Systematic use of oxygen analyzers by advanced divers ? [Poll].

[J-Vo]

So I just watched 4 of my tanks being filled from the same manifold at the LDS. I took them home and tested one of them. Is this acceptable to everyone here? I feel pretty confidant they would all have air in them. No other tanks where being filled at the time.

 

[J-Vo]

Another scenario. On a recent trip, the standard procedure for the shop was to take a picture of the tank with the sensor on it and the tank labeled. The picture would show both the sensor reading and the label. I insisted that we have an analyzer at the dive site for testing. These where deco dives with 50% & 100% tanks if that makes a difference. I didn't have my own analyzer because the shop had told me over email that I would not need it.

Would this have been acceptable to you? What if these where 32% for recreational dives?

 

[hroark2112]

I’m not much of a “trust me” guy when it comes to analyzing my gas. I won’t even analyze my wife’s tanks unless she’s watching.

Deco gas? I’d want to see it analyzed 100% of the time. I’ve done my time in the chamber. I’m not going back because someone put air in a tank and marked it 100%.

 

[CT-Rich]

Huge difference between diving regular air and having deco bottles of differing blends. If you are going to the time and expense to make dives that involve oxygen clean equipment and multiple blends, owning a gas gage seems like investment in safety.

I dove air for 30 years before getting nitrox certified. Now that I am certified, I am supposed change how I dive air? The O2 sensor won’t pick up oil or moisture or CO. Is it possible I could have tank accidentally filled with someone’s bottom trimix with 4% O2? Yes, but astronomically unlikely. More likely is getting a tank contaminated with something that should never be in my lungs, ever.

I would probably check gases every tank if I kept Nitrox in my tanks at home, but I don’t, my gear is not O2. If I see blue flames shooting out my regulator, I will certainly check the tank....

 

[rjack321]

Another scenario. On a recent trip, the standard procedure for the shop was to take a picture of the tank with the sensor on it and the tank labeled. The picture would show both the sensor reading and the label. I insisted that we have an analyzer at the dive site for testing. These where deco dives with 50% & 100% tanks if that makes a difference. I didn't have my own analyzer because the shop had told me over email that I would not need it.

Would this have been acceptable to you? What if these where 32% for recreational dives?

If they are this lazy how do you know they aren't reusing pictures? And one tank out of a batch? And 50% which is probably the easiest and most dangerous gas to mix up of all? (its 100% that you will be breathing at a ppO2 of 3.2 if they forget to top with air) no no no annnnd no!

I bring my own analyzer (O2 and CO) on every trip I take for exactly this reason - shops and fill stations aren't always forthcoming on their dubious practices. Sometimes I will use the shop analyzer if its more accessible than my own, but I always have mine on the trip.

 

[rjack321]

I focused on the word, "personally." Just out of curiosity and not to hijack the thread, but if you are okay with a regular and trusted buddy analyzing your gas for you, could you please hit the "Like" button for a tally?

I often bring loaner tanks for friends to use. I always analyze and label before I put them in the truck - for my own peace of mind that I am delivering what I said I would bring. They usually but not always re-analyze O2 at the dive site (but they rarely re-label and rarely check CO or He). But the choice to do that is on them. I know my fills are what I said they would be - full, reasonably accurate on O2, and CO free.

 

[Bubbles McGee]

I just finished my PADI Enriched Air Diver course. I will not dive Nitrox without verifying the blend. It took a minute to test the tank. Not worth the risk.

 

[BRT]

I just finished my PADI Enriched Air Diver course. I will not dive Nitrox without verifying the blend. It took a minute to test the tank. Not worth the risk.

Will you dive air without verifying?

 

[Kharon]

Educated divers always analyze their gas.

And you know this how? Because you do?

... .He had tforgotten that a few weeks prior, he had put O2 in that tank for a big dive. And anyone can make mistake like that...

I can't imagine ever making a mistake like this. That's unbeliveably sloppy. A fill like that is a known danger. Not keeping it straight, forgetting it's not air? Come on.

 

[boulderjohn]

I can't imagine ever making a mistake like this. That's unbeliveably sloppy. A fill like that is a known danger. Not keeping it straight, forgetting it's not air? Come on.

Are you saying it didn't happen, that this is a lie?

Assuming that the person she is talking about was named Carlos, a whole bunch of people will jump in to tell you it did indeed happen.

If you have a whole bunch of tanks and the ability to make fills of your own, it is surprisingly easy to make mistakes, especially if you are using partial pressure blending. In one of the most famous cases of a diver who survived O2 toxicity, he was one of the most experienced fill specialists you would ever want to meet, and he was putting trimix and O2 in a whole bunch of tanks. He did not analyze his own trimix because he had blended it himself, and after the incident it became clear that he had somehow given himself two doses of oxygen rather than a dose of helium and a dose of oxygen.

I was once part of a group of divers filling a pile of tanks in the dark for the next day, and when I analyzed, I discovered the guy doing the fills had given me two doses of helium, leaving me with the hypoxic mix from Hell.