NITROX for any and all dives?

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'm glad to see that there was not a single post advocating the questionable and unproven use of Nitrox over 21% because it supposedly "gives the diver more energy" or "makes him or her feel better".

It makes me feel better ... particularly on those dive trips where I might be doing 40-50 dives over a period of 7-10 days.

Some folks insist it's all in my head, but that's OK, since it's my head that tells me how I feel. Personally I prefer feeling like going for that fourth or fifth dive after dinner ... if I were diving air I might choose to skip that dive, due to how I'm feeling ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[bladder]

I propose a Nitrox anti-fatigue challenge, to be taken only by those divers who insist it makes them feel better and/or less fatigued.

Get a trusted buddy to either analyze your 2 tanks or at least make a note of the cylinder numbers and face them away from you as you analyze and then have your buddy or better yet a third dive mix them up and face the markings away or cover them with tape. Doing it the second way isn't as good and will work only if the tanks look the same. Then randomly grab a tank for dive 1, then the other for dive 2. Set your dive computer to air, and of course don't do this challenge if Nitrox really matters for that particular dive.

To keep this test "double blind" only at the end of the dive,do you tell your buddy which tank you used for which dive and then tell your buddy which made you feel better.

Do this challenge at least 10 times to largely eliminate other factors.

I'd expect if there was any positive benefit to Nitrox when it comes to fatigue and "feeling better" then the majority of time the Nitrox tank would be chosen but I'll bet that the results are close to 50/50.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I've been told that diving nitrox will lessen the dry mouth you get when diving on air. I haven't noticed a difference.

I've not heard that one before ... and it's nonsense. The reason you're feeling dry mouth is because residual moisture is removed from your breathing gas ... otherwise as it pressurizes the moisture content would condense and collect in the bottom of your tank. This is true regardless of the mix ... either air or nitrox ... so it makes sense that you haven't noticed any difference ... with respect to dry mouth and the reason for it, there is no difference.

Whoever told you that doesn't know what they're talking about ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[tursiops]

those divers who insist it makes them feel better and/or less fatigued.

Feel better "than what?" What do you mean by "fatigue?"
Most of us are saying, I am less tired if I'm using Nitrox.
By the way, I've pretty much done what you suggest, but probably not sufficiently double-blinded or controlled to your specifications. I'm with Bob (Grateful Diver); it really doesn't matter to me whether you "believe" or not, what works works. Why don't you show to me that there is no effect, rather than you demanding that I show there is an effect? How about YOU run the test on yourself? After all, we are trying to disprove something, not prove it.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Still, when some smartarse huffs "Air is for tires," I want to smack them.

Almost always when someone makes that remark they're newly DIRF'd, and repeating something their instructor likely told them.

Air is not for tires, as it contains 21% oxygen which tends to break down the rubber in a tire. I believe the ideal gas for tires is hypoxic ... EAN02, perhaps ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[bladder]

Feel better "than what?" What do you mean by "fatigue?"
Most of us are saying, I am less tired if I'm using Nitrox.
By the way, I've pretty much done what you suggest, but probably not sufficiently double-blinded or controlled to your specifications. I'm with Bob (Grateful Diver); it really doesn't matter to me whether you "believe" or not, what works works. Why don't you show to me that there is no effect, rather than you demanding that I show there is an effect? How about YOU run the test on yourself? After all, we are trying to disprove something, not prove it.

What's great about my proposed challenge is that you can define "feeling better and "less tired" or "less fatigued" any way you want!

Just pick which of the two tanks is more beneficial in regard to those factors, however you care to define them and report back.

I can't run the test on myself, because I know there's no difference. I can tell you in advance the results will be 50/50.

You cannot disprove a negative, you might as well tell me to go find proof of no Santa Claus.

Finally, it probably doesn't matter why Nitrox makes divers feel better, it's just a way of helping to settle the debate as to whether there's a real physiological factor or if it's all just psychological. Nothing more.

 

[drbill]

My air fills are free but Nitrox fills are $16-20 so it is a matter of economics for me. I used to do deep air dives (to 200 fsw) frequently so Nitrox wouldn't be the right choice. I have been Nitrox certified for a while but never used it. I do wonder if perhaps the enriched oxygen content might have killed the cancer in my body.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

@bladder, I’m only playing devil’s advocate, but if I dove air on the first dive and nitrox on the second then felt about the same after each dive, wouldn’t this possibly be the same as less fatigue after nitrox since I went into the second dive already somewhat fatigued after the first dive? I realize there is no perfect way of measuring but it seems that this could be a legitimate response, as well as a cause and effect to consider for the outcome. All & all, I like your testing idea, especially if it gives me an excuse to give my wife, the nondiver, for me diving more. “Honey, I take no pleasure from this. It’s all for science.” (She’ll never buy it, but would probably let me anyway).

 

[bladder]

@RIHappyDiver

That's why there's gotta be multiple trials, over time the tank chosen for the first dive would approach 50/50 Air vs Nitrox. Just like flipping a coin. You do it 100 times you're going to get heads about half the time.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Here’s my next question to those of you who use EANx on any and all dives. What is your “x” of choice? Do you routinely fill your tanks with 32%, 36%, or some other “good for all around diving” percentage?

EAN32 ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)