Nitrox Question

[DepartureDiver]

Lastly, I didn't see any remarks about needing equipment to "verify" the O2 mix. Are these mandatory; expensive??

They're nice, but no it's not required. You will be checking the oxygen percentage before you leave the dive store using the dive store's sensor.

 

[H2Andy]

they are not mandatory, and they are expensive (for me anyway). BUT,
take heart, a reputable shop should INSIST that you verify the O2 mix before
taking the tank out the door, and they will make their equipment available for you
to do so.

if they don't mandate it, make sure you do it anyway.

if they don't want to let you use their equipment, go elsewhere.

 

[DandyDon]

Lastly, I didn't see any remarks about needing equipment to "verify" the O2 mix. Are these mandatory; expensive??

Yeah, I'll agree with the other guys, except when I leave the US! Safety is only a suggestion around the Caribbean and some others parts of the world outside the controls we expect here. Use your own, or rent one from your LDS... :xeye:

 

[IndigoBlue]

Thanks everyone for all the info. The consensus seems to be "go for it", so I will!

I saw a lot of remarks on tables but I have the UWATEK SmartCom which is Nitrox compatible. Also, I'm not planning on doing much diving below 100 feet anyway...

Lastly, I didn't see any remarks about needing equipment to "verify" the O2 mix. Are these mandatory; expensive??

In your class, you will learn about 1) verifying the %O2 and 2) logging the mix and the pressure and the date in the store's log. Always bring your EANx card with you to get a fill, in case a new person at the shop doesn't know you and wants you to verify yourself as EANx trained.

For diving below 100 ft, nitrox is not too much good anyway. Nitrox is mostly applicable for diving between 50 and 100 ft. For 100 ft dives, EAN32 is a popular choice. You will also learn about EAN36, which is another popular choice.

You are really smart for having bought a nitrox dive computer. You will enjoy diving with it set in nitrox mode. It simplifies everything for you, and gives you warnings as well as you approach the edges of your specific mix parameters, mostly max depth.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Lastly, I didn't see any remarks about needing equipment to "verify" the O2 mix. Are these mandatory; expensive??

As stated by other divers these analyzers are not mandatory, but they are a good idea. The shop where you get your gas should offer to let you use their analyzer to verify the gas in the cylinder, pretty simple and as stated by others a really good idea for you to do yourself in addition to the test the shop should do.

I recently built my own from plans and a kit I found at http://www.oxygenanalyzer.com/home.htm. If you are reasonably handy and are not afraid of this simple project, you can make your own for $80 US. Look at the link for the "YDI" analyzer. I would wait a short while, at least until after you have taken your course before I got one though. There are other plans and other kits available, they all work pretty much the same wheather you build it yourself or buy one commercially.

Mark Vlahos

 

[Ryukyu-diver]

Thanks everyone for all the info. The consensus seems to be "go for it", so I will!

I saw a lot of remarks on tables but I have the UWATEK SmartCom which is Nitrox compatible. Also, I'm not planning on doing much diving below 100 feet anyway...

Lastly, I didn't see any remarks about needing equipment to "verify" the O2 mix. Are these mandatory; expensive??

Very good question and I regret that none of us seemed to have picked up on it. Since I think that we can rule out the "in the garage" blending, then you LDS will have the proper equipmment in order to checkout and verify the oxygen percentage. A standard rule in diving NITROX is that the diver using the tank is responsible for verifying the contents of it. As for the equipment required to analyze the enriched air (NITROX) you can obtain an analizer fairly cheap these days and I have not heard of any trouble with any of the modles out there. In any case, chances are you will not need your own analizer but may want to obtain one in the future. My advice is to take the course first, get use to the procedures of checking out (renting) NITROX tanks and then decide for yourself.

 

[DandyDon]

Very good question and I regret that none of us seemed to have picked up on it.

Thought we did...?

Lastly, I didn't see any remarks about needing equipment to "verify" the O2 mix. Are these mandatory; expensive??

Yeah, I'll agree with the other guys, except when I leave the US! Safety is only a suggestion around the Caribbean and some others parts of the world outside the controls we expect here. Use your own, or rent one from your LDS... :xeye:

But for safety - thanks for covering it again...