Air to Nitrox in same trip

[ReneeDr]

We will be diving in Indonesia soon. Our first 5 days we have only "air" for our tanks, then the next resort offers nitrox, 32 percent. Is it safe to switch to nitrox after 5 days of air tanks? We have heard that the air may not be filtered very well at our first resort, but that may be just a Trip Advisor person's opinion and not factual.

I recall something in our Nitrox classes about servicing your regs before using nitrox. We have just serviced all regs though before this trip.

 

[TSandM]

Your regulators should never seen more than 32% oxygen, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Where things have to be rigorously cleaned is when they are used for partial pressure blending (where pure O2 is put in the tanks). So that's a tank issue, rather than a regulator problem.

 

[deepstops]

I recall something in our Nitrox classes about servicing your regs before using nitrox. We have just serviced all regs though before this trip.

That only applies to regulators exposed to 50% or higher concentrations of oxygen.

 

[fdog]

Just a FYI - the most common time for regulators to fail is right after a servicing. If you can get in the water between now and your trip, I'd recommend it.

If they work fine, they should be good for your trip, too.


All the best, James

 

[teasels10]

We will be diving in Indonesia soon. Our first 5 days we have only "air" for our tanks, then the next resort offers nitrox, 32 percent. Is it safe to switch to nitrox after 5 days of air tanks? We have heard that the air may not be filtered very well at our first resort, but that may be just a Trip Advisor person's opinion and not factual.

I recall something in our Nitrox classes about servicing your regs before using nitrox. We have just serviced all regs though before this trip.

Simply !!! ... You'll be fine. Just remember to change the computer from Air to EAN and set the O2 figure of each tested tank.

 

[Scared Silly]

Side note: If you have set your computer to air and then later try to switch to nitrox you will find that with many (most?) computers will not let you until 48 hours has past. As such, I typically always have my computer in nirtox mode and when diving air just set the percentage to 21%.

 

[LouieLouie]

The regulators are by far the least of your worries. Badly filtered air, on the other hand, is a proven killer. If you don't trust air quality dive elsewhere.

 

[iztok]

Side note: If you have set your computer to air and then later try to switch to nitrox you will find that with many (most?) computers will not let you until 48 hours has past. As such, I typically always have my computer in nirtox mode and when diving air just set the percentage to 21%.

It is actually the other way around. Once you dive nitrox you can not switch to air but you can set it up to 21% mixture

 

[ReneeDr]

Yes, we were concerned about this report of bad air in the tanks. This is a Padi dive resort named Bunaken Cha Cha. I have found many good dive reports about other people's experience there so we will have to check it out upon arrival. One trip report can make a place look really bad. Does anyone have a suggestion on what to look for in their filling station, filters etc? And what questions should we be asking the resort about this?

Thanks for everyone' advice on switching from air back to nitrox. We will make sure to read our computer manuals to make the switch without a glitch.

 

[deepstops]

It is actually the other way around. Once you dive nitrox you can not switch to air but you can set it up to 21% mixture

Incorrect statement for at least Suunto, Uwatec, and Oceanic. These three (the major three IMO) will not permit switching to nitrox after doing an "air" dive and the reason is because when they are set to "air" (as opposed to 21% nitrox), they do not calculate O2 exposure.