Randy43068
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I dive NITROX 'till I start to shake then I back off a bit.
J/K, did I need to tell you that?
J/K, did I need to tell you that?
Should you be diving NITROX if you can not answer these questions?
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These discussions always go around in circles. Yes, you can dive at (or slightly above) 1.6 ATA ppO2 and you will probably be OK, but things will obviously go very badly if you take a hit.
It is up to you whether elevating your risk of death is worth a couple of extra minutes of NDL or shaving a couple of minutes off your deco. I know what my view is. But I don't judge those who take a different view.
It is up to you whether elevating your risk of death is worth a couple of extra minutes of NDL or shaving a couple of minutes off your deco. I know what my view is. But I don't judge those who take a different view.
I think the dive agency poll thread speaks volumes.
sambolino44
Contributor
OK, I haven't read the whole thread, just the first and last few pages, but my answer to the question "should you be diving nitrox if you cannot answer these questions?" is: no.
My answer to the question "should you be diving nitrox if you cannot answer these questions (without looking them up)?" is: sure!
I'm nitrox certified, and I feel my course curriculum and instruction was top-notch. But I have dived with nitrox only a few times since my cert, so I'm a bit rusty on the math. However, I feel that as long as I actually DO look it up before I go, I'll probably be OK because even though I may not have retained everything, I believe I have retained a good understanding of the basic concepts.
In fact, when I started reading this thread I pulled out my NAUI OCEANx calculator and went through a few hypothetical scenarios, much like I would do when planning any nitrox dive. If I couldn't find my OCEANx calculator, I might plan my dive using my nitrox tables. If those aren't available, or I think I may want to use a different mix, then I might consider planning my dive with my computer.
So, while I think I agree with the OP that there are a lot of people who are just accidents waiting to happen, I think I disagree in how intimate your knowledge of the tables has to be in order to have a reasonably safe nitrox dive.
My answer to the question "should you be diving nitrox if you cannot answer these questions (without looking them up)?" is: sure!
I'm nitrox certified, and I feel my course curriculum and instruction was top-notch. But I have dived with nitrox only a few times since my cert, so I'm a bit rusty on the math. However, I feel that as long as I actually DO look it up before I go, I'll probably be OK because even though I may not have retained everything, I believe I have retained a good understanding of the basic concepts.
In fact, when I started reading this thread I pulled out my NAUI OCEANx calculator and went through a few hypothetical scenarios, much like I would do when planning any nitrox dive. If I couldn't find my OCEANx calculator, I might plan my dive using my nitrox tables. If those aren't available, or I think I may want to use a different mix, then I might consider planning my dive with my computer.
So, while I think I agree with the OP that there are a lot of people who are just accidents waiting to happen, I think I disagree in how intimate your knowledge of the tables has to be in order to have a reasonably safe nitrox dive.
sambolino44
Contributor
Oh yeah! I just thought of this. I think if I wanted to dive nitrox and couldn't find my calculator or my tables, before I used my computer to plan my dive I'd probably go into my nitrox course materials and look up the formulas to do an equivalent air depth calculation to get a best mix for my planned depth.
I was taught in Marine Corps boot camp that, while "I don't know" may be an unacceptable answer, "I don't know the answer, but I know where to look it up" is, in most cases, OK.
I was taught in Marine Corps boot camp that, while "I don't know" may be an unacceptable answer, "I don't know the answer, but I know where to look it up" is, in most cases, OK.
Spearomen
Registered
Answer is .............25% you can dive 151.8....does I get a prize?
ianr33
Contributor
My opinion is that it depends on the dive you are doing.
Like you I would have no problem dropping to 1.6 for a few minutes on an easy dive. On the other hand I have called a cave dive in Jackson Blue partly because of O2 concerns. After 30 minutes of battling crazy flow I was having a hard time getting my breathing under control. A pO2 of almost 1.4 and a load of CO2 seemed like a bad idea.
Neither would I want to have a pO2 of 1.4 for 2 hours. Its within the guidelines but seems pointlessly risky to me when ascending is not an option.
Food for thought... most rebreather divers use a setpoint of 1.3 PPO2 for the majority of the dive.
The problem with nitrox and partial pressures of Oxygen is that most divers don't fully understand the ramifications of increased partial pressures of Oxygen and the chances for an oxygen toxicity hit.
All too often, it is clear that most people after taking a basic nitrox class are under the assumption that exceeding 1.6 ppo2 for even a second - could result in INSTANT ox tox.
The problem with nitrox and partial pressures of Oxygen is that most divers don't fully understand the ramifications of increased partial pressures of Oxygen and the chances for an oxygen toxicity hit.
All too often, it is clear that most people after taking a basic nitrox class are under the assumption that exceeding 1.6 ppo2 for even a second - could result in INSTANT ox tox.
Pacilander
Guest
One problem is too many people think nitrox is only 32%, 36% and 40% mix. The fact is 22% is still Nitrox, so diving over 130 ft is not a big deal on the correct mix and a gas with less nitrogen is still an advantage.
Bottomfeeder Brodie
Contributor
Strap a tank of EAN100 on your buddy's back and kick him in the deep end with a load of laundry.....done
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