Recreational Nitrox Diving

Transcription

1 Recreational Nitrox Diving Avoiding Medical Problems Equipment Considerations

2 Table of Contents Avoiding Medical Problems...1 Equipment Considerations for Nitrox Index Introduction This booklet was written to help you to learn the concepts of Nitrox diving and to prepare you for participation in a Nitrox initiation that is conducted by a certified instructor. A Nitrox Diver qualification allows you to extend your dive time by using the benefits this gas has to offer. Each section of the text is preceded by a statement that defines the knowledge, which is expected of you at this level of training.

3 To calculate the equivalent air depth, the percentage of nitrogen in the blend (1 minus the percentage of oxygen) is divided by the percentage of nitrogen in air (0.79). The result is multiplied by the depth plus 10 (10 MSW for atmospheric pressure). After the multiplication is completed, the atmospheric pressure is deducted again (minus 10 MSW). The result is a theoretical depth that can be used on any normal dive table for air. By calculating the EAD, a theoretical depth is found which is shallower than the actual depth of the dive. This will yield a longer dive than would be the case when using air at the same dive depth. The EAD is for calculation purposes only. As an example: a dive to 18 meters depth with Nitrox 32 would result in an equivalent air depth of 15 meters. To calculate, divide 0.68 (1 minus 0.32) by 0.79 and multiply the result with 28 MSW (18 from the depth plus 10 for the atmospheric pressure. Then subtract the atmospheric pressure to find the depth and round up to the next greater number. A dive at 18 meters with Nitrox 32 thus allows the same dive time as a dive with air to 15 meters. The dive time with air can be looked-up on a dive table. You might also find some dive tables specifically for Nitrox, but since virtually all divers use dive computers, such tables have become very rare. There are no indications that dives with Nitrox differ in a risk for decompression sickness from dives with air. Nitrox allows longer dives and if a diver takes benefit of that option, the consequences of diving close to the limit or exceeding it are equivalent. No-decompression limits indicate an acceptable risk level. Diving within the limits is no guarantee that decompression sickness will not occur; just as exceeding the limit does not mean that the occur- Page 10

4 There are different ways to fill Nitrox in scuba cylinders. In most cases, the Nitrox will be blended before it reaches the cylinder. This means that the cylinder and the cylinder valve will only Describe the consequences of higher oxygen content for a scuba cylinder. come in contact with pre-blended Nitrox with a maximum percentage of 40% oxygen. Within the diving industry, there is consensus that blends up to 40% may be handled as if they were air. It is the manufacturers of the cylinder and valve who decide on any additional requirements for their product. In most cases these requirements include the use of special O-rings (Viton, rather than normal neoprene) and the use of oxygen compatible lubricants (which contain no grease or silicone). The consensus does not apply in all cases. There are some countries in which national norms require additional precautions (there are only few and diving instructors as well as the staff in dive centres can inform you if such additional requirements are in place in your region). Another exception is the use of the diving cylinder as a blending container. This is called partial-pressureblending directly in the cylinder. With that method of filling Nitrox, pure oxygen is transferred into a cylinder, which is then connected to a compressor to top it off with air. With this method a higher standard for cleaning the cylinder and the valve does apply. Regardless of the filling method (and thus of the level to which the cylinder is cleaned), there are some aspects you should be aware of as a diver. The first is that oxygen speeds up corrosion (on the inside of the cylinder). As a Page 16

5 consequence, Nitrox cylinders will in most cases not last as long as cylinders that are used exclusively for air. As a user of Nitrox cylinders, you also have a responsibility toward the person who does your filling. Blenders pay a lot of attention to keep the cylinders clean. They apply stricter norms for air quality (in the US, 0.1 mg of hydrocarbons per cubic meter of air, rather than the normally allowed 5 mg. In Europe this difference is far less as the standard for normal air is 0.5 mg). Other compressors (only used for air) may not fulfil these strict standards. Make it a habit to only fill Nitrox cylinders at the facility to which they belong. That way you assist blenders to keep their cylinders in optimal condition. If you own your own Nitrox cylinder, only fill it at reputable centres. List the markings on a Nitrox cylinder and describe the purpose of each of the markings. cylinders. Each of them has its own purpose. The most eye-catching is a 10 centimetre wide green band with text (which may be in the local language) indicating that the cylinder contains Nitrox or enriched air Nitrox. For cylinders that are not yellow, the green band has a two and a half centimetre yellow lining above and below. This marking is to prevent divers who are not trained to dive with Nitrox confusing cylinders and ending up with a blend with other depth restrictions than air. There are three different types of markings found on Nitrox A second marking has a similar function, but this is to prevent confusing cylinders amongst Nitrox divers. If different blends are used, each of them has a Page 17

6 regulator or SPG is used with oxygen rich blends. Often the modifications consist of the use of hydrocarbon-free and silicon-free lubricants as well as the use of Viton O-rings in parts of the equipment that get in contact with high pressure. Refer to the instructions for use for your regulator and SPG to see what the manufacturer of your brand recommends. When diving with 40% oxygen or less, no precautions are needed for parts of the regulator and accessories at lower (intermediate pressure). An octopus, inflator or other item that is attached to intermediate pressure will not require modifications to be safely used with Nitrox. A regulator does have more contact with oxygen than it would when diving with air. The same applies to the bladder of the BCD and any other item that is filled with gas from the cylinder. Describe the consequences of higher oxygen content for equipment other than cylinders. Additional oxygen intensifies oxidation. That means that corrosion and other types of wear is faster than with air. You cannot expect equipment that is used with Nitrox to last as long as equipment used with air. Page 19

7 The safety of a dive with Nitrox requires the diver to be informed of the blend used. The blender will analyse the Nitrox and inform the diver, but it Describe the use of an oxygen analyser. remains the responsibility of the diver using the cylinder to confirm the analyses. For that reason all Nitrox divers must know how an analysis of the oxygen content of a Nitrox cylinder is done. Oxygen analysers are first calibrated. After calibration, a Nitrox flow is measured and will result in an indication of the percentage of oxygen in the blend on the display. This might give the impression that the analyser measures the percentage, but that would be impossible. To measure a percentage not only the oxygen content would have to be measured, but also the presence of any other gases. How else would the analyser know how much of the total blend actually is oxygen. The analyser thus just measures the absolute amount of oxygen, which is then transferred to a percentage under the assumption that the total pressure is 1 bar (atmospheric pressure). The fact that the analyser measures the absolute presence (which is the partial pressure of oxygen) results in some procedures that must be respected. First of the precautions is that analysers are calibrated to take any variations in atmospheric pressure into account. The second precaution is that the diver must prevent any build-up of pressure in the analyser. This requires the Nitrox flow that passes through or over the analyser to be very mild. A strong flow could result in building up pressure around the sensor in the analyser, which would falsify the measurement. The assumption that the total pressure is 1 bar must hold true to attain a correct reading. Page 20

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