Be a fan of ScubaBoard.com

Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 205,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard (and make this large box go away) you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

  • Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts.
  • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
  • Post your own photos or view from well over 100,000 user submitted images.
  • Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
  • Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 25

Thread: Helium

 


  1. #1
    Registered


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    14

    Helium

    can anyone give me a link or more info on DCS caused by helium?

  2. #2
    Snr LayZboy Meteorologist
    Go Red - Support SB!

    Has not set a "status"
     

    simbrooks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Orlando, Fl
    Posts
    7,351
    Dives
    100 - 199
    Moved to the Dr Deco forum hopefully for more chance of a response.

    If you want to post an intro "hi my name is..." etc, go right ahead with the intro forum. Welcome to the board

    I dont know much about offgassing of helium, other than its faster than nitrogen. If this is more apt in the technical diving forum i am sure Dr Deco will move it
    Simon
    Always up for a dive, your Orlando/Central Florida dive buddy.

  3. #3
    Rest in Peace


    Has not set a "status"
     

    BigJetDriver's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Houston / Texas
    Quote Originally Posted by madisonbadger
    can anyone give me a link or more info on DCS caused by helium?
    Badger,

    Hi, and welcome to the ScubaBoard. You'll find a lot of info here using the search feature. As for your question above, no inert gas causes DCS. It is all a case of time versus dose loading (i.e. pressure gradient).

    Cheers!
    DMT/POLICE OFFICER/PILOT
    PUBLIC SAFETY DIVER I.T.
    http://www.rebreatherworld.com/

  4. #4
    Registered


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    14
    I had used google and it seemed there was a huge negative opinion on the use of Trimix for single 80 tank dive to about 100-130'
    What I have found was an opinion that stated using the 28 O2 and 25HE was dangerous because if a rec diver did not stop at 20' the HE would cause DCS.
    This was based on the premise that HE saturates in this dive profile.
    I have been nitrox certified by TDI 3 years ago. I had always wanted to learn Trimix for Rec depths just because it seemed to me to add a margin of safety.
    Some of the opinions against a Rec Trimix certification seemed very sharp.
    several posts indicated DCS from a rapid ascent but I could not find an actual case of this in my google searches.

    If anyone has a link to a study or documented case I would appreciate the link.
    I am a DAN member, do you think I should give them a call? I would hate to bother them with something like this.

    thank you for your time and have a good day
    PS, sorry about the forum, I got the email and just followed the link it gave me.

  5. #5
    ScubaBoard Enthusiast


    Has not set a "status"
     

    chickdiver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Pensacola, FL
    Posts
    1,295
    Quote Originally Posted by madisonbadger
    I had used google and it seemed there was a huge negative opinion on the use of Trimix for single 80 tank dive to about 100-130'
    What I have found was an opinion that stated using the 28 O2 and 25HE was dangerous because if a rec diver did not stop at 20' the HE would cause DCS.
    This was based on the premise that HE saturates in this dive profile.
    I have been nitrox certified by TDI 3 years ago. I had always wanted to learn Trimix for Rec depths just because it seemed to me to add a margin of safety.
    Some of the opinions against a Rec Trimix certification seemed very sharp.
    several posts indicated DCS from a rapid ascent but I could not find an actual case of this in my google searches.

    If anyone has a link to a study or documented case I would appreciate the link.
    I am a DAN member, do you think I should give them a call? I would hate to bother them with something like this.

    thank you for your time and have a good day
    PS, sorry about the forum, I got the email and just followed the link it gave me.

    Wow! You must have run across some really ancient info! Many divers, instructors and agencies are actually recommending "normoxic to hyperoxic" trimixes in these depths- for recreational (single tank, no deco) divers. What you are looking for is given a couple of names by various agencies. Try searching for "normoxic trimix" and "triox" and you should get some better data.
    Come to the darkside..... we have cookies!

  6. #6
    Snr LayZboy Meteorologist
    Go Red - Support SB!

    Has not set a "status"
     

    simbrooks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Orlando, Fl
    Posts
    7,351
    Dives
    100 - 199
    Quote Originally Posted by madisonbadger
    I had used google and it seemed there was a huge negative opinion on the use of Trimix for single 80 tank dive to about 100-130'
    What I have found was an opinion that stated using the 28 O2 and 25HE was dangerous because if a rec diver did not stop at 20' the HE would cause DCS.
    This was based on the premise that HE saturates in this dive profile.
    I have been nitrox certified by TDI 3 years ago. I had always wanted to learn Trimix for Rec depths just because it seemed to me to add a margin of safety.
    Some of the opinions against a Rec Trimix certification seemed very sharp.
    several posts indicated DCS from a rapid ascent but I could not find an actual case of this in my google searches.

