Part of learning about diving with mixtures greater than 21% is that you the diver are responsible for analyzing the % of 02 in the mix. I never dove @ buddy, but regardless of where you dive and get gas always make sure you have personally tested the gas. I'm sure there are places that have cattle boat type diving and the operator might think it is a waste of time for each diver to test the gas. But I would think Buddy would operate under the 'standard' that each diver checks their own gas. Give them a call and ask, there is no shame in calling.
As for owning your own analyzer, It's your call. For me I never got one because every place I went for travel they always had a good quality analyzer. Bonaire is pretty good with equipment, compressors, etc... But I have experienced some pretty shady practices in other less developed countries.
Just to share some experiences with you hopefully you can learn and stay safe...
1. I'm pretty friendly with a local dive shop. I asked for 50% 02 mix in a stage bottle for decompression diving. I go to pick up my bottle (the shop owner busts my balls in a friendly manner saying I don't trust him) and I test it and it had 100% o2 in the bottle. Long story...to partial pressure mix nitrox, you have to first add 02 then top it off with air. The guy that mixed the gas put the 02 in the bottle, must have had a brain fart and put the tank in the 'done' pile. He never went back and topped the bottle off with air.
Lesson learned, S*hit happens, people make mistakes, etc.... Never assume what the mix... Always test it yourself.
2. Went to a quarry around my area. I asked one kid with a nose ring to fill my doubles with air because I would be diving in the 140-155 range the next weekend. You can dive with a 25% O2 mix at this depth, but once you get around this range, for me it's not worth it and I dive 21%. Everyone will have their own opinion. I come back an hour later and the tanks were filled. Some people don't test if they just get air, butl I tested it anyway and it was 30% The other kid that was running the fill station said... "your tanks said Nitrox only, so I put Nitrox in them". I wanted to pull his nose ring right out of his face....
Again, if you don't exactly understand the above, and what could have gone wrong.. keep reading and asking questions about Nitrox until you can read the above and understand what could have happened.
So hope you learn from my experience... Dive safe my friend and any questions please ask.
Rich
