Nitrox and night dives- am I 'ready' for it?

[minimonkey]

Hello all
When we completed our advanced open water last year, we were unable to complete the Nitrox unit as the dive school didn't offer it. However, we are lucky to be going on a few trips this year and we are wondering if we should consider learning how to dive using Nitrox this year.

My question is do you need to have a certain level of experience to be able to use nitrox- I have only completed 42 dives and husband has done about 55 including wreck dives and drift dives etc. Should I consider learning nitrox next month in Sharm or wait until later in the year?

Also we have the offer of doing night dives- I have never done this either and this fills me with fear and excitement together!
any thought much appreciated
thanks

[Woz]

You've done plenty enough dives! BSAC teach nitrox from day one, now. It's not at all techie and there are really only 2 rules:

1. always analyse your gas
2. never exceed your Maximum Operating Depth

That's really it for nitrox diving. Plug it into your computer, plan as normal and away you go.

Night diving is a right laugh. Take a torch that isn't too bright (and a backup too). Make sure you have good cover and dive away. Alot of the creepy crawlies feed at night and you'll spot them in your torch beam, usually with an attendant fish using your light to hunt with. The other thing is you concentrate on what's in your torch beam so you see alot more of the little stuff you would usually miss on a dive.

And if you're lucky, shove the end of your torch into the sand to darken it and wave your arms about and see if the critters chuck out some bioluminescence. It's dead creepy.

[minimonkey]

Hi Woz
thanks for your reply- night dives sound like a lot of fun!

Is nitrox pretty straight forward once you have the hang of it? I remember how alien scuba seemed breathing through regs when I started, but I got to grips with it without too much trouble. Is it the same with nitrox?

Also I spoke to a very experienced diver in Cape Verde who had spent many trips on liveaboards- he said that it would be quite tiring to dive just on air two or three times a day. Is this the case do you think and therefore a benefit of diving with nitrox?


thanks

[PeteM]

Is nitrox pretty straight forward once you have the hang of it? I remember how alien scuba seemed breathing through regs when I started, but I got to grips with it without too much trouble. Is it the same with nitrox?

Apart from the planned dive time coming out to a different time (the big advantage) and making sure you do not exceed your maximum operating depth there is no difference to an air dive.

[bootneck]

As Woz said nitrox its not anything special, do the course and use it. I was night diving last night, flat calm sea, no wind a perfect night for it, even though it was -2 on the shore ,lol or shore cover was colder than we were :) its great fun give it a try.

[Roz]

If I had more opportunity to dive at night, I would. I love it. One of the best ways to do a night dive is to dive the site during the day and get to know the place. Then dive it again at night. It means that you get a handle on the geography, so when you dive it at night you have a better idea of where you are going. And you also get to compare the marine life. During the day, you get one shift, and at night the other shift "come on duty".

At night the colours are more vibrant and you spot more things because you are purely looking at stuff in the beam of your torch. As Woz said you tend to notice more of the small stuff because you are actively looking, rather than mooching, seeing everything and taking in not much on day dive. Generally you don't tend to move that far, nor do you have to dive deep either to have a great night dive. A better solution for hiding your torch beam would be to turn your torch around and hold the face close into your body to give you darkness. If you lose track of your buddy, this is a good way to find them again, because you'll see the glow of their torch much better by hiding yours.

As for Nitrox, you won't notice the difference in the breath.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of people being less tired diving EANx than air. (Enriched Air Nitrox). I personally would agree with this. Years ago my boyfriend and I dived the Thistlegorm. He was on air, and I was on EANx. (We both dived with different people who had the same gas as us). When we got back to the hotel he was zonked. He slept very soundly for about 3 hours whilst I was wide awake and wanted to go out dancing. I'd certainly advocate Nitrox as a safe(r) diving gas, provided you always, always, always, always analyse and label your tanks first. NEVER dive unanalysed gas. Secondly, know what depths you can dive your Nitrox mix too. But you will be taught this on a course.

So in summary, as an Advanced Open Water Diver you are ready to learn about Nitrox and Night Diving. And by doing both you will get far more out of your diving.

[Woz]

On an Easter trip a couple of years ago, we had 24 divers up in the Sound of Mull in April doing a week of diving. In the evening, all the nitrox divers were sat around chatting, all the air divers were asleep. It was very noticeable.

However the biggest difference is on multi-day dive trips. By day 3, the air divers were sat on the shot completing their deco while the nitrox divers whistled past, did a safety stop and got out. The difference can be huge- on one dive, a pair was buddied up, both on twinsets, one on 32% and the other on air. One had 35 mins of stops, the other 7 mins.

There is a theory (and tests have been done to confirm this) that feeling less tired is purely psychological. The article is here:

http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page1.gif
http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page2.gif
http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page3.gif
http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page4.gif

[minimonkey]

Many thanks everyone for your advice- I do think I would like to give both Nitrox and night diving a try although the thought of it is a bit strange at the moment!

