Nitrox for "safety margin"

[String]

Another thread that's an offshoot of another...

Some agencies and people claim that using nitrox on air tables is worth it to reduce the risk of DCI whereas others dont.

Ive not come across any research that's shown this to be the case so basically ARE there any studies out there showing a statistically significant reduction in the incidences of DCS from using Nitrox on air tables?

I can see the logic as to why there might be a benefit but not come across anything concrete to show this theory is actually valid.

[Adrian Kelland]

I rather suspect that you cannot indentify a difference between Air and any flavour of Nitrox amongst the chaff of fitness, hydration, repeat diving etc. They all conspire.

Adrian

[DAFFY]

Originally Posted by String

Another thread that's an offshoot of another...

Some agencies and people claim that using nitrox on air tables is worth it to reduce the risk of DCI whereas others dont.

Ive not come across any research that's shown this to be the case so basically ARE there any studies out there showing a statistically significant reduction in the incidences of DCS from using Nitrox on air tables?

I can see the logic as to why there might be a benefit but not come across anything concrete to show this theory is actually valid.

This is something I tend to do on deeper dives i.e 27% but set comp to 21%, 32% set comp to 27% ect. Have never read any studies for or against, just go by a "gut instinct" that there is a built in safety factor.

Like a lot of divers I suppose I just tend to take alot of things at face value without delving to deeply into the scientific side of things. Studies are often inconclusive anyway, as soon as somebody comes up with a study to prove that such and such a method dodgy, somebody else will prove otherwise. I personally think that divers have one thing in common.........a genetic defect if the arguing part of their DNA

DIR vs the world, ali vs steel, membrane vs neo, pony or twins, air tables on a nitorx fill, you name it we will argue about it

[Garf]

I don't need to see research that says walking across a motorway wearing a blindfold is more risky than walking across a village street.

Using Air tables you are assuming X levels of nitrogen loading whereas in fact you are breathing a mix with less Nitrogen than the tables assume, meaning at all times your tissues are saturdated with less Nitrogen. How in any way can this not be safer, from a nitrogen loading perspective.

[weazelz]

Originally Posted by String

Ive not come across any research that's shown this to be the case so basically ARE there any studies out there showing a statistically significant reduction in the incidences of DCS from using Nitrox on air tables?

isn't that what deco tables are?

[Sipadan]

Originally Posted by String

Ive not come across any research that's shown this to be the case so basically ARE there any studies out there showing a statistically significant reduction in the incidences of DCS from using Nitrox on air tables?

good research is hard to come by and by this, i mean professionally run studies rather than someone's opinion or conclusions based on a very small group of divers. as a former research scientist, i'm very keen on evidence base, but most people just don't understand what good research is. some of the facts that get banded about on the internet make me chuckle.

on the other hand, you don't need a randomised controlled trial to tell you that outcomes are better if you jump out of an aeroplane with a parachute than without

[SonicStomp]

Surely for a given dive profile, diving with an enriched air mix will result in lower nitrogen absorption cet par, therefore reducing the risk of DCI ??

I have just been reading my Enriched Air Manual (PADI) and thats pretty much what it says, which makes sense to me....

[String]

Im not debating the fact that its less nitrogen so in theory at least less of a risk. What i am wondering (and have failed to find) is if this is actually enough of a difference to have any real world measurable effect or is it like some other things something that looks sane on paper but in the real world the effect is so small its masked by other factors and statistically insignificant.

There do seem to be several claims around regarding nitrox that to me at least seem unproven. Another is the "less tired after nitrox". Obviously this is hard to measure but some people claim a great reduction, others (me included) notice none at all. It could be real, could be placebo effect or could simply by a small difference masked by other factors such as long hard day, no food etc.

[Captain Calamity]

The background risk of DCS diving air is already so low that that it is very difficult to demonstrate any safety benefit using nitrox with air tables. Sometimes this gets misinterpeted as meaning that no evidence is the same thing as no benefit.

I second Garf's comments.

CC

[Big Kahuna]

Originally Posted by DAFFY

I personally think that divers have one thing in common.........a genetic defect if the arguing part of their DNA

PMSL