Deco gas for pony

[JohnK]

Hiya - while waiting for my 12l twins for Xmas, I was considering the following. Whilst they will be O2 clean I wont always be diving nitrox. A colleague of mine suggested getting my pony O2 cleaned and using a 40% mix (I`ve only got the basic nitrox card) for deco. Now I wont be doing major deco dives but would this be any use when doing my 5m safety stop on dives > 18m ?? Will I feel any less knackered or is this just a waste of time & money

[Andy Winterburn]

Kirky
I presume that you'll get a load of replies to this as it seems there's only me and thee who hasn't done the advanced nitrox course And I've got mine booked for the new year, if you want to have a look at it get hold of Andy H (Dalesdiver).

[Dr Stevil]

It certainly can't do anything but good for you post-dive condition, but how much good is open to debate.

If you're getting O2 clean tanks but will be using regular air fills (which may not be sufficiently 'clean' ) you may want to think about a personal filter so you can double filter to maintain your tanks O2 clean status (Beaver have one for about £80 but I'm sure I've seen then for about £70 elsewhere)
HTH
Steve

[Lawrence Debono]

Steve, have a good point. You can also make sure that the air fills are properly filtered. I'm assuming that you get your air where you get the nitrox, right? I would insist on clean air.

The Pony question is a valid one. I'm sure that the richer the mix the less N content in your stream. This would be handier for multiple dives. I'm not sure about the knakeredness, though. I do the same with my 4L (45% O2 <>). Even on my holiday this summer I did that. Some people gave me a dirty look and it is expensive, but I feel better doing a safety stop on 45 and higher, than using air.

Take care

Lawrence

[Mr T.]

Hayhurst's your man for questions like this. As an aside, NEVER - even if you're not yet Nitrox cert'd and never intend to be - have you cylinders filled with anything other than DOUBLE-FILTERED 21%. Insist on it when you get your fills - and if the place can't/won't offer it, go elsewhere for your fills.

[Jay]

Point to bear in mind - if you have EAN40 in your pony, plan and limit your dive depth as if ALL your gas was EAN40 - if you are diving deeper than 25m with air as your main gas and EAN40 in your pony, you CANNOT use your pony in an emergency (unless you are willing to risk an O2 toxicity seizure that is!)

[Ben Harris]

Andy, are you doing your advanced nitrox in Jan with Dalesdiver???

[Andy Winterburn]

As soon as he sends the lesson notes and I get chance to read them, I'll arrange a date to suit him, perferably mid week.
But at a time and date to suit Andy H, I understand he's aready booked up for January and well into Feb, again unless its mid week when he says he can do almost one to one.

[Ben Harris]

Give us a shout when you start looking at dates.

[Andy Winterburn]

I'll send you an email as soon as I get the papers and we'll sort a date out if you want Sooner rather than later.