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Nitrox Questions


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#1 H20 Bug

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 09:41 AM

Thinking about doing the Nitrox certification, but I can't seem to get a good explanation of why I should. The common answer I keep getting is it increases your bottom time and you don't feel as wiped out after multiple dives.

My questions:

- is the increased bottom time cause you're breathing is more efficient with Nitrox, or cause the "tables" allow for longer bottom time?
- since you need certification for Nitrox, what if your buddy isn't Nitrox certified? do you not dive the Nitrox?
- what are the "consequences" of sharing Nitrox with someone that wasn't using Nitrox - does that end their diving for the day or a period of time? (I know, if they ran out of air, they're lucky to have a source, but still good info to have)
- Is there a notable difference?
- anything else I should consider?

Thanks.
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#2 Walter

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 09:54 AM

The common answer I keep getting is it increases your bottom time and you don't feel as wiped out after multiple dives


It also allows you to decrease your surface interval. The less fatigue symptom is likely a placebo effect.

-

is the increased bottom time cause you're breathing is more efficient with Nitrox, or cause the "tables" allow for longer bottom time?



Tables. It's like breathing air at a shallower depth with regard to tables. Your air (gas) consumption won't change as a result.

- since you need certification for Nitrox, what if your buddy isn't Nitrox certified? do you not dive the Nitrox?



Your choice. You will be further from your NDL and therefore less likely to be bent if you use air NDLs with nitrox.

- what are the "consequences" of sharing Nitrox with someone that wasn't using Nitrox - does that end their diving for the day or a period of time? (I know, if they ran out of air, they're lucky to have a source, but still good info to have)


Unless you're too deep for the mix, there are no known adverse consequences.

- Is there a notable difference?


There's a dramatic difference in NDLs and surface intervals from about 50 - 100 feet.

- anything else I should consider?


Nitrox limits your maximum depth. Nitrox, AKA "geezer gas," if you use air tables/computer settings, you lessen the likelyhood of DCS.
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#3 sugarbad

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 09:55 AM

Here are a couple of answers to your questions.......I hope this helps

1) Increased bottom time is due to a lower concentration of Nitrogen in your gas mix....Because there is less nitrogen (due to the increase concentration of Oxygen) you do not build up as much nitrogen in the tissues so your bottom time is extended.

2) My wife is not Nitrox certified but when I dive with her I still breath Nitrox...This is because even though I cannot extend my bottom time (because my buddy is still breathing compressed air and subject to the tables for air) I still compound less nitrogen build-up. This is better for the body and over a period of several days of diving I feel better than she does.

3) In the even of an OOA emerg. share the air you have.....Since the gas you are sharing is lower in nitrogen than the air they were breathing they will build-up less....It does not end their day, and in fact is safer than what they were breathing in the first place.

4) One of the main safety factors associated with Nitrox is that the %Nitrox you breath is dependant on the depth to which you are diving....Because the % of Oxygen in the mix is higher the depth you can safely dive to is less...This is due to the partial pressure of Oxygen at a certain depth. To exceed a PPO2 of 1.6 is dangerous and can be fatal. Most operators that provide Nitrox provide the %nitrox that is best suited for the depth that the group will be diving. This past weekend the Nitrox was 30%....This was safe to the depths that we were diving (130fsw and less)

Hope this helps......

#4 DandyDon

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 09:57 AM

- is the increased bottom time cause you're breathing is more efficient with Nitrox, or cause the "tables" allow for longer bottom time?

Since you are breathing in less N2, you load less N2, and have more time at depth.

- since you need certification for Nitrox, what if your buddy isn't Nitrox certified? do you not dive the Nitrox?

You dive the Nx, and load up less than the bud. When s/he hits NDL, you'll be a long ways from your's. In this case, you get penalized on bottom time, but less loaded, nonetheless.

- what are the "consequences" of sharing Nitrox with someone that wasn't using Nitrox - does that end their diving for the day or a period of time? (I know, if they ran out of air, they're lucky to have a source, but still good info to have)

There's no problem at all. The buddy gets a little nicer mix, but the difference is neglible.

- Is there a notable difference?

YOu feel less exhausted after diving. I think that's more placebo than fact, but with less N2 loading, you will have more O2 flowing thru your veins, so there must be something to it.

- anything else I should consider?

