Nitrox

Nitrox refers to any gas mixture composed (N2 ) and oxygen (O2 ). It is commonly used in scuba diving and underwater diving due to its potential benefits in reducing the risk of decompression sickness or "the bends". Nitrox is also known as Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN), Nitrox, EANx or Safe Air.

Composition

Nitrox is a blend of nitrogen and oxygen where the oxygen concentration is greater than that of air. The most common mixtures are Nitrox I (32% oxygen) and Nitrox II (36% oxygen). The percentage of oxygen in the mix defines the maximum depth at which it can be safely used to avoid oxygen toxicity.

Usage

Nitrox is primarily used in recreational scuba diving to extend the no-decompression limit (NDL), reduce decompression time, or reduce the risk of decompression sickness. It is not a deep-diving gas mix due to the risk of oxygen toxicity caused by the high partial pressure of oxygen (ppO2) at depth.

Benefits and Risks

The main benefit of using nitrox is the reduced fraction of nitrogen in the breathing gas, which reduces the risk of decompression sickness. However, the increased fraction of oxygen leads to an increased risk of oxygen toxicity, which can lead to convulsions and other symptoms. Therefore, divers must be trained in nitrox use and must use oxygen analyzers to verify the mix before each dive.

Training

Several diving organizations offer training in nitrox use, including PADI, SSI, and NAUI. The training includes dive planning, oxygen exposure management, and equipment considerations.

See Also

• Scuba diving
• Decompression sickness
• Oxygen toxicity
• PADI
• SSI
• NAUI