14 replies to this topic

[ScubaSis]

I'm not sure if I picked the right place for this, but here goes.

I just read the following article from Leisure Pro. I was wondering how many of you have actually had Nitrogen Narcosis?? We all joke about it and laugh about it, but it can be very serious. I've never experienced it myself. Can anyone that has tell us about your experience?? We may all learn something.



Here is the article:

All SCUBA divers should be aware throughout their training that nitrogen narcosis is an uncommon but very real threat. Its intoxicating effects can seriously impair a diver’s judgment underwater and lead them into dangerous situations; in rare cases it can even lead to coma or death. Although prevention is usually the best medicine, knowing how to treat this condition is vital for every diver to know in order to have a safe and memorable experience in the water.

As we learned in last week’s post, nitrogen narcosis is caused by breathing nitrogen under pressure while underwater. The nitrogen remains dissolved in a diver’s blood and tissues and does not form bubbles, which can block blood flow to certain parts of the body. The deeper into water a diver moves, the greater the pressure which is applied to the nitrogen, and the stronger the symptoms will be felt. Divers can start to experience the symptoms of nitrogen narcosis at depths of around 100 feet, though symptoms can become more intense up to 130 feet below the surface. For this reason, a depth of 130 feet is considered the recommended “cutoff” for use of regular air.

The symptoms of nitrogen narcosis can be very similar to the effects of consuming too much alcohol. A diver may experience poor judgment, decreased coordination and motor skills, and a light-headed or detached feeling. They may even hallucinate. Very prolonged exposure to deep depths can lead to a coma or the diver’s death.

Fortunately, treatment for nitrogen narcosis can be enacted while still on the dive. Typically it involves the diver simply ascending to a shallower depth at a safe rate, then taking a moment for their body to readjust to the change in pressure. In most cases this will cause the symptoms to subside and eventually disappear. If the diver feels well enough after this and can relate that to their buddy, they can continue the dive, but should not return to the depths they reached when their symptoms began.

[georoc01]

Personally the one time I know I was narced was while doing my Tec Deep training, and got down to about 140 feet. While I haven't done it myself, this certainly makes trimix makes sense beyond recreational limits for the dangers explained in the original post. There was certainly a buzzing in my ears that let me know that something was off. Fortunately, we were able to work through it.

What's scarier is when you are narced and don't realize it. When we dove the blue hole in belize I remember being down at 130 feet and focusing in on my depth, time and the stalactites, not even noticing another diver who was swimming next to me.

I know as part of the PADI deep class, we had discussions about it, and did drills both at 10 feet and at 100 feet to show the impact of depth on your ability to react to situations. Narcosis is certainly a factor in this.

[Scubatooth]

Two notable times when I have had nitrogen narcosis would be for my Extended Range training in Bonaire, and follow up dive in South Carolina Diving the wall at Lake Jocassee with OTWdiver. Both in Bonaire and SC all dives were done on air as bottom gas and 50% and 100% for decompression.

Bonaire was in warm water so the effects were not as harsh, but reaction times were slower, pleasantly happy but still alert and oriented to have a sense of humor (along with Jerrymxz) and make OTWdiver laugh and shake his head, and motor skills (gross and fine)affected. In SC the cold (40 F) took its toll, really delayed reaction times, numb and feeling of being extremely drunk or under the effect of heavy painkillers.

The more you dive under the effects you learn to compensate for the effects, but doesn't mean you are not narced just able to adapt.

I also find at depth my hearing gets extremely sensitive but highly distorted

[Jerrymxz]

My first time recognizing I was narced was with OTWDiver and Tooth in Bonaire at 150 feet on air in class. I was rather stressed trying to make sure I didn't screw up. The feelings were giddy and my hands were tingling. The next time was in Truk at 180 fsw when Stephan and I were singing. Yes singing, hey it was Truk, we were having a blast. The last time was in Palau I swam over the edge of a sheer wall head down and plummeted to 100 fsw. That gave me me a wicked head rush. No more head down quick descents!!

[ScubaSis]

Jerry, you say you were singing, underwater or did you still have the effects topside??

[ScubaSis]

I would have loved the signing!! LOL

[Jerrymxz]

I only had the effects at depth. Only ascend a little and it lessens the symptoms. Soonerdiver heard us singing and reported he was very narced when he surfaced. He said he heard singing and was relieved when we told him that we were in fact doing just that. But what do you expect! We were in CHUUK diving on the million dollar wreck; The San Francisco Maru! On top of that we were at 180fsw. Yea I was a bit giddy!!! Doesn't get any better than that!

Edited by Jerrymxz, 19 July 2013 - 09:18 AM.

