Nitrox benefits...

[NU2DIVING]

I am enrolled in the PADI AOW coarse and as one of the electives I have chosen to get Nitrox Cert. It is my understanding that the main benefit to diving with Nitrox is to extend bottom time. Is this an Accurate statement? (by the way I plan on starting to read the manual tonight I just thought I would ask some questions here first) If this is true I have to say that I tend to run out of air well before I run out of Bottom time. I am getting better with my air consumption with every dive but I definatley have a ways to go before I need to surface as a result of running out of 'no stop' time. I should also add that my deepest dive has only been to 65 feet. Are there any other benefits to diving with Nitrox?

Thank you,

Mike

 

[mempilot]

The advantages of Nitrox vary depending on depth. At the shallower depths, you will definately run out of gas before you run out of BT depending on the size tank you use. Nitrox mixes have a greater FO2(fraction of oxygen) than straight air. This lowers the FN2(fraction of nitrogen). The benefits here are noticeable at depths up to the Max Operating Depth of the mix. Nitrogen Narcosis inhibits normal behavioral patterns. The deeper you go, the more profound the effects. Nitrox mixes will give you an equivilent narcotic depth(END) less than your max depth. This means your motor skills at say 130fsw would be the same as if diving at 105fsw. The longer bottom times come from reduced N2 loading for a particular dive. Less N2 in in a given time allows you to stay longer. If you dive to the edge of the new table though, the effect is the same. Some divers use the Nitrox mixes to add a safety factor to the tables. They dive the appropriate mix for the Max Depth, but use the air tables for times. The managed risk in Nitrox is CNS Toxicity(central nervous system). The body can only handle so much O2 over time. Too much and it is toxic, causing convulsions and potential drowning. This exposure is increased with depth and time. Depth is controlled by not exceeding a MOD (max operating depth) for a given FO2. As depth is increased, the partial pressure of the component gasses increases. 1.6 PPO2 is considered the max limit and defines the MOD for the mix used. OTU's(O2 Toxicity Units) measure O2 limits over time. This is less of a factor for recreational divers.

Nutshell. It's a great cert and very usefull.

 

[Otter]

The other benefit is if you are doing multiple dives per day -- say on a liveaboard. You will absorb less Nitrogen and therefore add another margin of safety Expanding on your words, it will give you longer bottom times across multiple dives. The trade off is the O2 issues that Mempilot articulated so well.

 

[JeffG]

The other benefit is if you are doing multiple dives per day -- say on a liveaboard. You will absorb less Nitrogen and therefore add another margin of safety Expanding on your words,.

The two statements do not jive.

it will give you longer bottom times across multiple dives. The trade off is the O2 issues that Mempilot articulated so well.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

The two statements do not jive.

Well, the answer is that ... like most things related to diving ... there are trade-offs.

In the broadest sense - when diving, nitrogen is not your friend. So the less nitrogen you breathe, the friendlier the environment becomes. Nitrox reduces nitrogen in the gas mix you breathe by replacing it with oxygen.

The trade-off is that our bodies are only designed to handle so much oxygen at a time. Too much oxygen, and we start to show symptoms of a malady known as central nervous system (CNS) toxicity.

When you take the nitrox course, they teach you how to deal with those trade-offs, and how to assure that you stay within what are considered safe limits for your oxygen intake. As long as you stay within those limits, the trade-offs are beneficial.

Besides extended bottom time, the other major benefit of nitrox is that you can reduce your surface interval when you are doing multiple dives ... since you are breathing lower percentages of nitrogen, there will be less residual nitrogen in your body at the end of a dive. This can have tremendous benefit if you're on a tropical vacation or a live-aboard, where you'll want to be doing four or more dives a day.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[novadiver]

The two statements do not jive.

Take the class! I always wanted to say that!

 

[JeffG]

Take the class! I always wanted to say that!

Really...and that class will say that I will have less nitrogen in my system and I can have longer bottom times? Inquiring minds and all

 

[JeffG]

Take the class! I always wanted to say that!

Oh...and heres a hint

N x T = L

if I lower N and increase T...what does that do to L

 

[mempilot]

Boy, you guys are following each other around to antaogonize each other today.

As stated above, you'll get longer bottom times by lowering N. But if you dive to the edge of the table, you'll still have the same amount of N in your system.

Don't cloud the new guys thread with your arguments.

 

[JeffG]

Boy, you guys are following each other around to antaogonize each other today.

As stated above, you'll get longer bottom times by lowering N. But if you dive to the edge of the table, you'll still have the same amount of N in your system.

Don't cloud the new guys thread with your arguments.

I was trying to clarify what you just said...just not by outright stating it.

Nova isn't antagonizing me...quite the opposite in fact...he is keeping me amused.