| NITROX.COM is brought to you by the Academy of Scuba in Phoenix AZ |
General Nitrox Information
| Instant Sign Up For Site Updates and Newsletter |
Home General Information General NITROX Info NITROX FAQs NITROX Physics NITROX Store NITROX Products Books on NITROX Get NITROX Certified Get Certified Today Course FAQs Our Newsletter: It's a Gas - Subscribe Contact Us |
| Copyright (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved Academy of Scuba, Phoenix AZ Disclaimer / Terms of Use |
Nitrox refers to any gas mixture composed of nitrogen and oxygen (excluding trace gases); this includes
normal air ("AIR") which is approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, with around 1% inert gases,
primarily argon. However, in SCUBA diving, NITROX is normally differentiated and handled differently from
air. The most common use of NITROX mixtures containing higher than normal levels of oxygen is in
SCUBA, where the reduced percentage of nitrogen is advantageous in reducing nitrogen take up in the
body's tissues and so extending the possible dive time, and/or reducing the risk of decompression
sickness (also known as the bends).
The Number 1 benefit of using NITROX is to safely extend your bottom time
Nitrox is mainly used in scuba diving to reduce the proportion of nitrogen in the breathing gas mixture.
Reducing the proportion of nitrogen by increasing the proportion of oxygen reduces the risk of
decompression sickness, allowing extended dive times without increasing the need for decompression
stops. Nitrox is not a safer gas than compressed air in all respects: although its use reduces the risk of
decompression sickness, it increases the risk of oxygen toxicity.
It doesn't matter which gas mix you use, if you dive to the limits, you will most like injure yourself
Breathing NITROX is not thought to reduce the effects of narcosis, as oxygen seems to have equally
narcotic properties under pressure as nitrogen, thus one should not expect a reduction in narcotic effects
due only to the use of NITROX. Nonetheless, there remains a body of the diving community that insists that
they feel reduced narcotic effects at depths breathing NITROX. This most likely is a placebo effect and may
be due to a dissociation of the subjective and behavioural effects of narcosis. However, it should be noted
that because of risks associated with oxygen toxicity, divers tend not to utilise NITROX at greater depths
where more pronounced narcosis symptoms are more likely to occur.
It is a common myth that NITROX is associated with deep or technical diving
There is anecdotal evidence that the use of NITROX reduces post-dive fatigue, particularly in older and or
obese divers. This is known as an "O2 Buzz." While many divers swear it to be true, there is no evidence to
prove the myth. But, if it makes you feel better, who are we to say it didn't work.
NITROX has many names!
Nitrox is known by many names: Enhanced Air Nitrox, Oxygen Enriched Air, Nitrox, EANx or Safe Air. The
name "NITROX" may be capitalized when referring to specific mixtures such as Nitrox68, which contains
68% nitrogen and 32% oxygen. When one figure is stated, it refers to the nitrogen percentage, not the
oxygen percentage. The original convention, Nitrox68/32 became shortened as the second figure is
redundant.
Although "NITROX" usually refers to a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with more than 21% oxygen, it can
refer to mixtures that are leaner in oxygen than air. "Enriched Air Nitrox", "Enriched Air" or "EAN" are used to
emphasise richer than air mixtures. In "EANx", the "x" indicates the percentage of oxygen in the mix and is
replaced by a number when the percentage is known; for example a 40% EANx mix is called EAN40. The
two most popular blends are EAN32 and EAN36 (also named Nitrox I and Nitrox II, respectively, or
Nitrox68/32 and Nitrox64/36).
In its early days of introduction to non-technical divers, nitrox has occasionally also been known by
detractors by less complimentary terms, such as "devil gas" or "voodoo gas" (a term now sometimes used
with pride).
Learn More About NITROX - Click Here
normal air ("AIR") which is approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, with around 1% inert gases,
primarily argon. However, in SCUBA diving, NITROX is normally differentiated and handled differently from
air. The most common use of NITROX mixtures containing higher than normal levels of oxygen is in
SCUBA, where the reduced percentage of nitrogen is advantageous in reducing nitrogen take up in the
body's tissues and so extending the possible dive time, and/or reducing the risk of decompression
sickness (also known as the bends).
The Number 1 benefit of using NITROX is to safely extend your bottom time
Nitrox is mainly used in scuba diving to reduce the proportion of nitrogen in the breathing gas mixture.
Reducing the proportion of nitrogen by increasing the proportion of oxygen reduces the risk of
decompression sickness, allowing extended dive times without increasing the need for decompression
stops. Nitrox is not a safer gas than compressed air in all respects: although its use reduces the risk of
decompression sickness, it increases the risk of oxygen toxicity.
It doesn't matter which gas mix you use, if you dive to the limits, you will most like injure yourself
Breathing NITROX is not thought to reduce the effects of narcosis, as oxygen seems to have equally
narcotic properties under pressure as nitrogen, thus one should not expect a reduction in narcotic effects
due only to the use of NITROX. Nonetheless, there remains a body of the diving community that insists that
they feel reduced narcotic effects at depths breathing NITROX. This most likely is a placebo effect and may
be due to a dissociation of the subjective and behavioural effects of narcosis. However, it should be noted
that because of risks associated with oxygen toxicity, divers tend not to utilise NITROX at greater depths
where more pronounced narcosis symptoms are more likely to occur.
It is a common myth that NITROX is associated with deep or technical diving
There is anecdotal evidence that the use of NITROX reduces post-dive fatigue, particularly in older and or
obese divers. This is known as an "O2 Buzz." While many divers swear it to be true, there is no evidence to
prove the myth. But, if it makes you feel better, who are we to say it didn't work.
NITROX has many names!
Nitrox is known by many names: Enhanced Air Nitrox, Oxygen Enriched Air, Nitrox, EANx or Safe Air. The
name "NITROX" may be capitalized when referring to specific mixtures such as Nitrox68, which contains
68% nitrogen and 32% oxygen. When one figure is stated, it refers to the nitrogen percentage, not the
oxygen percentage. The original convention, Nitrox68/32 became shortened as the second figure is
redundant.
Although "NITROX" usually refers to a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with more than 21% oxygen, it can
refer to mixtures that are leaner in oxygen than air. "Enriched Air Nitrox", "Enriched Air" or "EAN" are used to
emphasise richer than air mixtures. In "EANx", the "x" indicates the percentage of oxygen in the mix and is
replaced by a number when the percentage is known; for example a 40% EANx mix is called EAN40. The
two most popular blends are EAN32 and EAN36 (also named Nitrox I and Nitrox II, respectively, or
Nitrox68/32 and Nitrox64/36).
In its early days of introduction to non-technical divers, nitrox has occasionally also been known by
detractors by less complimentary terms, such as "devil gas" or "voodoo gas" (a term now sometimes used
with pride).
Learn More About NITROX - Click Here
| Convenient Fast Your Schedule Get Certified Online |
| SDI and Academy of Scuba Helping you Earn Your NITROX Certification |
| Stay Down Longer Dive Safer Be a Great Diver Sign Up Today |