What is NITROX?

[SBP Studios]

Sorry if im missing the offical "this is what Nitrox is new guy" thread but I am very curious as I see it in alot of the magazines that the livaboard Dive ships etc all say NITROX in their ad.

Feel free to steer me to the thread where this has probably been discussed 1000x.

 

[Don Wray]

The air we normally breathe is composed of 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen...the air supplied normally in scuba tanks is made up of the same composition. Nitrox is enriched air having a higher percentage of oxygen. Recreational nitrox tops out at around 40% oxygen and 60% nitrogen, with blends in between.

 

[SBP Studios]

Sooo is there an advantage disadvantage? Dont you have to get special training to use Nitrox?

The air we normally breathe is composed of 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen...the air supplied normally in scuba tanks is made up of the same composition. Nitrox is enriched air having a higher percentage of oxygen. Recreational nitrox tops out at around 40% oxygen and 60% nitrogen, with blends in between.

 

[cudachaser]

Nitrox works really well in the 60ft to 100ft range...It gives you much more bottom times at these depths. I talk to all my OW students about Nitrox and encourage them to take a Nitrox course...Did your instructor not tell you the same?

 

[wilkie]

Nitrox is a nitrogen - oxygen gas mix. EAN (enriched air nytrox) followed by a percentage figure, such as EAN 32%, EAN 63%, are also called nitrox 1, and nitrox 2 or just plain nitrox in conversation. Atmospheric air is basicly 21% oxygen, 79% nitrogen, which could rightly be called EAN 21.

I'm sure that a search for nitrox will give all the information that you desire.

 

[PenguinAdLitem]

The advantage is that there is less nitrogen in the mix for each volume. In theory, this means less nitrogen loading in your tissues for the same dive profile. Thus, your decompression obligations are decreased - ie, your available bottom time increases, or the theoretical DCS risk diminishes if you dive NITROX as if you were actually breathing air.

The trouble is that oxygen is only safe in moderation. Too much of it can cause serious problems, including sudden violent convulsions at depth. Special training is required in order to calculate and manage the risks. It's also required because many shops won't give you enirched air fills unless you have a plastic card saying you are trained to avoid killing yourself with it.

 

[SBP Studios]

Ok I guess thats why I have'nt learned about it yet, im still pool diving and have'nt done open water yet and really dont plan to do much more than 30ft anyway, glorified snorkelers is all we desire to be really.

Thanks guys!

 

[Diver Dennis]

Dive shops won't give you an air fill unless you have a plastic card saying you won't kill yourself with it. The course is simple and depending on who you take it from, you don't even have to do any dives.

 

[mfalco]

Read this

http://www.gasdiving.co.uk/pages/misc/Nitrox.htm

 

[LOG-SPLITTER]

great link!