How to avoid dryness during a dive on Nitrox

[Vikas.Sandhir]

Hi

Is their a simple way to avoid dryness in the mouth, without adding any equipment to the 2nd stage specially on a nitrox dive over 45 to 60 minutes.

I did try drinking a lot of water before and after dives, but it dose not help within 15 minutes my mouth goes dry and it increases discomfort as the dive prolongs.

Thanks in advance

Vikas
Enjoy safe Diving

 

[H2Andy]

well, the easiest way is that if you start to feel "thirsty," just swallow your saliva a few times. you can take off your regulator and swallow or you can just keep the reg in your mouth

i know this sounds gross, but hey, it's your own bodily fluids, and it works

even better, do this before you get thirsty, and get in the habit of doing it a few times during the dive anyway ...

 

[Doc]

You're not drinking enough.

Drynes in the mouth is a latter stage signal of dehydration. By the time that happens, you are already substantialy dehydrated. If yo're diving and you don't have to pee, you're on the road to dehydration.

Other than that, to manage your discomfort, swish some seawater into your mouth or do what Andy said.

Nitrox has nothing to do with it. BTW, Andy, Ladies don't spit.

 

[H2Andy]

nah ... i drink tons of water before and after dives and my throat dries out anyway, usually towards the end of each dive

some people are just more prone to dry throat than others

i'm not dehydrated; my throat is dry

swishing salt water in your mouth just makes your dry throat worse, in my experience

just a couple of swallows of saliva sets it right

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

I used to have extreme drymouth, get out of the water and slam a gatorade or eat lots of oranges, etc....I bought a Sherwood Blizzard which has a moisture pak that on every exhale, it holds some of the moisture on these metal bars(lack of a better word) then on every inhale of the dry air, it picks up that moisture...Helps me alot. Now after diving a whole day, I can not drink anything(though I do) but its not me dying for a drink.....I know some have said they didnt notice, but most of my customers have noticed the difference....and are as happy as I am with the results

 

[String]

Why "nitrox" ? No different to air.

You get dehydrated due to breathing in gas with virtually zero moisture content - nothing to do with the oxygen percentage.

As for the solution - drink more pre dive.

 

[joystershell]

I experience the same dry mouth during dives, whether air or NITROX. I simply make it a point to run my tongue over the roof of my mouth frequently, or cough to produce saliva. Keeps me moist and comfortable.

 

[Charlie99]

My first line of defense on drymouth during an ocean dive is simply to take out my reg, suck in some water. Then I swish it around and gargle a bit then spit it out. Repeat as necessary during the dive.

The 2nd line of defense is a Capri Sun juice pack. Little collapsible foil pouches around 6 or 8 ounces. Around the 60 minute point on a 90 minute dive I'll pull one out of my BCD pocket, insert straw and drink it. The foil pouch collapses as you drink, so depth doesn't affect it. Not only helps with drymouth, but I also like the extra sugar hit.

 

[JRScuba]

If I get dry mouth while diving I stop and have a Bud. It is a real thirst quencher. LOL

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I remember this when I first started diving then I'm not sure how but after 50'ish dives it went away.

My wife dives a Sherwood Blizzard like Dive Right In Scuba mentioned great reg and she doesn't get dry mouth (I didn't the few times I have dove it either).

Hmm Buisness opportunity I could invent "O2 Clean Mints" for use with Nitrox.