Handling Narcosis

[SeaHound]

I did a dive to 140 feet and was totally out of my mind. Was rewinding the camera in the wrong direction and stuff. I want to know when you guys are down to 200 feet how crazy do you get and how do you handle it? How can he effects of narcossis be reduced?

 

[fppf]

I'm assuming your asking because you only have recreational training, which limits depth to 130 feet.

To go below this requires much more advanced training and equipment. This includes the use of mixed gasses that limits or elimits narcossis.

 

[amascuba]

How can he effects of narcossis be reduced?

Helium, Lots of Helium.

 

[Thalassamania]

Helium is your only sure bet. Exposure time, overall experience, and lots of chamber time can help.

 

[amascuba]

Helium is your only sure bet. Exposure time, overall experience, and lots of chamber time can help.

Here is some of the information relayed by the recent DAN Technical Diving conference:

Peter Bennett presented on Narcosis. It is clear that the medical community is doubtful that anyone can 'handle' narcosis. They seem to be of the opinion that 'acclimatization' is little more than your ability to know what to expect. While it has been proven that oxygen IS narcotic (it causes rats to lose consciousness at 1000 fsw) the effect is extremely mild and very likely has a negligible effect on on divers. The decompression advantages of oxygen FAR outweigh any sort of narcosis effect. It was also interesting to note that the mechanism of nitrogen narcosis is almost exactly opposite of HPNS (expansion v. contraction of neuronal membranes) which explains why adding nitrogen back to heliox helps ameliorate HPNS. In theory it's possible to get enough nitrogen to balance the HPNS effect of helium. However it's also interesting to note that apparently the benefit of nitrogen can be reduced (or completely eliminated) by a rapid descent rate.

 

[lowridersvt]

I would never say its ok to dive deep on air .The best way i have found to deal with narcoses is be rested, hydrated, and have some dive at deep depth to learn how to deal with it .

The best way is to get some helium training helitrox if your not doing any technical diving


If your going to continue doing deep dives please get technical training and gear last thing we need is another statistic

 

[Thalassamania]

Peter Bennett presented on Narcosis. It is clear that the medical community is doubtful that anyone can 'handle' narcosis.

They seem to be of the opinion that 'acclimatization' is little more than your ability to know what to expect.

Bennett has oft been observed having trouble differentiating between his opinion and that of the "medical community." I suspect that now that he has lost his bully pulpit this confusion will grow.

While it has been proven that oxygen IS narcotic (it causes rats to lose consciousness at 1000 fsw) the effect is extremely mild and very likely has a negligible effect on on divers.

To the best of my knowledge this has been suggested but is far from proven or even generally assumed.

The decompression advantages of oxygen FAR outweigh any sort of narcosis effect.

What is your point? Are you referring to EAN or high ppO2 decompression?

It was also interesting to note that the mechanism of nitrogen narcosis is almost exactly opposite of HPNS (expansion v. contraction of neuronal membranes) which explains why adding nitrogen back to heliox helps ameliorate HPNS.

It's interesting to consider a hypothesis along those lines, but noting, '... that the mechanism of nitrogen narcosis ...' is not only premature, but quite possibly wrong.

 

[SeaHound]

I'm assuming your asking because you only have recreational training, which limits depth to 130 feet.

To go below this requires much more advanced training and equipment. This includes the use of mixed gasses that limits or elimits narcossis.

Ur assumption is correct. But the lack of mind I experience at 140, would it remain the same at 200 or would I not know who my mama is? and at 250 I dont know what MAMA means? U know what I am sayin?

 

[fppf]

It gets worse, much worse.
And to add to it at 200 your at a PO2 of about 1.48 which is above the general working limit of 1.4

At 250 feet your at 1.8 which would put you at great risk of an oxtox, let alone you most likely would not know your name.

If you want to go deeper than 130 feet please seek out the proper training and gear.

 

[texdiveguy]

Seahound....it's pretty safe to say that diving 'deep' on AIR is not the best bet anymore. It can be done with training to a certain point, but with the advances in mix gas diving and the availability of affordable training it is best to limit yourself to recreational depths and NDL's until you persue such instruction and deep dive protocols and understandings. Helium is a good thing for deep diving.