Decompression gas

Decompression gas or breathing gas is a mixture of gases that are used for breathing during underwater diving. The primary purpose of decompression gas is to prevent decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis.

Composition

Decompression gas is typically a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and helium. The specific composition of the gas can vary depending on the depth of the dive and the length of time spent underwater.

Oxygen

Oxygen is a vital component of decompression gas. It is necessary for the body's metabolic processes and helps to prevent hypoxia, a condition that occurs when the body is deprived of adequate oxygen.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the most common gas in the atmosphere and is also a major component of decompression gas. However, at high pressures, nitrogen can cause nitrogen narcosis, a condition that can impair a diver's cognitive function.

Helium

Helium is often used in decompression gas for deep dives. It is less narcotic than nitrogen and can help to prevent nitrogen narcosis. However, helium can cause oxygen toxicity if the partial pressure of oxygen becomes too high.

Use in Diving

Decompression gas is used in scuba diving, saturation diving, and technical diving. The gas is stored in a diving cylinder and is breathed by the diver through a diving regulator.

Safety

The use of decompression gas in diving requires careful planning and monitoring. Divers must monitor their depth and time underwater to ensure that they are not exceeding the safe limits of their decompression gas. They must also monitor the partial pressures of the gases in their decompression gas to prevent oxygen toxicity and nitrogen narcosis.

See Also

• Diving medicine
• Diving physics
• Breathing gas

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