Two sets of Nitrox scuba diving gear, including enriched air tanks, positioned by the pool in Tulamben, Bali.

Beginner’s Guide to Nitrox Diving: Stay Safe and Dive Longer

September 23, 2024

That is the nature of diving: it is the passion to go deep and feel what is going on beneath the water surface. But have you ever wondered what you could do to increase your dive time and reduce the amount of time you need to rest between two dives? This is where Nitrox comes in and it is slowly rising to the top as a solution divers can use to enhance the fun of diving. If you’re a newcomer who has never heard of Nitrox or an experienced diver seeking to find how Nitrox can improve your diving, we have all the answers for you.

Why Use Nitrox?

You might be wondering, “Why should I be thinking about Nitrox?” This is as follows. Whenever you dive with your normal air supply, you get to assimilate nitrogen in your body. Diving at these depths for too long, this nitrogen accumulates in the body thus restricting bottom time. Nitrox, as you may have noted, incorporates lesser amounts of nitrogen into the diver’s body and therefore they get to those limits in shorter duration underwater. For divers who go through several dives within one day then Nitrox will have a big impact on cutting down the time taken for the next dive.

Risk Factors Things You Would Want to Know

The beauty of the coral garden

Notice that using Nitrox is not about putting Nitrox into your SCB and then go diving. There are following safety factors that you ought to keep in mind:There are the following safety factors that you ought to keep in mind: Oxygen Toxicity: When you go deep, the quantity of oxygen in the tank is the cause for oxygen toxicity.That is why Nitrox is a compound has depth limits with it. It is advised that the Nitrox mix you use on your dives must not surpass a so-called Maximum Operating Depth (MOD) which depends on the particulars of the Nitrox mix that is being used at a given time.

Proper Certification Before you select a type of Nitrox, you have to be certified to use the same. Why? Because a diver needs to know how it works and how to control it, determine the condition of his tanks, and the further actions in the water. Our recommendation? Do it through a recognised agency such as PADI, NAUI or SSI in order to be well equipped to dive into the water.

How nitrox affects Your Dives

Diving with Nitrox offers several significant advantages, but there are a few important points to consider:

One major benefit is increased bottom time. Nitrox allows divers to stay at a certain depth longer than they could with regular air, although it doesn't mean they can dive deeper. This is perfect for recreational depth where you’ll be looking to get as much time as you can.

Shorter Surface Intervals The magnitude of Nitrogen that has been taken often requires less time to offset it depending on the level of exertion on the diver. In other words, for those divers who intend to dive more than once a day, Nitrox can allow you more time underwater and less in the boat

When to Use Nitrox

The best scenario for Nitrox is when you are to dive for many times, such as when you are in a wreck diving scenario, or if, in the area you are getting to, you tend to do multiple dives in a single day. Think that you can dive much more and restless. That is the theme of passionate Nitrox!

Clearing Up Nitrox Misconceptions There are a few rumors regarding Nitrox, so let's spend some time now clearing up some of the most common ones.

The funny advertisement 'Nitrox Lets You Dive Deeper False!' contains funny and, at times absurd images that seem to deliver a straight massage: protecting company financial strength from the effects of oxidation. That means, Nitrox is not about going deeper at all, it's about spending more time underwater. Still, you'll want to be super careful not to go too deep because there's more oxygen in that area.

Myth: You Don't Need Training to Use Nitrox, this isn't a fact. For your safety, certification is needed because that also explains the ways Nitrox can be used and how it is monitored.

Myth: Nitrox is only for highly trained divers. Reality check: Actually, Nitrox benefits divers of all backgrounds. So if you dive regularly, certainly it is something worth exploring for the enrichment of your dives.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced divers can make errors when using Nitrox; therefore, here are a few points to remember:
Not Keeping Tab on the Oxygen Levels
Always make sure you check the percentage of oxygen in your tank.. It is vital to work out that the mix matches what you have planned for.
Ignoring Depth Limits
Don’t become over confident. One should not go beyond his MOD to avoid the potentially hazardous effect of oxygen toxicity.
Not Logging Your Dives
At least for Nitrox. Logging would enable you to have an insight to your nitrogen levels and how your body is reacting to enriched air.

If you are a beginner diver looking for a place to dive, check out this article, it's perfect for you.