z28pwr once bubbled...
I'm getting a decent deal on a Dive Computer that doesn't support Nitrox for my girlfriend but I'm wondering if she will need to use Nitrox later on.
We both are new to Scuba with only 8 dives and from what we've heard most people use Nitrox to do wreck dives and cave diving. Our primary dives will be done in Cozumel and in Texas.
What do you think, what are the advantages to Nitrox and do most people eventually go to Nitrox ?
Thanks.
I think (hope?) that we're working our way toward every new diver being introduced to Enriched Air diving in their BOW introduction to diving. In fact, I think you're going to see more and more divers adding not just O2, but stuff like Helium for rec style diving. The advantages may well outweigh the disadvantages.
Advantages:
1: Longer bottom times (better NDL's)
2: Reduced surface intervals
3: Reduced diver fatigue
4: Reduced narcosis effects
5: Reduced nitrogen buildup
6: Adaptability to specific dive situations
Disadvantages:
1: Depth restrictions more critical than air
2: Availability
3: Cost (often double the price of air)
4: Extra equipment costs for an O2 analyzer (and perhaps O2 clean gear)
5:New set of factors to consider like Oxygen Toxicity and diving different mixes on multiple dive days
6: More diver diligence to know what's in the tanks and not dive some high % O2 too deep accidentally and to be sure the computer is set for the proper mix on every dive
If you live in an area like SE Florida, Nitrox is a way of life. The reef dives off Boynton Beach etc are perfect for Nitrox with a safe hard bottom and good currents inviting long easy dives.
I've seen some pretty good deals on Nitrox capable computers. But if you live in an area where Nitrox isn't readily available, then odds are you'll never feel like you missed out on anything. By the time Nitrox is a standard for divers, you'll be ready to swap computers to something else.
JohnF