Mares Morphos Pro & Nitrox

[medic001918]

I have a question regarding my BC for you, and I was hoping that someone could answer it. I'm interested in taking the Nitrox course, but in reading thru my manual for my BC it says that I have to have my BC converted in order to dive Nitrox.

I have a Mares Morphos Pro BC and have only used it to dive regular air. The warning in the manual says:

"MARES supplies its authorized dealers with a kit for converting MARES BC's for use with Oxygen rich mixtures (Nitrox - maximum oxygen content: 40%). If, after the conversion, the BC is used with normal compressed air, it will be necassary for a trained MARES technician to repeat the entire conversion procedure before using the BC with oxygen-rich mixtures again. This is because the BC may be contaminated with traces of hydrocarbons or other impurities that could spark combustion."

Why would Mares be any different from any other BC in terms of having a conversion that's required for Nitrox? And what exactly are they converting in the BC? Especially if it goes away simply by using normal compressed air again?

Chances are that if I get my Nitrox cert, I will be diving pretty much exclusively Nitrox. It would still be nice to understand why this has to be done. And since I didn't buy my BC where I live, can I bring it to any Mares dealer and have the conversion done?

Any help would be appreciated.

Dive Safe,
Shane

 

[scubatoys]

It's all a scam... if diving recreational Nitrox - 32, 36% etc, you don't have to do anything to your BC, or your reg, or anything... Tanks need be cleaned only if your shop is doing partial pressure fills in the tank.

I've been going back and forth from Air to mid 30's Nitrox for the last 10 years - and so has everyone else in our shop - never a problem. In fact at the last DAN convention here in town, they said they have yet to ever see a problem of combustion in mixes below 40%... Not one they can find.

So I'd tell you don't spend the money to "clean your BC" and don't worry!

 

[medic001918]

Thank you very much for the prompt reply. It's nice to hear from a shop who's not just out to make an extra buck. It didn't really make sense to me since this was the only time I had ever heard of having to do anything with a BC before diving Nitrox. Thanks for the information. Looks I'll be signing up for my nitrox course in the close future.
Thanks.
Shane