Beginner question about Nitrox analyzers

[Dogbowl]

I will be doing my Nitrox course soon and have read that some people buy their own analyzers. Is this necessary or will the dive op/liveaboard that provided you with the Nitrox tanks also have an analyzer you can borrow? I'm just wondering if it's an immediate need if I'm gonna be using Nitrox or just a "nice to have" so I don't have to be sharing with others on the boat? Thanks!

 

[The Chairman]

Dive ops almost always have one... that has been used and abused by hundreds before you. I own three...

 

[tomfcrist]

It's nice to have. Most folks don't own their own. They use the analyzer at the LDS or the charter operators at the dock.

I didn't own one until I started mixing my own gas....

 

[Damselfish]

Nice to have, not required for most people. Some places with lots of divers and not enough analyzers, you might have to wait a bit. Given the cost and lifespan of sensors, depending on usage it could be relatively expensive per use to have your own and might be worth the wait.

I've been on 2 trips where I wished I had my own. One was I think a Palau liveaboard, where the boat's analyzers were on their last legs and new sensors were on a slow boat from somewhere. The other was also Pacific, land based, where they thought it was enough for the shop to check the tanks and everyone should just trust them. Near mutiny (it was a group trip) fixed that. These were both over 10 years ago, I'd speculate you're less likely to run into circumstances like that now.

 

[DogDiver]

It’s the gas you are going to breathe at depth. Yes, buy your own.

 

[MargaritaMike]

It’s the gas you are going to breathe at depth. Yes, buy your own.

Ok. Now comes the tough question(s): "Which one?" Is CO occurence great enough to get something like the COOTWO or is a straight O2 analyzer enough? And if an O2 analyzer is sufficient, other than price what's the major difference between models like the Palm and the Analox O2Eii?

Cheers - M²

 

[Dogbowl]

Ok. Now comes the tough question(s): "Which one?" Is CO occurence great enough to get something like the COOTWO or is a straight O2 analyzer enough? And if an O2 analyzer is sufficient, other than price what's the major difference between models like the Palm and the Analox O2Eii?

Cheers - M²

I know...

I was going to stop thinking about this when some posters said it is a "nice to have". I'm going to buy one, but not right now. I am still figuring out the PLB and canister conundrum, and that will be purchased first.

Ideally, when i have purchased everything else in my kit and actually come around to buying one, there will be an alternative to the cootwo (dual gas analyzer) from a company that has good service and support.

 

[flyboy08]

Use the LDS's.......I've never not had one available on board or for use prior to grabbing your tanks.....

 

[Umuntu]

Ok. Now comes the tough question(s): "Which one?" Is CO occurence great enough to get something like the COOTWO or is a straight O2 analyzer enough? And if an O2 analyzer is sufficient, other than price what's the major difference between models like the Palm and the Analox O2Eii?

Cheers - M²

There's another thread on that question
Nitrox analyzers - Top pick?

.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I am mainly a vacation diver, both resort based and international liveaboards. I always dive nitrox when it’s available and I have never run into an issue by not having my own. The shop, boat, and liveaboards all have them. Liveaboards normally have 2-3. sometimes you just have to time when you analyze your air so you aren’t waiting for it when everyone else is. I do it during the surface interval and not right before a dive. It hasn’t been an issue.

Locally, when I grab tanks at my LDS that are filled with nitrox, I use theirs and sign the logs. I haven’t been able to justify needing one.