However, I like the idea of nitrox for the future definitely and your comments have really helped
thanks again
nic:)

[PeteM]

The difference can be huge- on one dive, a pair was buddied up, both on twinsets, one on 32% and the other on air. One had 35 mins of stops, the other 7 mins.

Been there, done that.

Funny that I can happily hang on a bit of string for over an hour for required stops but after ten minutes of "unnecessary stops" it is doing my head in

[ChristianG]

Many thanks everyone for your advice)
Another advantage to night diving is that generally you tend to lower your SAC by some significant extent.

Torches, for experienced night divers, can be a pain if used by newcomers. Never shine a torch even remotely into the face of another diver, attract their attention by "wriggling" your torch beam in front of, or behind if space permits, theirs and enjoy the dark (sans torch) because it dramatically heightens your senses, including your sense of hearing. The sea, regardless of what Cousteau said, is not silent.

Night dives, more often than not, are simply fabulous.

[ChristianG]

My question is do you need to have a certain level of experience to be able to use nitrox- I have only completed 42 dives and husband has done about 55 including wreck dives and drift dives etc. Should I consider learning nitrox next month in Sharm or wait until later in the year?
Specifically talking "learning" I question the value of wasting precious holiday time to do a course, a fairly simple one at that. :)

[northern_diver]

Nitrox=good

Nitrox is a enriched air source gas, with the enrichment coming from increased quantities of oxygen. Due to certain factors involving diving physics and physiology oxygen becomes toxic at certain pressures (relating to depth) so your maximun operating depth (MOD) must'nt be exceded.

All this will be taught to you and its fairly straight forward and i enjoyed my course (i've never done a PADI course though).

If you could get the course in the UK, that would save you a day's diving and you also wouldnt be as time pressed to succede, if any issues did come about. I don know, but you may be albe to refer the open water qualifing dives and just do the theory/quiz/exam in the UK, if that suits. Worth looking into maybe.

Enjoy your diving and your holiday,

John

[ChristianG]

Been there, done that.

Funny that I can happily hang on a bit of string for over an hour for required stops but after ten minutes of "unnecessary stops" it is doing my head in
Anyone remember when nitrox was for "safety only"?

IOW you used it restricted to the same limits as air except that it gave you an added "window of safety"? Or whatever they called it at the time?

[Fiona]

Is nitrox pretty straight forward once you have the hang of it?



Absolutely I use one mix 32% for all dives to 30m - what could be more simple.

Night dives are great just don't put yours hands on anything which includes the sandy bottom, you don't know what is hiding under there :)

[Strike]

Hello all
When we completed our advanced open water last year, we were unable to complete the Nitrox unit as the dive school didn't offer it. However, we are lucky to be going on a few trips this year and we are wondering if we should consider learning how to dive using Nitrox this year.

My question is do you need to have a certain level of experience to be able to use nitrox- thanks

The short answer is "No." Shortly after helping to conduct the first nitrox course here in OZ - in '91 - a number of concerned industry figures convened a meeting to discuss what level of experience and qualifications people should have before undertaking nitrox training. Suggestions varied. They included: The logging of 200 dives; Having - at the very least - an AOW certification; Or - oddly to my way of thinking - being an Instructor. When asked what I thought, I suggested that it should be taught at the entry level. I was howled down as a heretic. :)

To my way of thinking, one of the great benefits of nitrox training (quite apart from practical diving considerations) is the better insight that it gives into gas behaviour under pressure and, of course, decompression issues.


Also we have the offer of doing night dives- I have never done this either and this fills me with fear and excitement together!
any thought much appreciated
thanks

Although not a great fan of night diving, it does present the opportunity to see creatures that usually remain hidden during the daylight hours. And because attention tends to be focussed onto the area illuminated by the torch, the diver tends to see much more than might normally be the case during the day.

And if it's clear water - particularly if there's a good moon - take a few moments to switch off the torch and allow your eyes to adjust. It's surprising how much you'll see ... and if there's bio-luminescent plankton in the water, by wafting your hand backwards and forwards you'll be treated to a stunning light display.

Regards

Strike

[minimonkey]

wow! I feel really excited about the idea of night diving- it sounds amazing. I will try to get something organinsed and report back after our trip
thanks again for all your advice :)

[toniken]

we dived scapa two years ago. the difference between eleven divers using nitrox and ONE diver on air was massive by the end of the week. i know that there is scientific evidence that nitrox does not make divers less fatigued, but,as a 'nearly' 60 year old, put me on the old man's gas any day!!! On an Easter trip a couple of years ago, we had 24 divers up in the Sound of Mull in April doing a week of diving. In the evening, all the nitrox divers were sat around chatting, all the air divers were asleep. It was very noticeable.

However the biggest difference is on multi-day dive trips. By day 3, the air divers were sat on the shot completing their deco while the nitrox divers whistled past, did a safety stop and got out. The difference can be huge- on one dive, a pair was buddied up, both on twinsets, one on 32% and the other on air. One had 35 mins of stops, the other 7 mins.

