Outrageous cost for nitrox vs. air

[supergaijin]

There is no such thing as 'free' Nitrox. The cost is absorbed in the fees.

The people bemoaning Nitrox costs might do a little research in to the cost of buying, running and maintaining an 'industrial size' compressor.

 

[redacted]

There is no such thing as 'free' Nitrox. The cost is absorbed in the fees.

The people bemoaning Nitrox costs might do a little research in to the cost of buying, running and maintaining an 'industrial size' compressor.

So how would you describe it when the dive op charges the same whether you dive air or nitrox? FREE seems like a good choice to me.

 

[fnfalman]

Here's a hint for those who don't know much about how businesses work: there ain't nuthin' that's free.

The cost is incorporated into your fees somehow.

---------- Post added July 28th, 2013 at 10:21 AM ----------

So how would you describe it when the dive op charges the same whether you dive air or nitrox? FREE seems like a good choice to me.

That means you overpaid on the air fill.

 

[ajduplessis]

What is the current cost of O2 in the states? We pay $0.01 per litre, blending techniques and equipment will also play a role. All things considered thou, anything over $8 (single cylinder rec mix) sounds expensive IMO.

 

[scubadada]

Several others beat me to it, free is included in the price. Obviously, from the above, it's a good selling point.

On the other hand, you spend a lot of money on a good dive vacation, I'll pay for the nitrox to give me the extra bottom time, especially for multiple dives, multiple days

 

[redacted]

Here's a hint for those who don't know much about how businesses work: there ain't nuthin' that's free.

The cost is incorporated into your fees somehow.

---------- Post added July 28th, 2013 at 10:21 AM ----------



That means you overpaid on the air fill.

But I dove nitrox to avoid overpaying for air. Have you got a better word for it than "FREE"?

 

[scubafanatic]

Was spoiled after a week of diving in Bonaire where nitrox is the same price as air. Booking a last minute trip to Caymans and some of the fees shops charge for nitrox seems crazy to me. What do people think is a reasonable fee to pay? Do you try to negotiate when they try to charge $15-25 extra for 2 tanks?

Caymans was never known for economy pricing on anything! I dug up an old invoice for NITROX pricing on my Aug 2010 1 week-long Cozumel trip, paid for a NITROX package in advance, was charged $ 12/tank extra for NITROX, 18 dive package. (I used AL 100's for the week.) Cozumel is a high volume NITROX usage site, plus I'd paid for 18 NITROX dives in advance with my LDS, so I'm surprised your 2013 Caymans trip was only $ 7 - $ 12 per NITROX tank upcharge. Bonaire is the only land-based dive location where the NITROX dive packages are relatively cheap, the only other places I've encountered 'cheap' NITROX are some liveaboards which do free NITROX ( SPREE in Dry Tortugas, FL ) or if not free at least offer low priced trip package pricing. Given the benefits of NITROX, especially on higher intensity dive trips, I just consider it a necessity and pay whatever I need to pay, I'll economize elsewhere if needed.

 

[Ayisha]

Here in Ontario, the cost for EANx is usually about $15 to $18 Cdn per fill, so pretty high. Some bank 32%. One shop charges .60 per cubic foot O2, not sure what that averages out to per 80 cf tank.

 

[elan]

Aquarius charges $10 per fill or 100 per 12 which turns out to be 8.5 per fill

Here in Ontario, the cost for EANx is usually about $15 to $18 Cdn per fill, so pretty high. Some bank 32%. One shop charges .60 per cubic foot O2, not sure what that averages out to per 80 cf tank.

 

[Ayisha]

Ah yes, it's very far for me, but I see that on their website. $10 per EANx fill is for 32% only. Any other mix more than 21% is $15. And any mix besides 27%, 32%, 36%, 40%, 50% or 80% costs an additional fee of $10. So the 28% that I have in my tanks right now would cost me $25 per fill at Aquarius if I didn't know to request 27% or 32% instead.