Air Consumption while on Nitrox - A theory

[Okeanos]

Originally Posted by Kev

What depth did they blow you down to for your nark tests?

I'm not allowed to say until the studies have been completed, but it was deep enough to assess any narcosis that may be present (deeper than a PADI deep dive).

Originally Posted by BJ

And I thought the extra O2 was there simply to replace some of the nitrogen we otherwise absorb. It all goes to show that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

It is, but there are always many other factors to consider like the ones we know of as in CNS & UTPD but how many other factors are there? David Beckham used a recompression chamber and O2 to heal his broken foot quicker.

[Kev]

I look forward to hearing about it when you are allowed to make the details public, sounds really interesting.

[Nick Kay]

Originally Posted by nigelH

The big thing that drops O2 consumption and hence CO2 production is relaxing. If I'm nice and warm and dangling on a string waiting an hour for a computer to announce the deco is finished the SPG on the O2, only a 3L tank, just stops moving.

I'll agree with that - diving / deco'ing on Nx knowing that I've added a safety factor to the dive, at least for me increases my relaxation level so I use less gas

You could argue that (sports) diving on Nx (marginally) reduces narcosis and this again could reduce your breathing rate (or at least it wouldn't increase as if on air)

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

You could argue that (sports) diving on Nx (marginally) reduces narcosis and this again could reduce your breathing rate (or at least it wouldn't increase as if on air)

Or you could argue that Oxygen being more narcotic drifts you away on cloud nine with the butterflies and you relax wonderfully and use less gas.

This might explain why I really feel bad about leaving a good long 6m stop.
I did think it was the prospect of getting seasick on the surface but how should I know? Actually I suspect that at 6m it doesn't make a blind bit of difference.

[David Parker]

Yeah I managed to do a 165m deep dive on a newly developed special gas mix, apart from how dark it was I spent arround 30 min on the bottom, needless to say this was all on a single cylinder with no stages & no travel gasses... oh by the way I did not even clock up any deco..... Plus I managed to do this three times in one day. Honnest

Endless Ocean on the nintendo wii is well belivable.......however I would love to get hold of that special gas mix as you can breathe that forever.......

[Jimbo200SX]

I saw that in game the other week- is it actually any good? Seems a bit pointless...

[David Parker]

Originally Posted by Jimbo200SX

I saw that in game the other week- is it actually any good? Seems a bit pointless...

Yeah Ive heard mixed reports, even though its not very accurate as you can see I quite like it. more relaxing than anything you can bend youself silly poke shark's & other wildlife discover underwater cities etc. doesn't teach you anything but, quite good fun. I would not buy it brand new however £17.00 second hand it will kill a couple of hours.

Rgds
Dave

[Seadeuce]

Bit late finding this thread, but I have an opinion backed by personal dive experience.


I believe Nx in itself marginally decreases gas consumption allowing longer divetimes.
But there is another crucial element that affects consumption, that is water temperature.

Put them both together and an appreciable difference in consumption can result.

The same can be said of air. After all, it is Nitrox 21


So, think back and ask yourself where did you do the longer divetimes while in warmwater? Amazing how much gas that single AL80 can contain.


Seadeuce

[eey_ore_9]

I think the only way it changes is that when your on nitrox you are more relaxed so evidently you will see a difference... based on diving more than one day two dives or more if you were on air most people Feel tired lethargic etc. when on higher percentage mix you tend to feel not so tired and maybe more relaxed.

[Garf]

well, I think we can summarise this thread now.

Nitrox is either definitely less narcotic than air or it's definitely not. This is a result of Nitrogen being more narcotic than Oxygen. Unless it isn't.

Several people have reported empirical edvidence for both arguments. Both sides also used physcis to prove their argument was correct.

In summary, no-one has a f*cking clue, but refuse to let that stand in the way of disagreeing with each other.

Remarkably similar to many YD threads