2 tank dive; 1 Nitrox, 1 air?

[Icker96]

I like diving Nitrox even on shallow dives, but I have an older tank (1988) that I am not sure I could\should get cleaned and converted for Nitrox. My question is: If I am doing 2 shallow water reef dives (above 30 ft, 10m) can I do the first one on Nitrox and the 2nd one on air? I really see no reason why I couldn't, and really cannot think of any safety issues, but wanted to throw it out there to get other divers' thoughts.

 

[rhwestfall]

Plan your dives based on your objectives.... short SI? Longer bottom time? What depths? What are the impacts of EANx on dive 1, if air on dive #2? And the reverse? What mix? Your question is too vague...

Also, why this statement? "....but I have an older tank (1988) that I am not sure I could\should get cleaned and converted for Nitrox." What does tank age have to do with this question?

 

[rongoodman]

Unless your local shop does partial pressure blending, there's no reason the older tank would need anything other than a current hydro and vis to have nitrox put into it. As long as you tell your computer, combing nitrox and air dives on the same day would be no problem.

 

[Tortuga68]

My question is: If I am doing 2 shallow water reef dives (above 30 ft, 10m) can I do the first one on Nitrox and the 2nd one on air?

Yes of course

 

[Nirvana]

You certainly can do a dive on air after doing the first one on nitrox.

I must say, however, that I see no reason for using nitrox at 10m or shallower, as you indicated you plan to do. NDLs are very long at those depths, even when considering repetitive dives. Nitrox wouldn't impact NDL in any meaningful way and, in addition, would do little to decrease any DCS risk, as it is very low already when using air on these dives. I would say you are just wasting money using nitrox for doing them.

 

[uncfnp]

No problem mixing tanks but as rongoodman said, make sure you switch the mix on your computer if using one.

 

[Tortuga68]

No problem mixing tanks but as rongoodman said, make sure you switch the mix on your computer if using one.

As Nirvana said, at those depths it's not going to make any difference

 

[Icker96]

Why Nitrox on shallow dives? I just FEEL better and less "fatigued" when I dive Nitrox. It might all be in my head, but it is worth an extra $5 per tank to feel better (or think I feel better) after a dive.

Tank questions: to my knowledge, most operators here in Florida do mixed gas blending so tanks have to be scrubbed and marked. Age probably had no bearing, but tanks do get old and wear out. This tank is 25 years old, so how much life is left in it?

 

[Tortuga68]

This tank is 25 years old, so how much life is left in it?

Some people are still using 50yo tanks. As long as they pass viz/hydro no problem

 

[EastEndDiver]

Yes..