Nitrox With A Drysuit?

[Scuba Scott]

I prefer to inflate my drysuit primarily with buttox. It is much cheaper than Nitrox and no major training agency has recommended against it.

 

[PfcAJ]

Less than you might think. I used argon bottles religiously whenever diving trimix for years. I used either argon, air, or a mix. This past year, for various reasons I used trimix back gas for suit inflation on quite a few dives. The temperatures were about 70°F, the mixes ranged from 35%-56% helium, and I was only wearing light to medium weight undergarments. I didn't have a problem at all--didn't even think about it during the dives.

dive time is the other variable.

 

[KevinNM]

I know a tech instructor who described (in general terms) how they would use an AL80 of argon to fully purge the dry suits of his team before a major dive off SoCal. Apparently you have to fully flush the air out to gain the thermal advantages, which takes a reasonable amount of argon, more that the little inflation bottles hold. Don't know, never used a separate dry suit inflation bottle.

 

[Neilwood]

I prefer to inflate my drysuit primarily with buttox. It is much cheaper than Nitrox and no major training agency has recommended against it.

Care should be taken when opening the drysuit that there is no source of ignition close by and that you hold your nose for a good few seconds to allow the non breathable gas to disperse. You should also probably have the consideration to open the suit a decent distance from your diving buddies or else they will not be buddies for very long!

 

[CT-Rich]

Not speaking from experience, but argon is extremely heavy gas and will rapidly settle. I imagine that if you are standing and adding argon to the suit, it will rapidly sink and air an be purge at the neck.

 

[NAM001]

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this has been discussed, but I using the search function but got nothing.

I just took the SSI drysuit class and got my certification. In the book, they say NOT to use Nitrox with a drysuit due to increased oxidation of the drysuit with the higher level of oxygen. I was curious about this so I emailed the manufacturer of my drysuit directly. Here is their response:

"I can't say I've read the reports that SSI is basing this info off.
The theory behind it is, the higher levels of oxygen will result in more oxidation.
Without proper long term testing it hard to say, how much it will affect/ shorten the life span of a dry suit?
That being said we've never had anybody express concern that their suit was damaged due to using Nitox."

I much prefer diving with Nitrox, and based on their response I was considering using Nitrox with my drysuit.

My question is, does anybody on this board dive using Nitrox with their drysuit? Any opinions about the SSI assertion?

Thanks in advance,
Brian

I have never heard about this either. I supposed it is true. I think I may have heard about the same sort of thing with car tires. But the normal reason has always been . If you are going to pay for nitrox then breath it and use agon or air for the dry suit. I dont often use the DS but when i do i use what ever is in the tank. Mind you i have lp85's lp95's and lp120's, so using the nitrox is not so much a limiting thin like when using a al80 with 77 in it.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I prefer to inflate my drysuit primarily with buttox. It is much cheaper than Nitrox and no major training agency has recommended against it.

Eat one can of white beans and top it off with two cans of black beans to yield 32% Buttrox.

 

[Neilwood]

Eat one can of white beans and top it off with two cans of black beans to yield 32% Buttrox.

Heck add in some baked beans and make it Buttrimix.

 

[kelemvor]

But the normal reason has always been . If you are going to pay for nitrox then breath it and use agon or air for the dry suit. I dont often use the DS but when i do i use what ever is in the tank. Mind you i have lp85's lp95's and lp120's, so using the nitrox is not so much a limiting thin like when using a al80 with 77 in it.

Is argon super cheap or is that reason just a way to slightly extend dive time? Maybe I'm doing it wrong but I don't usually put all that much gas into my drysuit.

 

[Storker]

You should also probably have the consideration to open the suit a decent distance from your diving buddies

Not the easiest thing in the world if you've got a backzip...