Analyzing Nitrox..Do You

[av8er23]

I finished a nitrox course about a month ago. I learned a lot about the gas that I had no idea about. It was a great course. I have a question though. How many of you have dived a tank of nitrox without personally analyzing it? We learned how to anaylize our mix before leaving the shop and were told that this should be done everytime you dive nitrox which I totally understand why. I had no idea that you had to do this before buying/diving nitrox. I plan on always doing this procedure but have never seen someone else doing this while I am in a dive shop. Do you guys ALWAYS do this?

 

[aabond]

I the shop I fill my tanks up at does it for me, but they show me the calibration and results. I'm planning on buying one of those $100 el cheapo Oxycheq diy analysers.

 

[Bob_B]

I check my mix at the shop, every time i get a fill. I also check it prior to the dive if the tanks set for more that a day. The heat / cold and the movement of the tanks can change the mix.

 

[RonFrank]

Keep in mind, if they screw it up, it can kill you. Say they mix up tanks, and the tank has a partial fill of 100% O2? Say they mix things up, and you get 36 and were planning a deep dive at 28%?

I have ALWAYS checked my Nitrox fills. On one boat (prior to leaving) their analyzer broke. They went and borrowed one from the boat next door. They did not even question my requiring to make sure the mix got checked before leaving dock.

I did make one exception to this rule. When I purchased my tanks, they were filled and marked with the blend. My buddy checked them when he picked up the tanks, and then again at home with his analyser. I was willing to take his word as we were diving with a max depth of 35' feet, and I trust that he did check the mix.

So I guess in fact I do trust my friends enough to verify the mix, but the mix MUST be verified, and in all but one case this has been done by me.

I do trust the Dive Shops, but they can make a mistake.

 

[Kevfin]

I check the mix at the shop, using their equipment. If I have a partially used/filled Nitrox filled tank that later I get topped off with air, I will calculate the new O2 %.

You already know how important it is to know what your mix is before you dive. MOD is an important number.

 

[Walter]

You're crazy not to test it yourself.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I check at the shop, where it is required and I also sign their log. I then check before using the tank. I only use nitrox for deco gas, so it's extremely important to have the correct mix.

 

[san diego diver]

i dive nitrox reguarlly and ALWAYS analalyze my own tanks !! not only do i do it at the shop,but i have bought my own analyzer from analox.com and double check before the dive. i.too was on a charter boat that had a broken analyzer, and they were going to quit serving nitrox because of it !! boy did they appricieate me having one!!! i tend to trust my own gear and not leave things to chance !!

 

[garyfotodiver]

I also recently took a Nitrox course. The one thing that stands out in my mind is the instructor's statement that you either analyze the mix yourself or watch as the shop does it, and to make certain that the analyzer was calibrated.

 

[BigJetDriver]

Folks,

You had better be certain that you know what the mix is, or you may find yourself "doing the chicken dance" (technical term) at depth! :11: