Nitrogen Narcosis

[divetraveler]

I don't think I've ever experienced nitrogen narcosis . . .is there any one thing that lets you know that you are about to? I haven't had a reason to go below 90ft . . I know the risk increases with depth . . .but I've also head of people who experience it in the 70-90ft range. Are some people more susceptible then others? Anyone out there with tons of experience who has never had it? Just looking to increase my knowledge on the subject . . .thanks.

 

[jonnythan]

It's not something that happens suddenly. It's like getting drunk.. it's something that happens in degrees. You're narced as soon as you're underwater, and it just gets worse the deeper you go.

It's hard to know how narced you are, but it's generally a safe bet that by the time you get to 90' you're narced enough for it to affect your response and thought process.

 

[HowardE]

I don't think I've ever experienced nitrogen narcosis . . .is there any one thing that lets you know that you are about to? I haven't had a reason to go below 90ft . . I know the risk increases with depth . . .but I've also head of people who experience it in the 70-90ft range. Are some people more susceptible then others? Anyone out there with tons of experience who has never had it? Just looking to increase my knowledge on the subject . . .thanks.

I have a question... Although I am not an instructor, as I understand it you are supposed to dive to 90' with your instructor to be PADI AOW.

How deep did you go?

 

[spectrum]

Sometimes I wonder about myself at 30 feet. I notice it when I'm navigating a reverse heading or if I try to recalculate my turn pressure. I've been told by a few anesthetist that I went under very easy. I don't drink but the times I have I got happy with just a little.

Pete

 

[ShakaZulu]

Next time you look at your SPG, and have to look again, cause you can't remember what you just read.........think about narcosis. Write some simple math problems on your slate and do them at 100ft, hmmm. I've been so narked that I thought I was going to throw up, geeezuz (150ft).

 

[Jim Lapenta]

EVERYONE gets narced. However not to the same degree with the same effects. I've had several dives in excess of 100 ft with no noticable effect other than feeling really relaxed. I've been on deep training dives with students where when they are trying to open a combination lock they take several tries, forget the combination while looking at it, and start to wander off. Others get panicky or paranoid with the impending doom feeling( dark narc). The books say it usually hits in the 80-100 ft range but no single person is the same and just how and when someone will get it can't be predicted for a specific person. The cure is easy however. There are two in fact. One is don't go deep, the other is simply to ascend a few feet or meters until the effect wears off. Also just because you get narced one time does not mean it will happen every time. By the same token you may do 50 deep dive with no noticable effect and on number 51 you may get hit and feel drunk as a sailor.Point of all this is don't get overly concerned about it. Stay within your limits and relax and if you get hit come up a little note the depth and take it easy on the next one. If you consistently get hit you may have established your personal limit. You can also try nitrox to minimize the effects but this does not work for everybody. Don't know if this helps you but keep watching the board and you'll get the answers you need from somebody.

 

[Pez de Diablo]

I have a question... Although I am not an instructor, as I understand it you are supposed to dive to 90' with your instructor to be PADI AOW.

How deep did you go?

When you do your AOW deep dive, one of the skills is to do a mental calculation on the surface and time your response, then time your response at depth. Most people are very surprised at the additional time required at depth to do the same problem they did on the surface. This is a good way to make an example of Narcosis.

I did have a lady last week who did her problem quicker at depth than on the surface. Kinda like the Johnny Fever response time when he was drinking on WKRP.

Dennis

 

[HowardE]

When you do your AOW deep dive, one of the skills is to do a mental calculation on the surface and time your response, then time your response at depth. Most people are very surprised at the additional time required at depth to do the same problem they did on the surface. This is a good way to make an example of Narcosis.

This was ultimately my point... The person who started the thread says "AOW" in their profile... I was wondering how they received that without the deep dive, and narcosis appetiser.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

... like the Johnny Fever response time when he was drinking on WKRP.

Dennis

I was just using that example with someone a couple of weeks ago.

Of course, now everyone knows how old you are.

Jeff

 

[Damselfish]

This was ultimately my point... The person who started the thread says "AOW" in their profile... I was wondering how they received that without the deep dive, and narcosis appetiser.

I believe PADI considers over 60ft to qualify as the "deep" dive.