Diving is already a fascinating experience. But the best part is that it gets even more exciting as you discover new ways to explore beneath the surface. A great example of this is diving with Nitrox, or enriched air.
This is a diving method that is becoming increasingly popular among more experienced divers, offering several advantages to maximise both your time and enjoyment of the underwater experience. If you want to learn more about how it works, its benefits, and the precautions you should take, keep reading!
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What is Nitrox or enriched air?
Nitrox is a gas mixture that contains a higher percentage of oxygen than regular air, which typically has around 21% oxygen. The most common Nitrox mixes contain between 32% and 36% oxygen. This increase in oxygen percentage allows for a reduction in the amount of nitrogen inhaled during the dive, bringing multiple benefits to divers.
Advantages of diving with Nitrox
Now, let’s dive into the advantages of diving with Nitrox, and there are quite a few, especially if your goal is to extend the duration of your dive while reducing fatigue and increasing safety. Here are the key benefits of diving with Nitrox:
Reduces nitrogen intoxication
One of the main benefits of diving with Nitrox is that it lowers the risk of nitrogen intoxication, a condition that can be dangerous for divers at greater depths. By reducing the amount of nitrogen in the mixture, the risk of nitrogen narcosis is significantly decreased.
Increases bottom time
Bottom time is the amount of time you can spend underwater before needing to ascend to the surface. Thanks to Nitrox, divers can extend their bottom time because the body absorbs less nitrogen, reducing the need for frequent decompression stops.
Reduces post-dive fatigue
Many divers experience a feeling of tiredness after a dive, which is perfectly normal. With the use of Nitrox, post-dive fatigue is reduced, allowing you to perform multiple dives in a day without feeling as exhausted.
Improves recovery
Recovery after dives is also quicker when using Nitrox. With less nitrogen in the body, the time needed to recover between dives is shorter, which is ideal for those who dive over several consecutive days.
Reduces the risk of decompression sickness
The risk of decompression sickness is considerably reduced when diving with Nitrox. This condition occurs when nitrogen is rapidly released from body tissues during ascent, forming bubbles that can be dangerous. With less nitrogen in the mix, the chances of this happening are lowered.
Increases safety
Diving with Nitrox improves overall dive safety by reducing the risks associated with excess nitrogen in the body. This is especially important for divers who perform deep or multiple dives within a short time frame.
Access to deeper dive sites
Although Nitrox is not designed for extremely deep dives, it allows divers to reach moderate depths with greater safety and comfort. This makes it ideal for exploring deeper dive sites within recreational diving limits.
Requirements for diving with Nitrox
Before diving with Nitrox, it’s important to meet certain requirements and be well-informed about its use. Diving with Nitrox is not as simple as filling a tank with enriched air, as it requires specific knowledge and proper training.
Equipment for diving with Nitrox
The equipment used for Nitrox diving doesn’t differ much from standard diving gear, but it must be clean and prepared to handle mixtures with higher oxygen percentages. The regulator, tank, and other components must be compatible with Nitrox to avoid safety issues. Additionally, some divers prefer to use specific dive computers to monitor time and depth when diving with Nitrox.
Precautions when diving with enriched air
While Nitrox offers many benefits, it’s also essential to take certain precautions. The main risk of diving with Nitrox is oxygen toxicity, which can occur at greater depths if the mix contains a high percentage of oxygen. For this reason, it’s crucial to know the depth limits and follow safety guidelines closely.
Where can you dive with Nitrox?
At DPM Diving, we offer advanced Nitrox diving courses with enriched air concentrations up to 40%, along with equipment and tanks prepared for this type of dive. With us, you can explore this speciality in Thailand (Koh Tao, Phi Phi), Indonesia (Penida and Gili), or Tenerife. Remember, you must have completed the Open Water course beforehand. After completing this programme, you’ll receive the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.
If you want to explore other destinations, ensure the dive centre has qualified instructors and the proper facilities for Nitrox use.
Manager & Scuba Instructor in DPM Tenerife
Spaniard vagabond trying to discover this beautiful world
📍 Tenerife
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