You will be taught about MOD - Maximum Operating Depths, the possible riks of Nx diving. You'll also be cautioned about taking Sudafed (PSE) before diving.

All in all, a wonderful idea, I think! :hiya:
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#5 chinacat46

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 10:34 AM

I got to agree with Walter in that it shortens your surface intervals. This of course is assuming your buddy is also using nitrox. I mainly use nitrox when doing multiple dives over multiple days. If just doing a couple of dives I don't think it would gain you that much.

#6 WreckWench

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 10:40 AM

I mainly use nitrox when doing multiple dives over multiple days. If just doing a couple of dives I don't think it would gain you that much.

That depends on your reason for using Nitrox. In resort destinations doing long repetitive dives of moderate depth the nitrox can be beneficial for safely extending the dive times.

When diving in depths of 80-120 ft then bottom time is usually doubled thus making the difference between a wonderful dive and a quickie! Depending on how much effort you went thru to get there...quickie dives are not the way to go.

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#7 Latitude Adjustment

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 11:57 AM

"You'll also be cautioned about taking Sudafed (PSE) before diving."



I wasn't and sometimes use it, what's that about?
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#8 Marvel

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 12:15 PM

"You'll also be cautioned about taking Sudafed (PSE) before diving."



I wasn't and sometimes use it, what's that about?



Here's a link to a DAN article that discusses it:

Sudafed & Nitrox
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#9 Sophia

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 12:50 PM

I read an article which argued that the fatigue issue is not a placebo. A found the article convincing at the time, but I do not remember the source, so take this with a grain of salt.

The basic point of the article was that it is the excess Nitrogen which causes us to feel fatigued. The excess nitrogen bounces around in our blood, and does damage. The description sounded similar to what free radicals do. (I hate anything medical, so I must apologize for my vagueness) Less excess nitrogen, equals less fatigued. It also mentioned one study of long-time divers, and they had more memory problems than average for their age group. I do not quite know if I buy that part.

p.s. the sudafed article was interesting

#10 sugarbad

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 12:58 PM

"You'll also be cautioned about taking Sudafed (PSE) before diving."



I wasn't and sometimes use it, what's that about?



Here's a link to a DAN article that discusses it:

Sudafed & Nitrox

One of the issues that they have with Sudafed and Nitrox is that Pseudoephedrine is not a too distant checmical cousin to it's natural counterpart Ephedra.

#11 Walter

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 01:11 PM

I read an article which argued that the fatigue issue is not a placebo. A found the article convincing at the time, but I do not remember the source, so take this with a grain of salt.


As far as I know, there's been exactly one double blind study on this. It is far from conclusive, but that study found no difference in fatigue.
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#12 H20 Bug

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Posted 06 October 2004 - 02:51 PM

Thanks for all the input, I will probably take the class and give Nitrox a try. The Sudafed link was great.

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#13 DandyDon

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Posted 07 October 2004 - 06:18 PM

"You'll also be cautioned about taking Sudafed (PSE) before diving."



I wasn't and sometimes use it, what's that about?



Here's a link to a DAN article that discusses it:

Sudafed & Nitrox

One of the issues that they have with Sudafed and Nitrox is that Pseudoephedrine is not a too distant checmical cousin to it's natural counterpart Ephedra.

Also chemically similar to Speed. The recovering drug addicts I used to volunteer with told me that they'd take PSE ("Reds") when they couldn't get what they wanted. Also used in the manufacture of some unlawful drug, so you don't want to cross an international border with more than a personal supply.

I use PSE with antihistamine on every day for allergies, but when diving Nx, I don't the day of the dive until after diving, or when stung by a jellyfish - whichever happens sooner. :wakawaka:

Edited by DandyDon, 07 October 2004 - 06:20 PM.

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#14 nextariel

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Posted 07 October 2004 - 06:41 PM

When taking the course they tell you they can't say it will make you feel less tired, but I truly do believe that it does. I can make all the dives on a live-aboard (four or five a day) and still feel good. I have been very tired in the past just doing 2-3 dives a day for a week.
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#15 Talos

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Posted 07 October 2004 - 10:42 PM

i took my ow back in 95 never got a chance to dive and just recently took a refresher course and was wondering whether i should wait to take a nitrox course since i did not get when i took my ow and if not would it be possible to get it while on the athens trip on at halloween :wavey:
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