Nitrox vs Air

[UaVaj]

I just want to share/re-verify the affects of using the two different gas.



A little history about my experiences. So far I have 21 dives on my belt.

My first 4 dive (open water certification / nitrox certification) was with nitrox (not sure of actual %). After each of these 4 dives - I have never felt quizziness or weakness.

Ever since I got my certifications. I've always been diving with air on LP80. After about two dives on the same day (~1/2 hour each). I was mostly exhausted and ready to call it a day.

You asked. If you are nitrox certified. Why don't you dive with nitrox? I have just never gotten around to buying new tanks for nitrox.

Last week I finally pony up the $$$ ($390 each) and pickup 3 worthington HP120. Filled with EANx 32. Did 3 dives today. (~45min each). No quizziness or weakness. Maybe just a hint of it - bearly noticeable. I am confident I can go for a 4th dive if I wanted to.



No more air for me. I'll gadly double up and pay the $10 per fill for Nitrox. (air is $5 per fill)

 

[Blackwood]

I won't pay for nitrox for shallow dives. I've found that a good ascent is the best way to prevent post-dive fatigue.

 

[UaVaj]

I won't pay for nitrox for shallow dives. I've found that a good ascent is the best way to prevent post-dive fatigue.

Can you or someone who has more knowledge about what a proper good ascent is.

Do enlight me on this? I could give air another attempt and report back.

 

[scubadobadoo]

A little history about my experiences. So far I have 21 dives on my belt.

This is most likely why you have experienced fatigue thus far in your diving career.

Listen to Blackwood. A slow ascent means taking way more than the suggested time to get back to the surface, especially during the last 20 feet after your stop. Just go slow and then go even slower than that and you will notice less fatigue. Experience will help. The more you dive, the more control you will have. I thought I had great control at 50 dives. At 100 I realized I was wrong. At 300 I realized I still had a long way to go...always improving and still enjoying the sport! Another 100 dives and you should be able to do all three of those dives you did on just one of those 120's.

Do a search on slow ascents and you will have a ton of very informative reading.

Do as search on nitrox and fatigue and you will find that the majority of research regarding nitrox use and less fatigue to be the result of a placebo effect. That said, some, but not most, swear that nitrox helps and that may be true.

Now if a LDS sells a nitrox course or nitrox gear by claiming that it will decrease fatigue, then said LDS is selling you on an opinion rather than actual fact. That's cool too even though I personally disagree with that opinion as does most credible research on the topic.

Nitrox is merely the tool and you are the artist. The artist makes all the decisions and plays the greatest role in the outcome, not the tool.

BTW congrats on your new tanks and nitrox cert.

 

[Damselfish]

new divers tend to get more tired.

If your Nitrox/Air use truly lines up with the way you feel, it's either psychological, or you need to slow down your ascents. If you are ascending too fast you should slow it down no matter what gas you're diving, even if the Nitrox makes you feel better.

 

[TheRedHead]

Hauling an HP 120 up the boat ladder may make you weak.

 

[UaVaj]

As for better asending. I have alway done it the same - every time - pretty consistent. Thanks to my Smart Z. It tells me exactly how I should asend safely. I am confident this $1400 piece of equipment isn't faulty.

I am not 100% sure if this is psychological or physiclogical? I will however give air another attempt to verify this further.

What I do know for sure is. My first 4 dive was with Nitrox and I didn't feel any post-dive fatigue. My last 3 dive was with Nitrox and didn't feel any post-dive fatigue either. Everything in between with air was a little rougher. 5th dive and I think 16th dive with air was the worst - I was chumming.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Thanks to my Smart Z. It tells me exactly how I should asend safely. I am confident this $1400 piece of equipment isn't faulty.

The collective wisdom on this board is worth way more than $1400 bucks.

Like nitrox, the computer is only a tool. If I ever want to dive with you I'll be sure to PM your new nitrox tanks and your air Z.

 

[bajashack]

There are many different factors that may contribute to your fatigue such as hydration, water conditions, work load, and so forth. Log your dives and make notes about everything going on before and after the dive.

 

[Geoff_H]

As for better asending. I have alway done it the same - every time - pretty consistent. Thanks to my Smart Z. It tells me exactly how I should asend safely. I am confident this $1400 piece of equipment isn't faulty.

Ascending slowly enough to reduce/eliminate DCS is not the same as ascending slowly enough to reduce or eliminate fatigue. My advice is similar to the others - ascend as slowly as possible and you're likely to feel the difference after a days diving.