitrox offers is misleading. N

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I think Nitrox is a "tool" some dives it is appropriate others it is a waste. I dove the Oriskany in the gulf this summer on the first dive to 130'(ish) we used air on the second dive we limited to 100' on 32%. Steel HP120's Gas was not an issue NDL's were.

However we do local dives to 85 feet since there isn't anything there to see really I don't use Nitrox because we end up in the 20-25' range for most of the dive (where the fish are).

So take the course and learn to use Nitrox when appropriate.

 

[Leejnd]

In your predive planning one can easily determine if Nitrox will be benificial or not--if it is then use it and if not then don't.

and...

I think Nitrox is a "tool" some dives it is appropriate others it is a waste. I dove the Oriskany in the gulf this summer on the first dive to 130'(ish) we used air on the second dive we limited to 100' on 32%. Steel HP120's Gas was not an issue NDL's were.

Really, it's pretty simple. Sometimes it's of value, sometimes it's not. To say that it is NEVER of value to recreational divers is flat out false. I'm not really sure why people do that.

Another example: I dove the Oriskany in April. We stayed at the tower, didn't go below 90. All three of us diving together used Nitrox for all three dives. I can state for a fact that Nitrox extended our bottom times. Anybody want to dispute that?

 

[MBH]

I get really narced around 90'-100'(on air). I'm suprised that no one has pointed out the benefits of diving EAN32 for that purpose.

 

[ianr33]

I get really narced around 90'-100'(on air). I'm suprised that no one has pointed out the benefits of diving EAN32 for that purpose.

IMHO there are no benefits. (I assume you are saying that nitrox is less narcotic than air? I dont buy that )

 

[Twiddles]

Leejnd, I liked your first response, IT DEPENDS. I can live with that response, if you consistantly hit your NDL and you dont go OOA then its a pretty good bet that Nitrox can help you dive more. Does it extend your bottom time? Under certain conditions that do not apply to most divers it does (see NDL response above).

My problem is with telling divers to go get certified because IT COULD help, with statements like, you get more bottom time, or you feel better after etc. Instead of trying to inform you route them to the nearest register. Or statements like you have the same risk of O2 Tox with Nitrox as with air.....

Thier are exceptions to every rule, is it more accurate to say that most divers would not benefit, or I benefit and therefore you would benefit as well? I stand by my original statement MOST divers recieve NO BENEFIT.

 

[ianr33]

Who are these "most" divers of which you speak Twiddles?

 

[adurso]

In the original post the diver is assuming longer dives with less surface interval in his post. By telling him yes and yes you are misleading the diver. Fact is unless he (1) owns his own tanks that are not AL80s or Steel 72 (or smaller) or dives doubles or (2) Dives to depths greater than 70' on average but less than the mix limits or (3) Dives repetitively without resting between dives (whether it be for fills or for just physical rest), he is unlikely to see any benefit to diving Nitrox. Fact is the VAST MAJORITY of recreational divers do not fit into any of the above statements.

In regards to your ability to stay at 70' for longer than 35 minutes on an AL80 or Steel 72, you are either part fish or your endangering yourself and your buddy because you dont understand gas management (specifically Rock Bottom Pressure).

This is a not uncommon ability. Why do you believe that one cannot achieve longer than 35 min on an 80 and stay within gas management protocols? I can go 50 and my wife and daughter make me look like a vacuum...