    If anyone has a link to a study or documented case I would appreciate the link.
    I am a DAN member, do you think I should give them a call? I would hate to bother them with something like this.

    thank you for your time and have a good day
    PS, sorry about the forum, I got the email and just followed the link it gave me.
    No problems on the forum thing, its fairly common. I know of a certain group (GUE/DIR) who suggest using 30/30 for 100-120 (with 21/35 for a little deeper), check out the DIR and the technical diving forums on here, i dont know if anything has been posted regarding this on those forums, try a search - although anything less than 3 letters wont work. I could move this thread again to either the DIR or tech forums, but i will see if Dr Deco can offer any thoughts - a good trimix course might help fill in these blanks. As for 100ft+ dives, i like to start thinking of doubles or at least redundant systems at that point and of course when it comes to stops, i like to do a few on my profile no matter what the mix - i think helium requires some more than nitrox, but this is only from what i have discussed with others on the subject.
    Simon
    Always up for a dive, your Orlando/Central Florida dive buddy.

  7. #7
    Frequent Poster


    Has not set a "status"
     

    CNTdiver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Posts
    99
    Photos
    2

    Helium

    Due to helium being an inert and therefore considered a "noble gas", it cannot cause DCS. Helium is located on the far right "up and down" row on the periodic table and because of this, it possesses full electron shells and will not readily bind with other elements regardless of what kind of bond is formed. This might be way to much information, but basically, helium cannot cause decompression sickness.
    Got Scuba?

    Peace,
    Ryan

  8. #8
    ScubaBoard Veteran


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Spectre's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Wicked farther south of familiar
    Posts
    5,808
    Dives
    500 - 999
    Quote Originally Posted by CNTdiver
    Due to helium being an inert and therefore considered a "noble gas", it cannot cause DCS. Helium is located on the far right "up and down" row on the periodic table and because of this, it possesses full electron shells and will not readily bind with other elements regardless of what kind of bond is formed. This might be way to much information, but basically, helium cannot cause decompression sickness.
    :cricket:

    hmmm

    :cricket:

    DAMN IT! WE NEED A CRICKET HERE!

    Please tell me you are a troll...

  9. #9
     


    Diving, diving, diving in Maui
     

    Charlie99's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Silicon Valley, CA / New Bedford, MA / Kihei, Maui
    Dives
    500 - 999
    Photos
    35
    Quote Originally Posted by CNTdiver
    Due to helium being an inert and therefore considered a "noble gas", it cannot cause DCS.
    Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

    If this were really true, we'd all just dive heliox and ignore decompression.

  10. #10
    Snr LayZboy Meteorologist
    Go Red - Support SB!

    Has not set a "status"
     

    simbrooks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Orlando, Fl
    Posts
    7,351
    Dives
    100 - 199
    Quote Originally Posted by Charlie99
    Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

    If this were really true, we'd all just dive heliox and ignore decompression.
    Agreed with Jeff and Charlie, from my understanding the only gas we can take a reasonable amount of at various depths (obviously oxtox being an issue) is Oxygen as we can use it (metabolise i think is the term), any other gasses are stored up in tissues and released back into the blood stream as pressure is reduced - this could be any gas, but typically nitrogen and helium are the most commonly used. Their reactivity (position on the periodic table) is pretty much a non-factor as we cant use these gases, so they are on-gassed on descent and during the dive and off-gasses on ascent, during stops and after the dive.
    Simon
    Always up for a dive, your Orlando/Central Florida dive buddy.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Helium Grades
    By J1M1 in forum Technical Diving Specialties
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: August 14th, 2010, 11:26 AM
  2. 79%Helium - 21% O2 blending? Why not?
    By jayfree in forum Marine Science and Physiology
    Replies: 55
    Last Post: June 8th, 2005, 07:37 AM
  3. Helium Sensor
    By athelp in forum Do It Yourself - DIY
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: February 13th, 2005, 11:54 AM
  4. What if we ran out of helium?
    By FIXXERVI6 in forum Basic Scuba Discussions
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: September 29th, 2004, 01:10 PM
  5. Feel better with Helium?
    By Snowbear in forum Basic Scuba Discussions
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: January 15th, 2004, 09:26 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •