41 replies to this topic

[casematic]

Just be SURE to monitor total OX intake during the day...it CAN mount up if you are rep deep diving!

My computer is EAN compatible up to 50%. I was initially going to get a regular air computer and just count on the safety factor (air bottom times as compared to nitrox)... (misconception - hadn't taken into account the oxygen loading in that scenario - especially on multiple dives)... Decided to spend a little more and get the right tool for the job... I haven't had to switch back to air during a trip because of oxygen loading yet, but I do pay attention and am aware of it. If you're going to dive nitrox, you should have the right equipment to monitor yourself.

[Diverbrian]

Ok now I'm really confused...

how in the world do dogs have anything to do with nitrox???

I do believe that the phrase "big dogs" refers to people like Dick Rutkowski, who was a leading researcher in from NOAA and the bigger operators in commercial diving.

I don't see where the canine variety would have had a say in the matter, in spite of how I have two of them.

[normblitch]

Ok now I'm really confused...

how in the world do dogs have anything to do with nitrox???

Big Dogs, as in "Big Dogs walk in the Tall Grass"...

in my recollection, Exley, Skiles, Main, DeLoach et al....

Norm

[jholley309]

Ok now I'm really confused...

how in the world do dogs have anything to do with nitrox???

They really like it when you hold the second stage up next to their nose and press the purge valve. Try it! It's a hoot!

(kidding.)

Cheers!

Jim

[Trimix2dive]

So I was thinking why did divers start diving nitrox in the first place?

Because the older you get, the less fatigue you have after a dive.

[PerroneFord]

So I was thinking why did divers start diving nitrox in the first place?

Because the Navy found that Oxygen was pretty toxic below 20ft?

[ScubaDadMiami]

Because it was there. Really, because I heard about longer bottom times, lower risk of DCI if conducting a dive per air tables and shorter surface intervals required between dives.

I can't remember the last time I have used air in diving. It's been years.

[Dennis]

I use it once in awhile, but not a lot. I use Nitrox for multiple day and multiple dive trips for the safety factor due to less nitrogen loading. I have never felt the difference in fatigue, so that is not an issue with me.

[PerroneFord]

Once I get my tanks cleaned, I will never use air again, unless I have to. The benefits of Nitrox, especially in shallow water (less than 80ft) are simply too good to ignore.

[WreckWench]

But why did anyone start using Nitrox in the first place?

[PerroneFord]

Kamala, the benefits of enriched air have been known for a LONG time. The military and commercial divers have been enjoying the benefits for more than 50 years. If you mean why did THEY start doing it, well simple. It was beacause the workers or military divers could dive longer and do more work in relative safety. If you mean how did it come to pass that recreational divers were using it, thank NOAA for experimenting and bringing it to the forefront. They (amongst others) took away the voodoo effects of breathing enriched air.

We talked a lot about this in my Adv. Nitrox class but to be honest, I was far more interested in learning the gas laws. I'd suggest picking up a copy of the NOAA diving manual, and Kevin Gurr's book if you want to delve further into this stuff.

[WreckWench]

Kamala, the benefits of enriched air have been known for a LONG time. The military and commercial divers have been enjoying the benefits for more than 50 years. If you mean why did THEY start doing it, well simple. It was beacause the workers or military divers could dive longer and do more work in relative safety. If you mean how did it come to pass that recreational divers were using it, thank NOAA for experimenting and bringing it to the forefront. They (amongst others) took away the voodoo effects of breathing enriched air.

We talked a lot about this in my Adv. Nitrox class but to be honest, I was far more interested in learning the gas laws. I'd suggest picking up a copy of the NOAA diving manual, and Kevin Gurr's book if you want to delve further into this stuff.

Thanks Perrone that is good information. Curious if they started using nitrox to work longer were they limited by the MOD limitations?

[PerroneFord]

Well, the Navy used to use 2.0 ATA PP for their working dives, so they were getting a LOT more depth out of their nitrox than we do. But for deep commercial work, Heliox was and is the gas of choice.

If memory serves, Navy divers (generally UDT) were on oxygen rebreathers so they worked very shallow anyway. Not a lot of MOD problems when you are trying to mine a harbor or put explosives below the waterline of a ship. You're only looking to get 10-20ft deep anyway. In all black gear, under cover of night, with no bubbles, they'd be all but undetectable.

Probably the deepest of the early commercial divers were doing tunnel or salvage work. When someone else is footing the bill, I suspect you aren't overly worried about the cost of helium!

[WreckWench]

More cool info...but my understanding is that none of these reasons are WHY nitrox was used in the first place.


Hint: My understanding is that it was brought into existence into the diving community to solve a very specific and very unique problem and its use was not traditional.

But if you REALLY want to know...attend one of Trace's clinics or take his nitrox class and you'll know too!

[PerroneFord]

Hmmm ok. I'll be quite interested what Trace has to say.