[ev780]

I only had the effects at depth. Only ascend a little and it lessens the symptoms. Soonerdiver heard us singing and reported he was very narced when he surfaced. He said he heard singing and was relieved when we told him that we were in fact doing just that. But what do you expect! We were in CHUUK diving on the million dollar wreck; The San Francisco Maru! On top of that we were at 180fsw. Yea I was a bit giddy!!! Doesn't get any better than that!

"Giddy" is the right word for it. Also on the San Francisco with these guys, although thankfully I missed the singing. In my case it was very manageable and had no paranoia component. I have heard reports of a bit of paranoia. Might be situational but thank goodness I didn't feel that effect.

Stephan! Holy Cow! He didn't need to be narc'd to be hysterical. I remember we stuck our heads in an air pocket in one of the other ships and started singing as well. Well maybe laughing like crazy hyenas. We were only about 120 feet and the air pocket that was probably highly toxic! But how many people can say they did that? Maybe we were narc'd then too. /> />

I read something once that narcosis starts almost immediately after we submerge and the author theorized maybe that was part of the enjoyment we get from our sport. At normal levels we just enjoy, as we get deeper the effect intensifies and we get more conscious of it happening. Interesting theory. I wish I could find the source.

F

Edited by ev780, 19 July 2013 - 08:33 AM.

[Diver Ed]

I have felt it several times. For me, I get the paranoid feeling. I find myself looking at my gauges so often, that I recall a couple of times where I just kept them in my hand so they would be easily visible. The instances were all on air and ranging from 100 foot to 130 foot. Since I started using Nitrox, I have not felt that paranoid feeling. The deepest that I have been on Nitrox is 146 in Truk. Unfortunately, my back was acting up, and I missed the last day of diving, so I missed hearing the singing on the deep dive. Maybe Jerry will give another performance on the next trip.

[Jerrymxz]

Could be

[ScubaTurtle]

As a newer diver I can say that so far I've only really felt narked once and I wasn't even wet underwater.

Most people haven't been in a hyberbaric chamber which is a good thing and something to be avoided of course. I have participated in a chamber dive at a local hospital with a dive group. They have a great presentation before hand and go over what DCS is, signs, symptoms and then treatment options and risks. It was a great class and really teaches the theory behind using a hyberbaric chamber for healing. I would recommend if anyone has the opportunity to try this it's a valuable experience to have. You can bring your dive computer with you and put it in a small tub of water. Works just like your underwater.

After the class room time (1-1.5 hrs) we headed into the hyberbaric chamber. Dive plan was to take us slowly to 130 fsw and stay there for 3-4 min at most and then ascend slowly back up to 20 ft and stay there for 5 min, then to 15 for another 5-10min. As the dive started I wasn't sure what to expect but I'll say that equalizing in air to 130 fsw is MUCH more of a pain in the butt than doing it under water. It was almost constant clearing the entire time down. Took us approximately 10 min to get down to 130 fsw. Once we were down there everyone was a little laugh happy and just about anything anyone said was funny enough to laugh at.

As George mentioned with the Deep Specialty requirements you have to hit that depth more than a few times while doing tasks. When I took it with OTWDiver I went to 130 ft at least 4-5 times and each time never really felt as narked as I had in the chamber. I was at that depth for at least 4-5 min. I'm sure I was slightly impaired but this was in Roatan where the water was warmer as well so maybe that was helping me. I also think as I've heard that each person really is different in terms of how they react and when they react to being narked. I'm guessing that at 140 fsw and or in some colder water at 110-130 fsw I would start to feel the effects of nitrogen narcosis a bit more.

In terms of feeling it faster if you descend faster I can't say that I agree with that completely. I remember one of the dives in Roatan where OTWDiver and myself did a "skydive" scuba dive. We started from about 25 fsw and headed straight down to 130 fsw clearing as fast as we could head down. We were at 130 fsw in about 1-1.5min max. That has to be one of the cooler experiences underwater. Truly like flying underwater.

[Scubatooth]

singing in Truk, and deco tank air guitar in Bonaire ... Well played Jerry.

At depth its pretty wicked but when i ascend to the 130-150 range it starts to clear.

The hot drops are always interesting, but I find that as time has gone one my ears don't take to kindly to them over a series of dives. The hot drop down the line from the boat to the U352 was sweat ... except for the plowing into the bottom.

[ScubaSis]

Thinking you're narc'd due to others signing!! Good one!!

Some funny stories here! I'm very glad no one had any lasting or serious effects!

[Scubatooth]

Some funny stories here! I'm very glad no one had any lasting or serious effects!

That could be debatable!

[ScubaSis]

I know that's right!!