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What is nitrox, and why would I use it? |
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Normal air is about 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen (ignoring trace gasses such as carbon dioxide). With nitrox extra oxygen is added bringing the oxygen levels to 28% (type 1 nitrox) or 32% (type 2 nitrox). You can get the tanks filled to any percentage you wish up to a limit, 40% I think but may be wrong.
The reason to use it is to displace the nitrogen. Alot of diving problems are caused by it and by reducing the amounts you are breathing reduces the risk.
The depth you can dive to is reduced as oxygen is toxic when it's over 1.44 bar but your bottom times are greatly increased and your surface interval is greatly reduced. Since you can tune the gas mix to your dive you can maximize your diving time and surface intervals. I also find I consume my air slower.
I don't have my log or dive tables handy so times might be shaky but as an example on one trip we used 32% nitrox on our first dive and were at 90 feet for 40 minutes. We had a surface interval of 90 mins to 2 hours, then used 28% and dove to 60 feet for another 40 minutes. When we surfaced I checked my dive computer I noticed I could dive immediatly to 60 feet for another 60 minutes and still had the energy to do so.
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