Pros Cons of Nitrox please

[PapaBear]

Without starting too much of a debate my bsac branch is looking into running a weekend nitrox workshop. To be honest the most I know of nitrox is the bit on partial pressures in the sports diver certificate. I understand this has now changed and some form of nitrox is included in ocean diver.
So is it worth doing this course?
Am I wrong in thinking I have to have two sets of kits, one for air and one for nitrox?
Advice please?

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Am I wrong in thinking I have to have two sets of kits, one for air and one for nitrox?
Advice please?

Yes

One O2 clean set is all you need, I don't know where you are in your diving but sit in on a nitrox lecture at your club if you want to know more.

[Mal Bridgeman]

The only thing of concern is your cylinder.

If you have it O2 cleaned and keep it in O2 service by only filling with nitrox or clean air, then there will be no issue. If you fill the cylinder with air from a non clean air source e.g. boat compressor perhaps, then you'll probably need to get it cleaned again.

As for regs etc then so long as your Nitrox fill is leaner than 40% then there should be no issue unless your manufacturer advises differently .... but as a general rule, less than 40% is fine through regs.

HTH
Mal

[String]

One set of kit is fine provided its O2 clean and filled from clean-air (most are these days). The regs are fine as they are.

As for workshop, do the sport diver. The ocean diver one only is pointless as it doesn't allow you to use the stuff properly as intended. Even after the workshop BSAC nitrox is more limited than most agencies due to only allowing certain % mixes (with the 88 tables anyway - ok with computer).

BSAC OD nitrox is half a nitrox course with the important and useful bits removed. The full SD Nitrox is worthwhile.

EDIT:- Although the new complete idiotic european legislation coming in seeks to force people into buying 2 sets of kit, 1 for air, 1 for nitrox. Fortunately here at least its a few years away from becoming an issue.

[steveharriss]

I'm not expert but BSAC has now put in place training for all Ocean and Sports divers to get them onto Nitrox. Ocean divers are limited to two mixes (32 and 36) and must dive using air tables or computers. It has been introduced in order to increase the saftey aspect as Ocean divers are limited to 20m anyway which is well above the MOD for either mix.

Sports divers get more information and are limited to mixes that fall between 32 and 36. They can use the mixes for additional safety, as the Ocean divers, or to increase their bottom times (wasn't there a thread somewhere about this!) within the MOD of the mix.

Nitrox is considered a safe gas within its MOD and can reduce the likelihood of DCS and/or increase dive times and has been embraced by all agencies.

Most regs, Apeks certainly, are completely safe for mixes under 40% it is only the cylinders you have to be concerned about. Basically these need to be in O2 service, i.e. clean and compatible, as they can be exposed to mixes above 40% dependant upon the filling method. You don't need to dedicate a cylinder as you can get an air fill provided it is from a reputable source that double filters the air to remove any contaminants. You just have to get the cylinder cleaned and checked yearly but the costs aren't onerous.

From August 2008 there should be a regulation in force to prevent you using the usual DIN and A-clamp fittings on the regs and cylinders for Nitrox equipment but this is up in the air as far as the UK goes. In any case there are already M26 adapters for sale so there'll be a work around I'm sure

Go on, yo know you want to!

[Janos]

Nitrox is simple. There are four rules of Nitrox:
1) Breathe in
2) Breathe out
3) Don't exceed the Maximum Operating Depth of the mix
4) Always analyse your gas

But all is explained in the course. Equipment wise the main difference (for most people) is that you need to get your tank "cleaned" every year so that it's suitable for using with Nitrox. Most regulators and guages are suitable for using with Nitrox straight out of the box.

On teaching, your branch should be teaching the 2007 syllabus (which turns out Nitrox qualified Ocean Divers) now anyway.

To cross you over from the 2002 syllabus to the 2007 syllabus, you can either sit in on the respective 2007-syllabus Ocean Diver and Sports Diver lessons, (one of each) or there is a cross-over pack downloadable from the BSAC website here: The Nitrox Diver Workshop - BSAC

The workshop takes about 2 hours to run. It is a nice simple course and shows there is no mystery about Nitrox.

If you are doing a two day course then that sounds like the Advanced Nitrox course, which includes a some in-skills associated with more 'technical' diving.

Janos

[String]

Originally Posted by steveharriss

Sports divers get more information and are limited to mixes that fall between 32 and 36.

Not looked at it for a while but IIRC sports divers can use any mix up to 40% but are only provided tables for 27,32,36.

Could be wrong though - the 4 of us in the club nitrox certified all did another agencies course.

[steveharriss]

The limit for a sports diver is 36%. Unless they have done the advanced nitrox course, which as Janos points out, includes dives to improve several skills areas in which case its upto 50% for decompression purposes.

[PapaBear]

Okay I think I followed that, I just remember that when I did my sports diver I was told I could go on to do the nitrox course, but now basic nitrox is included in both ocean diver and sports.
Im not sure what the exact details of the course will be as I have just been told it will be run at some point soon.
Again I think it is ignorance which has prejudiced me against the nitrox course as when I originally learnt to dive nobody in the club was doing it and im sure I was told it meant buying extra kit.
Though if im following this right all i need to do is have my cylinder o2 cleaned every year when it is serviced?? and then I can dive all year round on it no matter which gas?
Does anyone know off the top off their heads if legends lx are okay for nitrox?

cheers
john

[steveharriss]

From the manufacturer

Compatible with EAN 40 right out of the box

Just get your cylinder cleaned and make sure you get a 'clean' air fill whenever you're not filling with nitrox