Does Nitrox leave a bad taste in anyone else's mouth?

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

ASUPaula

Guest
Messages
87
Reaction score
0
Location
Near Raleigh, North Carolina
I know oxygen is tasteless, but I'm convinced the way a higher concentration of oxygen interacts with my chemistry leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm curious if anyone can relate.

I don't know if it's related at all, but I also noted feeling lethargic and on the verge of a headache after diving Nitrox.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.
 
ASUPaula:
I know oxygen is tasteless, but I'm convinced the way a higher concentration of oxygen interacts with my chemistry leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm curious if anyone can relate.

I don't know if it's related at all, but I also noted feeling lethargic and on the verge of a headache after diving Nitrox.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.
I am surprised to hear about the feelin of being lethargic....usually quite the opposite, compared to air. As far as theb taste, I have not experienced it.
 
I've been diving Nitrox for about 8 years now and have never experienced any bad taste. I would have the gas analized for Carbon Monoxide, both a bad taste and a headache are signs of bad gas. The other explanation for the headache could be Carbon Dioxide retention. Skip breathing is a good way for this to happen also not breathing deeply enough to flush out the Carbon Dioxide from the lungs during normal resperation while diving. This will result in a massive headache if allowed to go to far and can also contribute to oxygen toxicity.
 
sometimes I think it tastes like chicken ;) dont everything


On a seriuos note I cant tell a difference
 
as Padipro said. have it analyzed or try a fill from another shop w/ a different tank.
Its not supposed to do that.
 
I agree with Padipro as well, if you can taste something in your air, there is something there that should not be.
 
ASUPaula:
I know oxygen is tasteless, but I'm convinced the way a higher concentration of oxygen interacts with my chemistry leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm curious if anyone can relate.

I don't know if it's related at all, but I also noted feeling lethargic and on the verge of a headache after diving Nitrox.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.
I know some people who tell me they can taste the difference between air and 50%. The difference in taste is lost on me.
I have never heard of someone being able to taste 32% or 36%.

I would try gas from another shop. For the most part, if you can smell it or taste it, you should not breathe it.
 
I would think that it related to the air quality from the filling station and/or contamination in the dive tank
 
Could be placebo effect, but I feel sharper after breathing nitrox. What is the taste? Can you smell it, too? I have never "tasted" nitrox, but I have gotten a bad fill when the LDS's filter failed and had a set of doubles "painted" with a layer of compressor oil. That I could definitely smell. To the LDS's credit, they caught it, broke down and O2 cleaned my tanks and manifold, and refilled me for free.

Taste and/or smell in breathing gas is a definite no-no, and may well indicate a tank and valve break down and cleaning on top of draining and replacing the gas. If it is really bad, you may have to get your regs cleaned, too. As a first step I would get my tank visual inspected to see if there is any knind of residue.
 

Back
Top Bottom