Emergency O2 in Minnesota

[2airishuman]

Are you totally opposed to getting your advanced nitrox?

It's complicated.

Let's start with the fact that I don't have any plans to do any deco diving. The reasons have much to do with a lack (locally) of technical dive teams who are looking for new members and an absence (again locally) of interesting dive sites in the relatively narrow depth range where AN/DP is helpful without helium.

The next problem is that most tech shops here are PADI; there are only a couple of SDI/TDI shops and while they do offer AN/DP they have limited slots and it is logistically very difficult to take the class. The PADI tech progression requires a much larger investment of time and money to reach a level of certification where you can buy 100% O2.

To take AN/DP locally requires a drysuit, which I don't have, and requires travel to one of a handful of deep sites all around 200 miles away. So there are a bunch of barriers.

I think, if I were to take AN/DP or similar training, I would prefer to fly somewhere else for a week and do it there, with an instructor who really likes to teach it, and on dive sites that are rewarding in their own right rather than just a 150' deep platform. And I don't have the time or money to do that this year.

 

[tbone1004]

@2airishuman why not just take AN as a course? I think @uncfnp only took AN due to a medical concern that I can't remember off the top of my head. It's not a common request, but if someone came to me with that request, I'd certainly teach it without doing DP.

Do you have a local fire department that will fill them? They keep medical O2 on standby. The chiefs can usually be bribed with various edible concoctions to give access to their compressors and potentially their O2.

Alternatively, why not just get a K-bottle of ABO? It's a few bucks more, but you're a pilot *not that that's required by most suppliers*. That all said, it's all the same stuff anyway and for surface use, I'd just use the industrial O2 you have laying around. Hell I'd still use industrial O2 for diving if you know the gas suppliers

 

[2airishuman]

@2airishuman why not just take AN as a course? I think @uncfnp only took AN due to a medical concern that I can't remember off the top of my head. It's not a common request, but if someone came to me with that request, I'd certainly teach it without doing DP.

::nod:: Hmm.

Do you have a local fire department that will fill them? They keep medical O2 on standby. The chiefs can usually be bribed with various edible concoctions to give access to their compressors and potentially their O2.

They're extraordinarily policy-and-procedure oriented at the local firehouse and I don't have the connections. They pump grade E air for their dive team but not for anyone else, and oxygen is probably out of the question.

Alternatively, why not just get a K-bottle of ABO? It's a few bucks more, but you're a pilot *not that that's required by most suppliers*. That all said, it's all the same stuff anyway and for surface use, I'd just use the industrial O2 you have laying around. Hell I'd still use industrial O2 for diving if you know the gas suppliers

That may be what I have to do.

 

[icechip]

I'm curious as to why any LDS won't fill them? Mine does up here in Maine. Is it a state law thing?

 

[Wookie]

With your prescription could you pickup a K or T of medical O2? I use Minneapolis Oxygen for H2 and O2 but haven't pickup up either lately. Probably will be getting O2 soon.
I gave up trying to get medical or aviator and just use industrial O2.
Al

Why do they restrict aviator?

 

[Jonn]

Why not just breath welding oxygen? It’s not like you need a Schedule One Research License from the DEA to posses this “drug”. It’s my (very limited) understanding welding is higher grade than medical anyway.

 

[Wookie]

Why not just breath welding oxygen? It’s not like you need a Schedule One Research License from the DEA to posses this “drug”. It’s my (very limited) understanding welding is higher grade than medical anyway.

Your understanding is incorrect. Welding cylinders are filled on the same rack, but medical cylinders are triple vacuumed out and are tracked from fill to sale. Welding (really cutting) oxygen is cross connected with everyone else’s cylinders.

Not that there is any reason to think that welding gas is less “pure” than medical, medical is sampled to prove it.

 

[ScubaAl]

Why do they restrict aviator?

I have no idea, they always act like your up to something illegal. Makes it real interesting when picking up a K bottle of HE.

 

[grf88]

Get a blending whip with a adapter and head to the local welding shop with a 6-pack and ask for a fill from a full bottle.

 

[SleepySlipper]

@2airishuman have you tried hitting up the re-breather community?
https://www.silentexplorers.com/