BSAC Nitrox tables

[David Pye]

Hi guys,

I'm doing a combined nitrox course soon, and am looking at purchasing a set of BSAC nitrox tables to use as a backup to my computer for producing runtime tables, as I would prefer not to use software to generate my tables.

Are the BSAC nitrox tables reasonably widely trusted? I got the feeling that the 88's perhaps aren't!

Also, do the nitrox tables allow you to do gas switching and calculate accelerated deco?

Cheers,

David

[The Duck]

David,

I got the Nitrox tables as part of my combined course, so it may be wirth checking to see if they are included as part of yours.

I prefer cutting my own table using V-Planner rather than using the BSAC tables, but that is just my personal preference.

BSAC tables do not cover gas switching or accellerated deco. The combined course gives you access to EANx50, but this is used for an extra safety margin - not for accellerating.

Hope this helps

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by David Pye

Hi guys,

I'm doing a combined nitrox course soon, and am looking at purchasing a set of BSAC nitrox tables to use as a backup to my computer for producing runtime tables, as I would prefer not to use software to generate my tables.

Are the BSAC nitrox tables reasonably widely trusted? I got the feeling that the 88's perhaps aren't!

Also, do the nitrox tables allow you to do gas switching and calculate accelerated deco?

Cheers,

David

Dont bother, cause you get them anyway.

The Nitrox 88 tables are included as part of your combined crewpack.
You can buy another set if you like, but you wont get a refund on
your "spare".

T.

[MattS]

Originally Posted by David Pye

I'm doing a combined nitrox course soon, and am looking at purchasing a set of BSAC nitrox tables to use as a backup to my computer for producing runtime tables, as I would prefer not to use software to generate my tables.

BSAC Nitrox 88s are next to useless as a backup to a wrist computer. Computers all use roughly the same deco model. The 88s use a very different model. If you want to use tables as a backup to a wrist computer you may be better off with a set of IANTD submersible Buhlmann's and learning how to calculate Effective Air Depth.

Are the BSAC nitrox tables reasonably widely trusted? I got the feeling that the 88's perhaps aren't!

The BSAC Nitrox 88s are extrapolated from the Air 88s. From experience, there are very few people diving BSAC Nitrox 88s. Virtually everyone uses a computer or deco software.

Also, do the nitrox tables allow you to do gas switching and calculate accelerated deco?

Nope.

[David Pye]

That's definitely worth knowing - thanks guys.

I definitely won't buy the tables then if I get em free as part of the course.

I'll start saving for my VR3 while I'm at it

Cheers,

David

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by MattS

BSAC Nitrox 88s are next to useless as a backup to a wrist computer. Computers all use roughly the same deco model. The 88s use a very different model. If you want to use tables as a backup to a wrist computer you may be better off with a set of IANTD submersible Buhlmann's and learning how to calculate Effective Air Depth.

The BSAC Nitrox 88s are extrapolated from the Air 88s. From experience, there are very few people diving BSAC Nitrox 88s. Virtually everyone uses a computer or deco software.

No everybody that is BSAC is using diving computers or 88's arent they
Matt !!!!!

Cause diving anything else and using concepts like EAD would be outside
of both the grades remit and the SDP, and we dont do that do we !!!!!

To be make sure we dont have any insurance "issues" both by BSAC and
any third party holiday type insurance, we have to make a reasonable
attempt at following the SDP. If you dont like 88's then use a computer,
but dont use anybody elses unless you hold a ticket in that agency.

All to easy to forget that an Insurance company that fails to back you up
cause you went over your max on holiday, is as likely to say No if it finds
out you've been using another agencies tables.

All comes down to 000's. Faced with a lot of them. do you think the
company is gonna say, we'll let this go? Not likely.

T.

PS: BTW before you go off on one, the post is in the context of the OP
and the BSAC Combined Nitrox course, so the assumption here us we are
talking a BSAC Nx diver.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by David Pye

Are the BSAC nitrox tables reasonably widely trusted? I got the feeling that the 88's perhaps aren't!

We read the no stop times from them to one another down the pub and laugh ourselves silly.

BSAC tables were produced in the days when 'bent' meant collapsed on the floor writhing in pain. Staunch men with beer bellies and beards didn't feel that stiff joints and a couple of skin blotches were something to get all girly about. A couple of flagons of 'Old Corruptible' soon put an end to that.

Hang on. I'm a BSAC member. Rewrite that....

[Nick Kay]

Originally Posted by MattS

The BSAC Nitrox 88s are extrapolated from the Air 88s.

No they're not!!!

AFAIK they were produced by Hennessey(?) and NOT extrapolated from BSAC-88, nor are they EAD/END based.

BSAC are looking to produce a new set of tables, but:
1. *ing expensive to produce
2. Hennessey is not well, so unlikely he'll be involved

Regards

Nick

[David Pye]

Exactly my thoughts. I'd say a fair proportion of divers, myself included, view the 88s with a fair bit of skepticism. But, as I'm taking the BSAC instructor route, I'm going to have to teach them to trainees, and if you follow the gospel according to BSAC, the 88's are unquestionable

I'm sure as hell going to explain why I don't use them, and leave them to make their own decisions, as I feel it's not fair to do otherwise.

[Janos]

Originally Posted by TerryH

If you dont like 88's then use a computer,
but dont use anybody elses unless you hold a ticket in that agency.

All to easy to forget that an Insurance company that fails to back you up
cause you went over your max on holiday, is as likely to say No if it finds
out you've been using another agencies tables.

Sorry Terry, but this is cobblers.

From the new SDPs:

Originally Posted by Safe Diving

* When diving with nitrox use the BSAC nitrox table or an established air or nitrox computer or software to determine the safe limits for your planned dive. (See Depth and Nitrox).

* When diving with trimix, or other mixed gases, the dive should be planned using an established mixed gas decompression table, computer or software. (See Depth and Mixed gas)

Janos

PS - I did a comparison of BSAC 88s and the PADI RDP on YD a year or two ago. They really are pretty similar.