Advanced Nitrox

[Miller]

I was thinking about taking Advanced Nitrox class. The ideal came to me this summer, when I did a wreck dive. We use EAN 31 for bottom mix and the safety stop on EAN 60. This was a no deco dive. Why not do this on all deep dives. What are the opinions on this? Is worth doing?

 

[Blackwood]

I see no problems with it so long as you pay careful attention to your oxygen loading. Of course, Advanced EANx will re-enforce that concern.

Also, you obviously won't be able to use the 60 on deep stops (which could possibly be more effective than shallow stops on a 60 blend regardless of increased nitrogen content).

Only you can answer if it's worth doing. Hot mixes can be pretty expensive, so keep that in mind.

 

[rjack321]

Why? No deco is no deco. Either plan for deco or don't

Do deeper stops on the backgas nitrox (like 1 min per 10ft starting at 1/2 your max depth). Then extend your shallow stops by a few minutes if you want more a conservative ascent.

Carrying two mixes when you don't need it increases task loading and the amount of crap you have. And the benefit is... still a no deco dive.

 

[ianr33]

you do realise you are not certified for 60% dont you?

 

[JeffG]

This was a no deco dive.

Is worth doing?

No....

 

[Blackwood]

you do realise you are not certified for 60% dont you?

Clearly. That's why he's proposing getting certified...

 

[H2Andy]

if you're doing no-deco diving, there's no real benefit to using the hot mix for the safety stop

you still need to do the one-hour minimum reccomended surface interval, and that's more than enough to clear you if you just use the 31%

it's fun to play with mixes, but get trained first

 

[terrasmak]

31% , how deep was the wreck , how close were you actually comming to the NDL. If you want to get into tech diving with high O2 mixes , i would invest in a nice set of doubles and a BP/W if you dont have one already. Later on take the advanced nitrox course if its needed.

 

[Kim]

Well you were obviously diving multiple tanks with extra regs etc so if I was in your position I'd do the course to make sure what I was already doing was being done right.
I don't see the benefit of the 60% on an ordinary NDL dive. You don't get out of the water any quicker as you're doing the stop anyway and you have no deco to pay. It *might* impact potential SI times if that's your concern but as Andy said (well nearly!) an hour is OK anyway for most people between dives - are you really in a rush?
Speaking personally - if I was into carting the gear around as you seem to be I'd be looking to see what I could do with it - extra time or extra safety - maybe a little extra depth and deco too. I'd do the course just to see if I liked it!

 

[mania]

I generally don't see the point of using 60% EAN. There is additional benefits from 60% which you get from 50%.
As there is no benefits form 80% comparing to 100%.

Using higher EAN without proper certification is quite a risky one....
Mania