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Dive Shop in or near Jacksonville, Florida

PropAddict

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pilot
Contributor
I HIGHLY recommend NITROX due to the deeper nature of the dives and the 32/30 NITROX mix allows for longer bottom times at deeper depths.

The words "deeper" and "NITROX" do not belong in the same sentence. Recreational diving, you can do 130 FT on Air. NOAA NITROX I (EAN 32) has an MOD of 111 FSW; NOAA NITROX II (EAN 36) max is 95 FSW, recreationally.

As a tech diver, I can do 220 FSW on Air. With EAN 32, I can do. . .132 FSW. At any greater concentration of O2, my PPO2 is gonna be higher at any depth than it would be with regular air, which is why I still can't ever go "deeper" on NITROX than I could on Air, for the same level of training.

I'll put my soapbox away now, but it really bugs me when people (especially NITROX-trained divers) put out this ridiculous "deeper" gouge that is patently false.

Longer? Absolutely true.
Deeper? Absolutely false.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Personally, I also enjoy less of an "Air hangover" due to the higher O2 %...that may be all mental, but it works for me.

Totally agree. I know some people don't believe it, but I absolutely feel the difference once I surface, usually in my grip strength when opening the DIN valves to swap tanks after dives.

As an odd aside, significant amounts of peer-reviewed research have been done into the beneficial effects of elevated PPO2 on libido and virility. That never makes it into PADI's marketing materials, for some reason. . .
 

phrogpilot73

Well-Known Member
Longer? Absolutely true.
Deeper? Absolutely false.
I think when most NITROX divers speak about diving "deeper" to a non-NITROX diver, they usually reference "deeper" as a comparison to bottom time they can do. i.e. - If I want say, 45 min of bottom time - I may only go to 60 feet on air. NITROX? Don't know, I just know it's deeper for 45 min of bottom time. I think that's where the confusion arises.

And no, I've never dived on NITROX. Hence the reason I don't know how deep you'd go for 45 min of bottom time. I just know that it's deeper than air for the same amount of bottom time.
 

ChunksJR

Retired.
pilot
Contributor
I think when most NITROX divers speak about diving "deeper" to a non-NITROX diver, they usually reference "deeper" as a comparison to bottom time they can do. i.e. - If I want say, 45 min of bottom time - I may only go to 60 feet on air. NITROX? Don't know, I just know it's deeper for xx min of bottom time. I think that's where the confusion arises.
This.

+1 for somehow saying what others couldn't understand from my mouth. Oh and if you're NITROX qualed, stay within limits, no matter how deep you go. Technically, EAN 21 is a NITROX mix, which certainly allows you to "go deeper" than EAN 22 on the same amount of time. Be safe, be redundant, have fun.

Shovel is down.
 

ChunksJR

Retired.
pilot
Contributor
The words "deeper" and "NITROX" do not belong in the same sentence...I'll put my soapbox away now, but it really bugs me when people (especially NITROX-trained divers) put out this ridiculous "deeper" gouge that is patently false.

You may want to talk to PADI, then. From http://www.padi.com/scuba/padi-cour...padi-courses/enriched-air-diver/default.aspx/

"PADI Wreck Diver course – Popular wrecks tend to be deeper, so enriched air nitrox maximizes your exploration time.
PADI Deep Diver course – The deeper you dive, the shorter your no stop time – but enriched air nitrox increases it, giving your more time at depth"

Both of those courses are EXTREMELY HELPFUL for Atlantic seaboard diving. As is NITROX class.
And that's all I was trying to say.
 

villanelle

Nihongo dame desu
Contributor
If you make it down to the FL Keys, stop by Ocean Divers and go to the bar there, Sharkeys. If you are lucky, Dick Rutkowski will be hanging out there and will let you buy him a beer. In many ways, he's the father of Nitrox, so you can have this argument with him. He's also a pioneer in the diving field. And his nickname, Hyper Dick, gives you keen insight into the kind of conversations you might have with him a few beers in.

"Science always wins over bullshit. " Dick Rutkowski
 

PropAddict

Now with even more awesome!
pilot
Contributor
You may want to talk to PADI, then. From http://www.padi.com/scuba/padi-cour...padi-courses/enriched-air-diver/default.aspx/

"PADI Wreck Diver course – Popular wrecks tend to be deeper, so enriched air nitrox maximizes your exploration time.
PADI Deep Diver course – The deeper you dive, the shorter your no stop time – but enriched air nitrox increases it, giving your more time at depth"

Both of those courses are EXTREMELY HELPFUL for Atlantic seaboard diving. As is NITROX class.
And that's all I was trying to say.

Wait, that horse is stil kicking!

I teach both of those courses, so I know what they're getting at and they use "deeper" like you intended, and I misinterpreted. The PADI ad copy is emphasizing the increased time allowable at depth, not an increase in depth.

Regardless, good advice on the courses.

I didn't do too many wrecks off Jax; Key Largo is the place for that: Spiegel Grove, Duane, Bibb. . .awesome.

Vortex Springs and Ginny Springs are not incredibly far away, though, and offer great opportunity to work on a Cavern or full cave cert...
 

villanelle

Nihongo dame desu
Contributor
Wait, that horse is stil kicking!

I teach both of those courses, so I know what they're getting at and they use "deeper" like you intended, and I misinterpreted. The PADI ad copy is emphasizing the increased time allowable at depth, not an increase in depth.

Regardless, good advice on the courses.

I didn't do too many wrecks off Jax; Key Largo is the place for that: Spiegel Grove, Duane, Bibb. . .awesome.

Vortex Springs and Ginny Springs are not incredibly far away, though, and offer great opportunity to work on a Cavern or full cave cert...
When I was 13, my first dive the day after my (junior) open water certification was on the Duanne. Was a great dive then, and has gotten even better. And the SG is a great dive as well.
 

BusyBee604

St. Francis/Hugh Hefner Combo!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
If you are lucky, Dick Rutkowski will be hanging out there and will let you buy him a beer. In many ways, he's the father of Nitrox, so you can have this argument with him. He's also a pioneer in the diving field. And his nickname, Hyper Dick, gives you keen insight into the kind of conversations you might have with him a few beers in.

"Science always wins over bullshit. " Dick Rutkowski

Do you know if he is an ex-Naval Aviator? I knew a LT Dick Rutkowski as a fellow IP in VA-44 @ Cecil 1968-70.;)
BzB
 

villanelle

Nihongo dame desu
Contributor
Do you know if he is an ex-Naval Aviator? I knew a LT Dick Rutkowski as a fellow IP in VA-44 @ Cecil 1968-70.;)
BzB

I know he served in Korea, but I'm not sure in what capacity. But I think he is a generation (and a war) earlier than your friend. The Google tells me that by the 60s he was working for NOAA.
 
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