As any veteran diver will tell you, the equipment that you use can make all of the difference in the world. This is true when it comes to both the overall dive experience and the safety of the diver and those accompanying them.
In selecting your dive equipment you may be considering using nitrox tanks and wondering whether or not it is right for you and your diving. Here is a brief guide to help you understand what nitrox is and why you may want to use it for your scuba diving.
What is Nitrox?
Simply put, nitrox is merely a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. The regular air that we breathe every day is technically nitrox -- with a mixture of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, along with some trace gases. When it comes to diving, nitrox, also referred to as enriched air, has a different proportion of nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrox has a higher ratio of oxygen and thus, less nitrogen to be absorbed by your blood stream.
What Are the Benefits of Nitrox?
Nitrox, because of its lower percentage of nitrogen, has two key benefits. One, since you are breathing a small amount of nitrogen, there is less of it to be absorbed into your body while you are diving. Since there is less nitrogen gathering in the tissues of your body, this can help to reduce your chances of getting decompression sickness while diving, commonly known as the bends. By default, this also means that you get more bottom time while diving -- and will not need to return to the surface quite as quickly under normal scuba diving conditions.
There has also been some evidence to suggest that using nitrox during your dive can help to reduce post-dive fatigue, particularly in older or overweight divers. This is primarily because many cases of post-dive fatigue can be caused by what is known as sub-clinical decompression sickness. This is a condition that occurs when tiny bubbles of nitrogen are trapped in the blood stream and the tissues of the body, but not in a large enough quantities to cause full decompression sickness. Since nitrox allows less of the nitrogen to enter your body, many have reported that it aids with the post-dive fatigue. However, there has not been a great deal of research done on this topic so there are no real statistics on the subject as of yet.
Purchasing Nitrox
Purchasing nitrox for your dive is pretty simple, since most dive shops will fill your tanks with standard air or nitrox. However, do keep in mind that you must certified in order to use nitrox. You can take a specialty course in scuba diving with nitrox. Also, make sure whatever dive shop you are using to fill your take has the proper certifications. Cost-wise, nitrox is pretty reasonably priced, falling only slightly higher than standard air. And with the added benefits and safety measures that you receive from using nitrox, it is well worth the extra pocket change.
Check with your local dive shop if you have more questions about learning to use nitrox for your next scuba dive.
Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Scuba Diving" article category.
People interested in the above article "Nitrox: Should You Use it for Your Scuba Diving?" are also interested in the related articles listed below:
Every year, thousands of tourists from various parts of the world come to dive in Mexico. It is one of the celebrated diving locations in the world. The turquoise colored water, the lagoons and the underground rivers made Mexico the destination for a number of people, who love diving. Fun lies in discovering the ruins of the ships, sprawled across the coastline of Mexican gulf.
Liveaboard diving, more commonly known in the tradeas a diving safari, is becoming more and more well-liked, because up until recently they have been very costly, but due to the shrink in financial system, the diving trade has dipped dramatically and thereon cheap deals for diving holidays which are usually all inclusive have been introduced in an effort to draw existing customers and potential customers too.
Cairn's Dive courses offers a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) advanced course that held simultaneously with their two night, three day two dive trips. During the trip, you'll be able to participate in as many as eleven dives. You'll participate in the five day learn to dive course and also participate in five training dives that are required to complete your PADI Advanced Certification. The best place to learn to dive is Australia's Great Barrier Reef. If you are considering the five day open water diving course certified by PADI this is the best way to do it. The adventure of staying out on the reef for two nights and three days while learning to dive on their premium vessels is very unique.
Scuba diving is an enjoyable sport that will take you into a beautiful world of freedom. It is a healthy sport that not only requires one to be in good fitness , it also requires a clear, mind.
The origin of creativity to obtain this adventure can differ from your say your friends` photos from Bahamas and also a TV channel about diving scuba, but any of them might give you a solid motivation desire to explore the sport of diving scuba. One mandatory thing is for sure to get the right training and choose the right courses, classes and instructors can be found in many parts of the world, they all are providing their services and assist with everyone to promote the modern world of the scuba diver.
Very soon the cold winter will be over and spring will be knocking on your door. Spring is the time for travelling, for thinking about where to go on your vacations. Have you for example decided where you would like to go yet? What have you considered this year, decisions have to be made? For instance, diving holidays can be an exciting adventure.
Scuba diving is practised across the world so you should be able to enjoy a spot of diving almost regardless as to where you may be on holiday. It is vital to ensure that you have taken a recognised course before you leave as most reputable sites will not allow you to dive without first confirming that you are suitably qualified.
