The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
You might want to read: The Truth about NitrOxHe walked into our one LDS and they had a sign that said stay deeper longer with nitrox certification. Asked his "highly experienced" scuba buddy and said that was all he dove because it added like 1/2 hr potential down time to his dives. I Explained to him if an AL80 lasts you 25 mins @30 feet, your going to waste a ton of cash on nitrox unless you get that fixed. I could understand I think its called Hypoxia (where your body sucks up oxygen and you get CO2 hits really easy) being a good reason to switch to nitrox early but other than that actual nitrox use should wait till your efficient with airNew divers just don't know if they've been taught correctly/appropriately or not. I've got a couple new divers where I work. They believe they can go just about anywhere. What we've been taught in classes/courses is taken as gospel - and is put forth as such.
Where did your friend get the notion that diving nitrox is *the* way to go? Prolly someone told him that and now it's true for him.
I read a DAN study that those over 40 should use it, though I can't seem to find that study at the moment. It dealt with the diminished ability of cells to off gas nitrogen. I almost dive NitrOx exclusively.
I try to include NitrOx and O2 Provider at the OW level. They do not seem to add appreciably to the time of the class and both are skills that can be used by the new diver from the onset of their training.