Absence of Nitrox facilities

[sao0312]

I am new to the Clear Lake, CA area from the Gulf Coast of Texas. During the years in Texas we would dive the 100 mile rigs in the Gulf using Nitrox mostly for decompression gas. I have been completely unable to find someone to do Nitrox fills in this area of CA. Pinnicle Diving in Santa Rosa does air (21%) fills. It is over two mountains and 2 hours by car. Even they had no reference for this area. Does anyone know a source?

 

[dwaters]

Welcome to the 'board!!!

Can't help you but feel free to drop on down to your local Nor.Cal. forum and hopefully those in your area can help you out and maybe join in the fun here:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/norcal/

 

[Peter_C]

Welcome to Scubaboard

The closest fills you are going to find is in Fairfield at All About Scuba. http://www.itsallaboutscuba.com/

Advanced Dive Training is another shop over in Pittsburg. They can do anything you want in the way of mixing. Welcome to Advanced Diving Technologies

I would recommend hounding Bamboo Reef to start producing Nitrox.

Edit: Actually Sacramento might be closer. Check with Dolphin and other stores in the Sac area.

 

[SoCalAngel]

Welcome to da board! CA is behind in the ways of nitrox, in general, at least when you compare to the east coast and other areas where deco diving is common.

Contact Dannobee. He does his own nitrox fills and would be happy to tell you how to go about doing it yourself safely.

Also, like d and peter said, go to the NorCal forum. There's loads of peeps who are friendly and helpful (just ignore the jerks... kidding folks!!!) :blinking:

 

[dannobee]

I am new to the Clear Lake, CA area from the Gulf Coast of Texas. During the years in Texas we would dive the 100 mile rigs in the Gulf using Nitrox mostly for decompression gas. I have been completely unable to find someone to do Nitrox fills in this area of CA. Pinnicle Diving in Santa Rosa does air (21%) fills. It is over two mountains and 2 hours by car. Even they had no reference for this area. Does anyone know a source?

If there is a industrial gas supplier in the area (welding suppliers usually are, or know those who are), you could buy a "250," AKA 337 cu ft bottle and PP blend before having the tank topped up with air. The fill whips are available from northeastscubasupply. Or just keep an eye out for one at thedecostop.

An oxygen bottle (filled) should be around $200 and the fill whip will be a little more than that, depending on options.

Either that, or buy a compressor and make your own nitrox stick. Used compressors sometimes come up for sale, but move very fast because a lot of people get tired of the limitations that you've encountered.

Buy Vance's book if you don't already have it.


.

 

[Peter_C]

If there is a industrial gas supplier in the area (welding suppliers usually are, or know those who are), you could buy a "250," AKA 337 cu ft bottle and PP blend before having the tank topped up with air. The fill whips are available from northeastscubasupply. Or just keep an eye out for one at thedecostop.

I feel you should tell the shop what you are doing since it is their lives at risk. I doubt any of our local shops can produce grade E air and would not fill the tanks.

An oxygen bottle (filled) should be around $200 and the fill whip will be a little more than that, depending on options.

Either that, or buy a compressor and make your own nitrox stick. Used compressors sometimes come up for sale, but move very fast because a lot of people get tired of the limitations that you've encountered.

Buy Vance's book if you don't already have it.

An oxy bottle is going to be $265 with a commercial account. List is around $340. Fills are around $42 again with a commercial account and that is not for medical grade $$, but welding grade. Sad part is Kaiser pays around $5.00 a bottle for medical grade. I can not get the prices I get at Praxair anywhere else for my welding supplies, since I am set up with a commercial account. Gases are darn expensive especially helium and gas for my well used MIG welder. Fortunately my tig welders argon tank is cheaper to fill.

Having your own compressor would allow you to blend anything including expensive helium mixes with a simple mixing stik. Thousands later you will be doing your own thing. Vance Harlow's Oxy Hacker book is the bible of blenders.

 

[dannobee]

An oxy bottle is going to be $265 with a commercial account. List is around $340. Fills are around $42 again with a commercial account and that is not for medical grade $$, but welding grade. Sad part is Kaiser pays around $5.00 a bottle for medical grade. I can not get the prices I get at Praxair anywhere else for my welding supplies, since I am set up with a commercial account. Gases are darn expensive especially helium and gas for my well used MIG welder. Fortunately my tig welders argon tank is cheaper to fill.

Having your own compressor would allow you to blend anything including expensive helium mixes with a simple mixing stik. Thousands later you will be doing your own thing. Vance Harlow's Oxy Hacker book is the bible of blenders.

Dunno why yours are so high, but here they're $200 each and $30 for a fill. Aviator grade. Maybe it's the area or supply and demand, but that's what it costs here.

Helium is another story. A fill of 5 nines is $100 for a "250."

You can find used, working compressors for less than $1500. Just keep looking. There's a 10cfm one on thedecostop right now for $1500.