Benefit of Nitrox?

[imoto]

Rather than hijack the "Who Offers Free Nitrox" thread, I thought I'd start another one.

I'd been away from diving for twenty years and just started diving again about four years ago. So I was out of the loop concerning dive computers (I now use one and love the added bottom time rather than the old PADI dive tables and "plan your dive and dive your plan" restriction) and now since diving in Cozumel, nitrox, which seems to be the latest thing.

So what are the benefits of diving nitrox?

How has it affected your diving?


Thanks for informing and old "newby"

 

[DKL]

The benefit for me, is when I dive repetitive dives. I have a shorter SI and longer bottom times. I don't use nitrox on a regular basis, just in the afore mentioned situation.

 

[redacted]

In Cozumel, most dives are based on air profiles so it just gives you a little more cushion on the NDL. In Bonaire, NDLs are rarely an issue but it costs no more and maybe makes me feel better. For a place like the Flower Gardens where you do 5 dives a day, all over 80 ft, it gives you more dive time.

 

[KeithG]

nitrox is beneficial if you are limited by ndls and not gas consumption.

---------- Post added September 5th, 2015 at 08:38 PM ----------

p.s. it has not affected my diving. my dives are limited by time. lots of ndl, enough air left.

 

[TMHeimer]

Agree with all. I may only use it on the one or 2 charters I take each year. The rest of my diving rarely goes deeper than 30 feet. Of course you have to be very aware of depth for the % O2 you use. It's nice when the max depth of the bottom is well less than the max. allowed for that %.

 

[JohnN]

Although there are no studies that confirm the physiological benefit of nitrox (other than increased NDL), I feel better when doing multiple dives when I use EAN.

Geezer gas works for me

 

[Searcaigh]

Longer NDL when diving certain depths

e.g. 30M depth on air is 20 mins and on EAN32 it is 30 mins - no brainer for me to use nitrox on dives like that.

I usually maintain a 1 hour surface interval irrespective of which gas I use (air or nitrox) and using nitrox or air again for the next dive will give me a longer NDL compared to somebody diving air on both dives.

I generally only use Nitrox for dives over 20M and air for any other dives at shallower depths, mixes depend on what depths I am diving, but I find that generally 40% is a useful mix for depths to 24M and 32% or 34% for dives down to 32M.

 

[Divetech99]

There are prevailing myths that nitrox can:

- reduce air consumption
- make you feel better after a Dive with the same profile vs air

I always say that there are no data to prove any of these claims. Or are there studies to the contrary?

 

[scubadada]

Longer NDLs and/or shorter SIs with an acceptable NDL following. Most all my dives are to 60 feet or deeper and I frequently do 4 dives/day. I don't remember the last time I dived air. I don't prescribe to any of the unsubstantiated myths associated with nitrox use. I push nitrox to the same limits I would push air and never noticed any difference in how I felt post dive, but, I certainly get to dive longer

 

[RJP]

There are prevailing myths that nitrox can:

- reduce air consumption
- make you feel better after a Dive with the same profile vs air

I always say that there are no data to prove any of these claims. Or are there studies to the contrary?

DAN says "no"

Alert Diver | Air, Nitrox and Fatigue

"Despite a common impression that diving on nitrox may cause less fatigue than performing the same dive using an air mixture, scientific research to date has not found solid evidence to support such an assumption."



This article says "no"

Harris RJ, Doolette DJ, Wilkinson DC, Williams DJ (2003). "Measurement of fatigue following 18 msw dry chamber dives breathing air or enriched air nitrox".Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society) 30 (4): 285–91. Measurement of fatigue following 18 msw dry chamber dives breathing air or enriched air nitrox.

"Diving to 18m while breathing air produced no measurable difference in fatigue, attention levels, ability to concentrate or DHS scores, compared with breathing EANx 36%."




This article says "no"

Chapman SD, Plato PA. "Measurement of Fatigue following 18 msw Open Water Dives Breathing Air or EAN36.". In: Brueggeman P, Pollock NW, eds. Diving for Science 2008. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 27th Symposium. http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/8005

"Results from this study did not support the contention that using EAN36 as a breathing gas reduces post-dive fatigue. To date, research has indicated that there is no difference in fatigue levels between air and EAN36 dives."