There is a theory (and tests have been done to confirm this) that feeling less tired is purely psychological. The article is here:

http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page1.gif
http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page2.gif
http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page3.gif
http://www.kitfondle.co.uk/images/nitrox/page4.gif

[Roz]

I note that you are based in Poole. I don't know if Steve Axtell is still teaching actively in the area, but if he is, I'd book a couple of courses with him if you are looking to go down the PADI route. Steve originally trained the renowned cave explorer Phill Short to dive. And when Phill became a PADI instructor, he worked with Steve Axtell before moving to technical instructing. Steve is a seriously good instructor trainer.

You're also not far from Swanage Pier. Once you're sorted night dive wise, it's a great place to bimble around. My first night dive was under the pier and I still remember it vividly. It's quite pretty with enough life, not too much boat traffic and very shallow.

[minimonkey]

Hi Roz
I am somewhat ashamed to say that whilst I live in Poole, I have never been diving in the UK!
It seems so cold to me! :eek: I do a bit of wind surfing in the summer and body boarding but only in the summer months. I love Poole but I think I am a bit of a wimp really! I do know people who love diving off Dorset, and perhaps I should try it, but the idea of being cold puts me off!
I learnt to dive abroad and because we love getting away when we can, we always combine diving with holidays- we are fortunate that we know our holidays sometimes 2 years ahead, so we can get relatively decent prices to go abroad.
I am thinking I might dive in the UK in the summer to begin- we have a friend who is a very experienced diver in this area and he is forever trying to persuade us to come out with him- but in the bleak mid winter- no way!!! lol!:)

[Woz]

I note that you are based in Poole. I don't know if Steve Axtell is still teaching actively in the area, but if he is, I'd book a couple of courses with him if you are looking to go down the PADI route. Steve originally trained the renowned cave explorer Phill Short to dive. And when Phill became a PADI instructor, he worked with Steve Axtell before moving to technical instructing. Steve is a seriously good instructor trainer.

You're also not far from Swanage Pier. Once you're sorted night dive wise, it's a great place to bimble around. My first night dive was under the pier and I still remember it vividly. It's quite pretty with enough life, not too much boat traffic and very shallow.Last time I dived the pier was with twin 12s full of nitrox 32 off a hardboat with a lift.

A bit of an overkill, I suspect!

[MattS]

I am somewhat ashamed to say that whilst I live in Poole, I have never been diving in the UK!UK diving is not quite the glossy picture book experience you might have had abroad, but it is all the more interesting for it. You have some World class diving on your doorstep. The reefs and wrecks around Poole are some of the best and most accessible in the country. It's a crime not to partake of it :D

The water temperature during late Summer is around 19C to 20C, which is about the same as the Med in Spring. A 5mm wet suit should be comfortably warm and I have been a little too warm in a drysuit on a couple occasions.

I would recommend the Valentine Tanks and the Inner and Middle Poole patches as initial UK dives. If you are worried about the cold, leave it until mid-July as it takes a little while for the waters to warm up after winter.

[Hamish]

There is a theory (and tests have been done to confirm this) that feeling less tired is purely psychological. The article is here:

Hi Woz,

Thought your inclusion of what is an excellent article was worth keeping so hunted it out and created a word document. Have attached it here just in case anyone else should like to have a copy?

Well done

Regards

Hamish

855

[Owen Wichard]

Hi Woz,

Thought your inclusion of what is an excellent article was worth keeping so hunted it out and created a word document. Have attached it here just in case anyone else should like to have a copy?

Well done

Regards

Hamish

855

Hi, Hamish tried twice to open this witch it did but was blank any ideas??

OWen

[ChristianG]

Hi, Hamish tried twice to open this witch it did but was blank any ideas??
Strange, it opened perfectly for me - and I'm on a Mac. :)

Thanks for taking the trouble Hamish, this one slipped by me on its original outing.

[Woz]

Hi Woz,

Thought your inclusion of what is an excellent article was worth keeping so hunted it out and created a word document. Have attached it here just in case anyone else should like to have a copy?

Well done

Regards

Hamish

855Thanks very much for that.

[Hamish]

Hi, Hamish tried twice to open this witch it did but was blank any ideas??

OWen

Hi Owen,

I don't know what the problem with your machine is as it is a normal MS Word document. I have opened it for myself without any problems as has Christian. I have created a pdf version but for some reason the forum is not allowing me to place any attachements at the moment?

Could well be a glitch on the forum server?

Hamish

[Hamish]

Hi Owen,

I don't know what the problem with your machine is as it is a normal MS Word document. I have opened it for myself without any problems as has Christian. I have created a pdf version but for some reason the forum is not allowing me to place any attachements at the moment?

Could well be a glitch on the forum server?

Hamish

Hi,

For those that could not download the word document, here it is in pdf.

regards

Hamish