Air or Nitrox ?

Mad as it seems, some people still assume that just because we breathe air on the surface that makes it a great idea to breathe it underwater.

Wrong.

It’s not the best gas for most recreational dives. Nitrox is.

On a weeks dive safari with 3 or 4 dives most days the benefits are real. Multiple days of repetitive diving take their toll on your body. Mine is too important to me to be breathing air underwater all the time. I personally will not work with a company that will not provide me with nitrox in my tank when I want it.

Most liveaboards these days can provide nitrox. Technology has progressed so the better ones now have membrane systems onboard to make nitrox from regular air without the need to carry oxygen. Some boats still carry large cylinders of oxygen which they blend with air to make their nitrox. There are limits to how many cylinders can be carried and as more people are diving nitrox regularly these boats often run out of O2 before the end of the dive safari. With a membrane system this problem does not exist.

If you’re not nitrox trained then its about time you got trained. Most live-aboard guides are also instructors who can teach the basic nitrox course. A couple of hours reading and a couple of hours with the instructor and you’re a nitrox diver. There are no time consuming skills to practice - to all intents and purposes diving is exactly the same as diving with air but you absorb less nitrogen meaning extended no decompression limits . Its up to you wether you stay at depth longer or wether you dive as if on air and absorb less nitrogen.

Most liveaboards sell the courses at very competitive prices. You have already paid for your diving so when you do the course on the safari boat you are really just paying for the course materials, certification card and the instructors time.