Getting spoiled...
#1
Posted 18 May 2006 - 01:50 PM
I have noticed since I dive mix more that I feel less tolerant of narcosis than I used to. I mean that I didn't used to think anything of taking EAN28 to 130 ft. Now, I tend to dive 28/20 or 28/10 to that depth to cut down on the narcosis and notice that the level of narcosis that I feel at 130 on nitrox mixes (when I don't have mix available) is enough to bother me again. This isn't as serious as it sounds but I just notice that the dives that I used to do are almost unthinkable without helium in the mix.
The primary reason that I mention it is that there are warm water locations with reasonable 150-180 ft. dives that are nice. You can get doubles and deco mixes, but many of these places are remote enough that helium isn't happening. Once upon a time, I may have considered diving these locations, but now I get the impression that I wouldn't due to the lack of mix availability.
#2
Posted 18 May 2006 - 02:49 PM
#3
Posted 18 May 2006 - 03:27 PM
#4
Posted 18 May 2006 - 03:28 PM
How hard would it be to ship a 130 full of helium over and cascade it? If you're only trying to get 20% helium in your mixes, you should be able to get at least 2-3 dives off that.
It's not as easy as you think. Besides, I would have to get permission to operate someone else's air station which becomes a liability issue. Shipping compressed gas with all of the appropriate safety measures is pretty expensive. This why nitrox is pretty darn expensive in island areas like the Turks and Caicos.
Also, when I am diving to the deeper depths, I do put more helium in the mix. You are looking at roughly 40 percent for deeper dives.
My point was that dives that used to be very doable on standard air to me are not so doable to me on that mix now. This is almost a disadvantage to using helium. I have started to become uncomfortable below 100 ft. without it and that makes diving much more expensive to me.
#5
Posted 18 May 2006 - 08:46 PM
Perhaps age, conditioning and the like also plays an effect. That would also seem to make sense. Hey, I can't do a lot of things like I used to! Luckily, I am even better at others.
Luckily, Helium is my friend. We get along great together.
"For the diligent diver, closed circuit rebreathers are actually safer than open circuit scuba." Tom Mount
#6
Posted 18 May 2006 - 08:54 PM
I think that it is more of the first issue in SDM's post than the others. After so long since I have had to deal with serious narcosis, I am simply noticing it more on the few times that I have been in a position to experience it.
I haven't reached the age range where I seriously have to ask myself if my body can do things anymore. I am not in superb physical condition, but I am in good condition and the only time that I was in better shape was when I left boot camp in Orlando, FL and I tore out a knee to do that much running .
#7
Posted 18 May 2006 - 10:11 PM
Helium...the crack cocaine of the deep
Edited by 6Gill, 18 May 2006 - 10:12 PM.
#8
Posted 18 May 2006 - 10:27 PM
Too funny.
#9
Posted 19 May 2006 - 08:23 AM
#10
Posted 19 May 2006 - 08:53 AM
DSSW,
WWW™
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