Nitrox needed for wreck dives in this area?

[Upwelling]

thanks guys...I think I will go ahead and sign up for the nitrox course...I have a feeling I'll be kicking myself later if I don't do it. Besides, I'll have a lot of time over the winter to make the tank decision.

Believe it or not, some places dont even require the dives anymore!! Some dive the higher O2 mixes for different reasons. Some for the extended bottom time and others for the cushion or comfort zone it gives them due to age, weight or maybe due to past injury or surgeries which can creatively add to your ability to recieve a case of the bends. I like to see divers get into the extended bottom time and have them compare Air Time to Nitrox Time and be there for them duing the transition of depending on the mix and getting through that tad portion of fear that some have on trusting the said Mix as they see that if they were on air that they would be in decompression but come up safely with no problems. I wear an Air computer next to any Nitrox Computers that are used and try to show a comparrison of the two. Otherwise, your just going diving. It definately has its advantages.

 

[XJae]

Also--what exactly does one do on the Nitrox checkout dives anyway?

The places that do require checkout dives, all the ones I know of, require two.
It basically consists of preliminary and post dive protocol.
(Analyzing tanks, dive planning, de-briefing, etc.)
I think the requirements actually jump from descend to ascend.

You can just have a fun dive and do what you'd like,
or you can do the requirements for a different specialty.
(This is the only PADI specialty that you can do with another,
where the dives count for both.)
Most people I know coupled Nitrox with Dry Suit or PPB.

Examples of extended bottom times mentioned above;

A dive with air to 90' has a NDL of 25 minutes.
The same dive with EANx36 has a NDL of 40 minutes.

A dive with air to 60' has a NDL of 55 minutes.
The same dive with EANx36 has a NDL of 115 minutes.
The same dive with EANx38 has a NDL of 140 minutes.

(Based on PADI RDP's with EANx38 having a EAD of 40')

 

[Upwelling]

Forgive my ignorance but...what is used to analyze the tank's content? Is this some extra piece of equipment I'll have to buy?

 

[sylvester]

An oxygen analyzer is used to check the tank contents after a fill, you will also learn about these and there use in the class. You do not need to buy one, every shop that sells nitrox has them to verify your mix with when you pick up your full tanks. They will have you confirm the % of oxygen and sign for it.

 

[Upwelling]

That is a relief! I think that would have been the dealbreaker if I had to buy some expensive analyzer on top of everything else....

One last question: If I dedicate a tank to Nitrox use do I need to always use the same mix or can I get EANx32 fills sometimes and EANx36 others in the same tank, or does that entail some extensive cleaning process? thanks!

An oxygen analyzer is used to check the tank contents after a fill, you will also learn about these and there use in the class. You do not need to buy one, every shop that sells nitrox has them to verify your mix with when you pick up your full tanks. They will have you confirm the % of oxygen and sign for it.

 

[FrankF]

You'll be able to use any mix up to 40% interchangably. (40-100% depending upon your training and whether the tank is O2 clean)

 

[XJae]

That is a relief! I think that would have been the dealbreaker if I had to buy some expensive analyzer on top of everything else....

One last question: If I dedicate a tank to Nitrox use do I need to always use the same mix or can I get EANx32 fills sometimes and EANx36 others in the same tank, or does that entail some extensive cleaning process? thanks!

yeah, you can put different percentage mixes in your dedicated tanks.
you can even bring in a half filled 36% mix and have it topped off, thus changing the mix %.
you will learn that the mix % is specific to the depth that you will be bringing it to.

i thought it might be nice to have my own analyzer, a couple of hundred bucks i think,
but found out that they only last a year or two before they need to be replaced.

also, something else you might want to look into, although most all new regulators come out of the box as nitrox ready to 40%, some are not and certainly some older ones are not and might need to be serviced with a kit designed to handle the higher oxygen content.

 

[Upwelling]

I have a GS2000 -- the manufacturer says not to use it with anything over 21% but everyone else here on the board seems to think that's BS and that you can use any of the newer regulators with anything up to 40%. I'm not sure what to think.

yeah, you can put different percentage mixes in your dedicated tanks.
you can even bring in a half filled 36% mix and have it topped off, thus changing the mix %.
you will learn that the mix % is specific to the depth that you will be bringing it to.

i thought it might be nice to have my own analyzer, a couple of hundred bucks i think,
but found out that they only last a year or two before they need to be replaced.

also, something else you might want to look into, although most all new regulators come out of the box as nitrox ready to 40%, some are not and certainly some older ones are not and might need to be serviced with a kit designed to handle the higher oxygen content.

 

[XJae]

I have a GS2000 -- the manufacturer says not to use it with anything over 21% but everyone else here on the board seems to think that's BS and that you can use any of the newer regulators with anything up to 40%. I'm not sure what to think.

I don't know about that genesis reg.
Actually I thought it was the diverite one before i looked it up.

Interesting how the manufacturer doesn't list it as useable for nitrox, probably a liability thing,
but some of the on-line dealers added to their site that it is useable to 40%.

I do know that most regs can be serviced to handle nitrox, and 100% o2 in some cases, by using the appropriate service kit. (O-rings and grease).

I suppose you're best bet would be to ask an authorized service tech, or maybe someone here on the board will chime in.

 

[asckar]

I also have the GS2000 and when I bought it I was told that it is Nitrox compatible to EAN40. I haven't yet used it for Nitrox though. I completed the TDI Nitrox course last year but since the course didn't include any checkouts I have yet to dive anything but air (I'm one of those with the trust issue). Now that I'm starting to get into some deeper wreck dives I think that I'm going to give it a try. I'll research some more about the reg though and let you know what I find.

ASC

I have a GS2000 -- the manufacturer says not to use it with anything over 21% but everyone else here on the board seems to think that's BS and that you can use any of the newer regulators with anything up to 40%. I'm not sure what to think.