New to Nitrox - Do I need to buy an O2 Analyzer?

[htatton]

Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom.

As for why a new diver would go straight to nitrox, I'm 71 years old and my MD recommend I use nitrox to avoid fatigue on multiple dives. I don't plan on going deeper than my training (60ft) until I have a number of dives and more training. Just seeking an edge.

I'm learning and really appreciate the sharing on this board.

 

[Diver Dan 28]

No, you don't need one. Yes, you should have one. Although most boats/resorts will have analyzers it's a nice to have just in case. $200 for something that can save your life, worth it. Also, there are $7 CO detectors that I take with me on every trip.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Where do you find a co detector for 7 bucks? I have been looking and haven't seen any related to scuba.

 

[Lionfish51]

I own one for a few reasons, in fact first one was stolen now on my second! even though most shops have one and hand it to you to test yourself, or write on tank, I use to verify and plug info into my computer. Without a Nitrox ready computer you will never dive accurate as far as depth etc.( unless your a chart junkie)
Rick

 

[NAM001]

Just opinion however if you are going to dive nitrox you are checking for the correct mixture. You have no idea if the shops meter is working correctly. Get your own or always check you tank with a tester not from the shop. When i do a dive and nitrox is being used you need both hands to nitrox meters that come out of the bags when the tanks are dilivered. If your meter differs with the shops then get a third divers meter.

 

[Itsacon]

Also, there are $7 CO detectors that I take with me on every trip

Just like Diver Dan 28, I'm quite interested to know which ones these are. Could you provide a link?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have some in stock. It is essentially a balloon with a disc that you drop in. It reacts with any co in the air. Color of the disc changes to indicate the presence of co. I'm on my tablet now but can post a link to the manufacturer later today when my desktop is up.

 

[WarrenZ]

If you are interested in getting another gadget I just picked up from sensorcon their portable CO meter.












Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector Meter

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

I wouldn't buy one for the limited amount of diving you have planned.

It's when you dive independently of dive operators that you need one the most. I have only had a couple instances where I really needed one and it's typically not on a supported dive. I use mine most often at home when using a transfill whip, topping up Nitrox with air, a contents sticker came off, or tanks laying around for weeks with potentially unknown mixes, etc. You need it most when you own multiple personal tanks that have potentially various mixes in them, like 32%, 50% and 100%, etc. But, if you're only certified for basic Nitrox and diving shop tanks, that's not something you'll have to worry about. If anything, you'll dive 32%, so you'll know you have either 32% or air right off the bat.

And, certainly don't waste your time with a CO analyzer.

 

[Mustard Dave]

I don't own one personally, but a couple of lads from my club do. Between doing the nitrox course and CCR course, I dived with nitrox the grand total of one occasion, and the only reason for that was I was using a hired tank that had been filled with nitrox by the previous user, half depleted and was given an air top up.

When I did the nitrox course, somebody asked the instructor if we needed our own analyser. He said we didn't, as normal practice when collecting your fill is to check the fill in the shop and sign to say you've checked the contents, and the blending station will always have an analyser.

The same person often tells a story about a dive outfit in Indonesia, where they don't pay heed to such trivial matters as safety. They were loading the boat and the cylinders, which were filled with EANx 32 were stood on the jetty. One of the dive operator's staff started passing a clipboard around, asking everybody to sign. When it got to him, he asked for the analyser. The dive operator queried why he needed it and he replied, "You've just asked me to sign a piece of paper saying I have analysed and labelled my cylinder - I haven't." . He then told him there was an analyser on the boat and he could do it when they were under way. "Fine! I'll sign it when I've analysed it then!". He then told him the paperwork had to go back to the shop, so he signed it to save any further argument. Once they were under way, he asked for the analyser - they didn't have one!

I was on a liveaboard in Scapa Flow, Orkney (technically part of Scotland, but if a local hears you say so, they get angry and tell you they're Orcadian). Looking at the booking T&Cs, they point out although they have an analyser aboard, it's primarily for their use and is a backup for your own, and they expect to see at least one analyser per group of divers if they want nitrox. On the boat though, when he gave me a 32% mix for my bailout, his first question was "Do you want the analyser?". I suppose the translation of the website statement is "We have an analyser you can use, but if it is wrong, don't blame us!".

You can get away without having your own, but if you use nitrox a lot, the convenience of having one is worthwhile.

 

[Carl_F]

I've always been able to analyze my tanks either in the shop where they were filled or at the resort of on the boat. My opinion is you don't need your own analyzer. You can use the supplier's analyzer to analyze your own tanks.