Nitrox - What do you dive PO2 - 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6?

[AfterDark]

I feel old. I've never heard or thought of setting a computer to a specific ppO2.
I think about the dive before hand and determine my depth limits based on where I'm going and choose my mix based on that. My computer doesn't offer me any information during the dive as to ppO2's that I care about.

Dale, some divers have cranium rectal inversion so they set their computers to a ppO2 to set off an alarm if they exceed their MOD. That way they don't need to check their depth just listen for the alarm; for some people that's diving.

 

[uncfnp]

I feel old. I've never heard or thought of setting a computer to a specific ppO2.
I think about the dive before hand and determine my depth limits based on where I'm going and choose my mix based on that. My computer doesn't offer me any information during the dive as to ppO2's that I care about.

That was one thing I really liked about my old computer. No audible alarms. On the one I have now, you can't turn them off.

 

[tbone1004]

Shearwater :-D no alarms or buzzers or anything like that, it will flash at you angrily, and it is pretty hard to miss, but it figures if you are doing something wrong you probably are doing it intentionally.

 

[ddmattos]

On the two boats I dive here in New Jersey they ask for your back gas % and deco gas % upon checkin. Unless the boat is scheduled for a dive of 100' or less stick with 28%. The dive sites change with weather. You don't want to be the one to limit dive locations for the boat.

For planning purposes I use hard bottom (sand) or 130' for recreational dives.

So since we are talking about maxing our bottom times (NDL's), be sure to spend a minimum of five minutes between 15' - 10'. Although not necessary, it's good practice to spend one minute at 30', two minutes at 20' as well.

If you haven't already, download Multideco and plan your dives with the stops incorporated. This will also help you with gas planning.

1.4 for diving and 1.6 for deco are the recommended numbers.

Can you silence the alarm at depth when you go after that lobster a few feet below MOD @1.4?

 

[AdivingBel]

I have my computer set for 1.4 (no alarms) and I know 1.6 for my mix. I know where I'm at depth wise at all times. Rec only. Not that complicated. I like easy.

 

[lemke]

Accepted partial pressures of O2 are merely data averages collected over many years of MANY divers. They do not necessarily coincide with what YOUR body can tolerate. Nor can they anticipate what your dive may entail, the lifestyle you have lived up to this dive, etc., etc. As some have mentioned previously, 1.3 could be deadly, and others may be fine at 1.8.

 

[Six Feet Under]

I've stuck with 1.3 thus far.

 

[Aquabot]

I dive 1.4 pO2 during the dive and 1.6 ONLY during deco.

 

[uncfnp]

Shearwater :-D no alarms or buzzers or anything like that, it will flash at you angrily, and it is pretty hard to miss, but it figures if you are doing something wrong you probably are doing it intentionally.

One day but not just yet.

Can you silence the alarm at depth when you go after that lobster a few feet below MOD @1.4?

Nope. It will keep reminding me that I am a bad girl til I ascend to the set level.

 

[ddmattos]

Nope. It will keep reminding me that I am a bad girl til I ascend to the set level.

Assuming that you are always mindful of your dive computer data and not just waiting till an alarm goes off. You have two choices. Either dive a leaner mix or set you computer 1.5 to give you that little extra leeway when needed knowing that you want to be less that 1.4 for most of the dive.

I would strongly suggest the leaner mix.

I read your profile and you're Advanced Nitrox certified. Did you take Staged Deco with that class?