Nitrox 80s vs Air 100s

[DCDivenut]

Okay.. I know this is kind of a dumb question and I am not sure if it belongs here or in the tanks column (mods can feel free to move) but here goes...

I am heading to Cozumel in April and the operator I am diving with offers AL100s with at no additional charge and Nitrox 80's for $6 a tank. I guess his 100s are not oxy compatible so that is why he does not have nitrox for them. I am trying to get see if he can get nitrox capable 100s for me. I am looking to do 4 dives most days I am there.

That being said.. if you had the choice what would you do? I am thining that it makes sense to dive air 100 on the first dive and nitrox 80 on the second and then repeat for the 3rd and 4th dives?



1.

 

[gj62]

All depends.

I assume the planned dives are all within the Nitrox-mix limits that they will be providing. If so, and you are planning 4 dives a day, the Nitrox tanks will give you more bottom time. I suck very little air, so the tank size would not be a deciding factor for me. However, if you have psi issues on most of your dives, you might need to do it differently...

 

[matt_unique]

Okay.. I know this is kind of a dumb question and I am not sure if it belongs here or in the tanks column (mods can feel free to move) but here goes...

I am heading to Cozumel in April and the operator I am diving with offers AL100s with at no additional charge and Nitrox 80's for $6 a tank. I guess his 100s are not oxy compatible so that is why he does not have nitrox for them. I am trying to get see if he can get nitrox capable 100s for me. I am looking to do 4 dives most days I am there.

That being said.. if you had the choice what would you do? I am thining that it makes sense to dive air 100 on the first dive and nitrox 80 on the second and then repeat for the 3rd and 4th dives?

Most shops in Coz will be taking you and many other divers as part of a group. Most likely you will need to surface with the group based on the person who consumes air the fastest. Based on that assumption I would go with the Nitrox to reduce your N2 exposure and other benefits.

--Matt

 

[BadeInBulverde]

Just got back from a trip with exactly that circumstance ...

I am a bit of an airhog beyond 40ft so I planned for deeper dives as 1st and used AL100's for that then Nitrox AL80 and repeat ...

BTW I checked too for Nitrox 100's ... they didn't have them when I checked ..

The AL100's took about 4 pounds off my weight belt (which was a bit of a hassel ... had to remember to add 4#s to my pockets and remove them every other dive) ..

Have a great time ....

Another airhog ... :54:

 

[5615mike]

All depends.

I assume the planned dives are all within the Nitrox-mix limits that they will be providing. If so, and you are planning 4 dives a day, the Nitrox tanks will give you more bottom time. I suck very little air, so the tank size would not be a deciding factor for me. However, if you have psi issues on most of your dives, you might need to do it differently...

Right on the money jg. If your a real hoover then your going to be limited by gas on the EANx dives rather than NDL. Remember, if everyone else is on air 80's or there a many on that gas then your not going to benefit from the EBT. That's the problem with mix and matching air/EANx divers. If your trying to get EBT's then your hampered by the smallest air tank unless your DO lets the nitrox divers run THEIR NDL which most won't.