Cavern Cert

[Dive-aholic]

[GOOGLE][/GOOGLE]

Well I think the chance of getting nitrogen narcosis is less. I don't think anyone needs to be at 130' in a single AL80. I was just simply stating the way the courses are done. I however don't have any issue with someone diving to 130' with doubles filled with Nitrox. I have done it more than once. As long as the diver has planned his dive properly and follows his plan I see no issue with nitrox at that depth.

For an max ppO2 of 1.4, 28% is the highest mix of oxygen you can have at 130'. Even if you're of the camp that believes oxygen is not as narcotic as nitrogen, that's only 7%...such a minimal difference that the difference in narcosis won't be noticeable to the average diver.

 

[timle]

Emphasis, mine.

I would say thats absolutely true. Would you disagree? If so, why?

Pretty much what Dive-aholic has said. I don't believe there is any nitrogen narcosis reduction as I believe oxygen tends to be about as narcotic as nitrogen.

Presuming a single AL80 this is definitely in the realm of an NDL dive, in that case the limits are 9 minutes on 21% and 12 minutes on 28%. Granted that number is larger however both are so small I would look for another way to extend the dive.

Simply put at 130 feet with a single AL80, 28% nitrox does not seem to offer any advantages over 21% nitrox in my opinion. I think the risks are a wash - 21% greater chance of decompression sickness, 28% greater chance of oxtox.

Now doubles with a deco bottle is a different story, give me the 28% for reduced deco time.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Better and best are two totally different meanings though.

I would say 28% is definately better than 21% at 130, even if the advantages are marginal. If, for anything else, the 25% more bottom time for a NDL dive - LOL

 

[TSandM]

I like Mike Ferrara's take on this: Rather than scramble around to try to make a ridiculously short dive with marginal equipment and pushing NDL and ppO2 limits, get the training and the equipment to do the dive as a properly planned and executed staged decompression dive!

 

[K Mejean]

[GOOGLE][/GOOGLE]

For an max ppO2 of 1.4, 28% is the highest mix of oxygen you can have at 130'. Even if you're of the camp that believes oxygen is not as narcotic as nitrogen, that's only 7%...such a minimal difference that the difference in narcosis won't be noticeable to the average diver.

I was not refering to an ideal situation. I was going on the initial set up of a dive at 130' with a single AL80. You are also talking about a 1.4 and a diver doing a non deco dive can easily work off of a 1.6. Weather it is right or not is a totally different debate that I have no desire to get into. In a perfect world we would be talking about a diver that has doubles and the training to do the dive properly. That is not the setup we were given. Even though the difference between the Nitrox blend you are talking about (28%) and air is only 7% I will take it. Saying that the difference will not be noticeable is making the assumption that all divers react the same way to nitrogen buildup in the system and that all divers get narced at the same level. The depth that has an affect on you might not me or the next guy. So as far as this dive goes I will stick to my nitrox over air.

 

[azchipka]

To take the PADI cavern diver course you must hold a Adventure Diver Certification or higher. There are other agencies that allow you to do the cavern course with out a AOW.

Cavern course in no way over rides the need for proper deep, and wreck training they are completely different from one another.

 

[Dive-aholic]

[GOOGLE][/GOOGLE]

I was not refering to an ideal situation. I was going on the initial set up of a dive at 130' with a single AL80. You are also talking about a 1.4 and a diver doing a non deco dive can easily work off of a 1.6. Weather it is right or not is a totally different debate that I have no desire to get into. In a perfect world we would be talking about a diver that has doubles and the training to do the dive properly. That is not the setup we were given. Even though the difference between the Nitrox blend you are talking about (28%) and air is only 7% I will take it. Saying that the difference will not be noticeable is making the assumption that all divers react the same way to nitrogen buildup in the system and that all divers get narced at the same level. The depth that has an affect on you might not me or the next guy. So as far as this dive goes I will stick to my nitrox over air.

Reread my post. I stated "average diver". Personally, I won't dive deeper than 120' without some helium in my tanks.

 

[ucfdiver]

Reread my post. I stated "average diver". Personally, I won't dive deeper than 120' without some helium in my tanks.

I think you're just being a lot more honest with yourself than most divers are. I WAS a member of the "I don't get narc'ed" society until I had a wakeup call.

I can always work overtime to pay for a trimix class or helium. I can't always go back and fix a mistake I make while diving narc'ed. The choice is clear to me....

 

[Atomic_Diver]

here's my advise...

take Cavern, and Intro to Cave

Take a Wreck course too

and Advanced Open Water

so this way you can do what you want as far as wreck, cave, and diving to 130' goes..........

 

[Dive-aholic]

Please stop giving out advice like you know what you're talking about. And none of the courses you named train a diver to dive to 130'. Besides, no one should be diving to 130' on air.