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Eddie
Although Jays explanation was full of facts it may also have been slightly confusing so to help out an old fool from Holland let me try to simplify it a little :biggrin:
The use of Nitrox has become popular amongst recreational divers for a few different reasons.
[1] It allows you to dive your average dive profile that you would dive on air, using your standard computer or tables to a max depth of say 30m (not quite right but close enuff I think) but because of the reduced amount of nitrogen in the mix you will exit the water with less nitrogen in your system thereby reducing the risk of a DCI hit. Safer diving!
[2] But If you were to use a nitrox computer or tables then again because of the reduced amount of nitrogen in the mix you could dive for longer before you reached the same levels of nitrogen in your system giving longer bottom times. Great for when you don't want a good dive to end just yet.
[3] Now this one isn't proven but most nitrox divers will tell you, that they feel much more refreshed after a dive on nitrox than they do on plain old air.
On the flip side....The danger of nitrox is that if you exceed the maximum depth for that mix the increased oxygen becomes your enemy rather than the nitrogen, instead of getting narked and having reduced capabilities which in itself is dangerous, you may reach a level of oxygen toxicity or an 02 hit which is usually fatal as the spasms that follow mean you are no longer in control of anything.
Hope that helped mucka, I'm no expert as I've not yet taken my course but I believe that those are the basics.
Best regards
Dave. :thumb:
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