For a single dive a day, maybe I'll go for 1.6.
Now you're just trolling. That statement completely contradicts everything you've said in this thread.
To go back and clear up everything you've said in this thread... As you should know, nitrox is defined as a gas mix containing O2 greater than 21%. So to make a broad statement that nitrox at 100' is borderline unsafe due to the increased PPO2 is ridiculous. Someone could dive 22% to 100' and they would be diving nitrox and have virtually zero chance of CNS toxicity. And, IMO, for a hard bottom 34% would be perfectly acceptable even with a small error in analyzing since your max PPO2 would be 1.37 ata. Regardless, the analyzer should be checked against a known mix, like air to ensure its accuracy. Checking with two analyzers virtually eliminates the chance of a major error.
Your arguments defy everything that is taught in any EANx course regarding MOD standards, PPO2 and analyzing a mix. It does a disservice here in the Basic Scuba Discussion since one who is not EANx certified, but considering it, could be led to believe Nitrox use per standards are dangerous. You said you would dive to a limit of PPO2 1.6 ata. This is irresponsible information. As anyone who has learned from the nitrox course 1.6 is only ok as a contingency or maybe a resting decompression, not for planning a dive. The latter point being beyond the scope of the nitrox course.
Given your replies, my guess is you've only ever had available banked mixes and not the option of partial pressure blending so you're simply not aware that there are mixes available other than 32 or 36%. This based on the fact you weren't aware that shops carry 100% O2.
Now, if we want to make a sound argument or warning regarding the use of enriched air at ~100' it would be that it is the depth that one may start to begin to be under the affects of narcosis and so when planning a dive they should take that into consideration and be prepared to ascend to a depth where it no longer affects them. Diving nitrox is not a solution to narcosis. Furthermore, a diver needs to be aware of their total oxygen exposure over a period of time.
Now, I will say this and I don't know how other instructors teach the EANx course, but my cave instructor who taught me the course was very adamant about not pushing limits. In other words, one should use good judgement and if you're doing repetitive diving and or doing a dive where pushing PPO2 limits provides little benefit, why bother. Perhaps that's setting the stage for the technical diving mindset. Nevertheless, I think it's good advice and if that's what you meant, than you did a poor job of articulating that here.
