Using Nitrox during SSI Stress & Rescue course

[Scuba-Lad]

Hey all,

Thinking of doing SSI stress & rescue, currently I have SSI OW, Deep Dive & Nitrox. Had a search around and couldn't see anything specifically answering this question - presumably there are no issues using Nitrox instead of air when taking the stress & rescue course? Other than perhaps a small increase in the cost of tanks..

The background to this is that I don't feel good (generally feel ill) after diving on air, presumably an immune response to the nitrogen bubbles, which was rectified by switching to Nitrox, and confirmed by trying a dive with air again. Hence there is no desire for extra bottom time, simply less nitrogen saturation by changing my dive computers gradient factors to be similar to air NDLs. This is a separate conversation though and I don't want to get this thread bogged down discussing DCI (or sub-clinical).

Has anyone taken their Stress & rescue course whilst using ENX as their breathing gas?

Scuba Lad

 

[Bowers]

As an instructor i have no issue with students taking the class in nitrox.

 

[AfterDark]

Hey all,

Thinking of doing SSI stress & rescue, currently I have SSI OW, Deep Dive & Nitrox. Had a search around and couldn't see anything specifically answering this question - presumably there are no issues using Nitrox instead of air when taking the stress & rescue course? Other than perhaps a small increase in the cost of tanks..

The background to this is that I don't feel good (generally feel ill) after diving on air, presumably an immune response to the nitrogen bubbles, which was rectified by switching to Nitrox, and confirmed by trying a dive with air again. Hence there is no desire for extra bottom time, simply less nitrogen saturation by changing my dive computers gradient factors to be similar to air NDLs. This is a separate conversation though and I don't want to get this thread bogged down discussing DCI (or sub-clinical).

Has anyone taken their Stress & rescue course whilst using ENX as their breathing gas?

Scuba Lad

Why?

 

[Ukmc]

Hey all,

Thinking of doing SSI stress & rescue, currently I have SSI OW, Deep Dive & Nitrox. Had a search around and couldn't see anything specifically answering this question - presumably there are no issues using Nitrox instead of air when taking the stress & rescue course? Other than perhaps a small increase in the cost of tanks..

The background to this is that I don't feel good (generally feel ill) after diving on air, presumably an immune response to the nitrogen bubbles, which was rectified by switching to Nitrox, and confirmed by trying a dive with air again. Hence there is no desire for extra bottom time, simply less nitrogen saturation by changing my dive computers gradient factors to be similar to air NDLs. This is a separate conversation though and I don't want to get this thread bogged down discussing DCI (or sub-clinical).

Has anyone taken their Stress & rescue course whilst using ENX as their breathing gas?

Scuba Lad

I did my SSI stress and rescue on Nitrox (the open water part). Instructor didn’t care.

 

[ginti]

The background to this is that I don't feel good (generally feel ill) after diving on air, presumably an immune response to the nitrogen bubbles, which was rectified by switching to Nitrox, and confirmed by trying a dive with air again.

Out of curiosity, did you speak with a doctor about the "immune response" or is it your personal idea?

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

I seem to feel less tired after long dives on Nitrox. A couple of long deep dives on air usually requires a long nap, on Nitrox those naps are shorter if needed at all. There is no medical evidence to prove this, but many feel the same. Placebo??? Maybe, but I don't care. As a new diver it seemed much worse.

A good rescue class will work your butt off. The point isn't to make you superman, but one goal is to help you identify your limitations so you don't become the next victim in a rescue situation.

There IS medical evidence that hard work after diving may increase the chances of DCI. A good rescue class is work, getting an adult out of the water is hard. Dealing with a panic diver situation is can be hard. You will be winded from time to time so I can absolutely see a benefit to Nitrox during the course, even though you won't see the depth/time exposure to justify it for traditional reasons.

The autoimmune response to nitrogen bubbles is intriguing...you might talk to DAN about that.

I'd support using Nitrox for a rescue class if a student wanted to.

Enjoy your class,
Jay

 

[BrackaFish]

Hey all,

Thinking of doing SSI stress & rescue, currently I have SSI OW, Deep Dive & Nitrox. Had a search around and couldn't see anything specifically answering this question - presumably there are no issues using Nitrox instead of air when taking the stress & rescue course? Other than perhaps a small increase in the cost of tanks..

The background to this is that I don't feel good (generally feel ill) after diving on air, presumably an immune response to the nitrogen bubbles, which was rectified by switching to Nitrox, and confirmed by trying a dive with air again. Hence there is no desire for extra bottom time, simply less nitrogen saturation by changing my dive computers gradient factors to be similar to air NDLs. This is a separate conversation though and I don't want to get this thread bogged down discussing DCI (or sub-clinical).

Has anyone taken their Stress & rescue course whilst using ENX as their breathing gas?

Scuba Lad

Go with the Nitrox. As @Jayfarmlaw says, you will work your butt off if you have a good instructor. My SSI Stress & Rescue class was near if not the most physically challenging class that I have taken. The instructors and students really went at each other in a very real world way. Any advantage you might get with Nitrox will be a plus. Good luck with the course and have fun.

 

[Marie13]

How much time are divers underwater in this class? For my SDI Rescue class, there was actually very little underwater time and you stayed shallow when you were underwater - no more than 15ft at the most.

 

[TravisD]

Nitrox is OK, but I would make sure that you're using a mix compatible with the hard bottom of whatever site you're using. DSR standards say Max OW depth of 100'. 36% is 98 feet, so unless you're going *real* rich not likely to be a problem, but worth mentioning.

If the instructor is on the ball they might even point to the fact that you're using Nitrox and make a comment/question to the rest of the class about how doing so may help reduce/prevent stress.

In the general area of the SSI Standards, Nitrox is actually addressed:

If nitrox is used as a breathing gas, the ppO2 at any point in the dive must not exceed 1.4 bar/ata ​

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

SDI standards suggest a 12 hour course with 8 of that in "open water conditions". Class size and conditions could alter that. I think I used part of one tank the first day, switched to a fresh tank the second and someone else used the rest of my first tank midway through the second day. Where we were at, depths would not have been more than 30 feet, probably 20 or so. Visability would have sucked.

The only depth requirement is bringing an unconscious diver up from "approximately 6 meters/20 feet."

Unless the instructor was doing something really really froggy, (no reason to do this) DCI or NDL should never come into play.

If someone wants to use cherry flavored geezer gas for their course, I can't think of any reason not to.

Jay