Air strategy for 4-5 tank dive days?

[Charred]

Got out to dinner 1 less time at home and now you have the budget for nitrox on every dive.

 

[NDL_Diver]

Best to do EAN for gas and an air profile for depth.

You must also consider CNS O2 toxidity from repeditive dives using EAN.

My computer also tracks my O2 depth and time.

 

[northernone]

Here's a slightly wordy and person post.

For multiple dives in a day I start padding my safety stop for the last two dives and never "ride up" the NDL limits. It's not an exact science and I know closer I get myself to the "edge" the more likely something is to break (Or bend).

I do this on air because wall diving I may need go significantly deeper in an emergency than planned. If this isn't a concern to you, I'd recommend as rich a mix as you're comfortable with for oxygen toxicity risks and stay far away from NDL.

This is how I dive when on my rebreather. As rich as I comfortably can go. Less decompression stress and padding how "conservative" I am.

I also mix my deep dives with pure o2 shallow dives to help decompress.

Side note, keeping hydrated/fed and rested with 5 tanks a day takes some getting use to. If it isn't your normal dive style, please approach it with caution. Guides do this all the time, but often are use to it.

Enjoy!
Cameron

 

[rongoodman]

Those are routine days on liveaboard boats. Just do them on 32% unless there's something you want to see beyond 110'.

 

[cvchief]

36 and stay above 98 feet.....

That being said, Meridiano only rents 100 CF AL in 32, so thats what I get. Wife is on 36 every dive.

 

[kelemvor]

I'd go with as rich a mix as I could get and dive safely. I don't remember having an option with the operator I use, it was either 32% or air. I think some operators cater to tech divers and probably mix gasses.

You'll have to know what dives you're doing for the day in order to plan appropriately if you're going to use a best gas strategy. However, the only time I've been too deep for 32% in Coz was at devil's throat, so maybe you settle for that. I don't know why you'd consider using air unless you're going too deep for the nitrox you can get or you can't afford the cost of nitrox. Besides, air is for tires - not scuba diving.

 

[horn34]

I'd go with as rich a mix as I could get and dive safely. I don't remember having an option with the operator I use, it was either 32% or air. I think some operators cater to tech divers and probably mix gasses.

You'll have to know what dives you're doing for the day in order to plan appropriately if you're going to use a best gas strategy. However, the only time I've been too deep for 32% in Coz was at devil's throat, so maybe you settle for that. I don't know why you'd consider using air unless you're going too deep for the nitrox you can get or you can't afford the cost of nitrox. Besides, air is for tires - not scuba diving.

We're talking 20 dives over 5 days, so that's an extra $200+.

I don't mind spending it if necessary...but that's why I'm soliciting opinions.

 

[CajunDiva]

We're talking 20 dives over 5 days, so that's an extra $200+.

I don't mind spending it if necessary...but that's why I'm soliciting opinions.

My opinion...if you are going to splurge anywhere...splurge on nitrox and save elsewhere

 

[AdivingBel]

If you're diving with 3P you'll have the option of diving your tank (other ops do this as well, but I noted you listed 3P for some of your diving). If you're generally NDL limited as opposed to gas limited, you'll definitely want nitrox. My experience diving Coz is my computer is screaming midway through the second dive if I'm on air. It can all be dealt with by watching your depth, riding your profile, riding high, etc., but if you would rather just dive (of course, safely while paying attention to what you're doing) nitrox if your friend. I mention paying attention because if this is your first Coz trip and you get the knack of drift diving, you may find the effortlessness of drifting can make a tank last a long time even at depth, perhaps further into NDLs than you're normally used to. Be safe and pay attention. Also if you're doing afternoon dives after morning dives, watch your profiles as others on the boat may be doing their first dives of the day and the site choices may reflect that. Again, be careful and have fun. I'm gonna be there myself in Nov. Good times... All IMHO, YMMV.

 

[EireDiver606]

EANx will give you longer NDL's but if you're not using that to create a bigger buffer then there is really no safety benefit.

Maybe no safety benefit in Cozumel where its not deep enough but it does prevent nitrogen narcosis (for the newer divers in case they get misinformed)

Although I'm nitrox certified I've found nitrox does nothing for me except cost more so 21% is the way I roll all the time. If it was offered free then I'd use it just to get my money's worth out the trip.

Do you what you want of course, I don’t have the experience you have, but my preference would always be to spend an extra few $ to be safer and more clear headed. Or maybe you like being woozy headed?

If I plan on not going below 100' then I will use 36, past 100' then 32.

Isn’t the MOD for 32 34 m off the top of my head? That doesn’t leave much of a safety margin.