 Re: technical diving
Getting into Tech Diving
As divers become more experienced and more educated with training a natural progression occurs towards diving with Nitrox (defined below). This in itself is the first step towards becoming a technical diver. The advantages are clear, better bottom dives and less post diving affects associated with with usingair (nitrogen loading and fatigue is accepted by all to being reduced when using Nitrox), though this comes at a price. The diver is constrained to a Maximum Operating Depth (MOD) which reflects the Nitrox mix being used for the dive.
The additional dangers of diving with Nitrox than with air are made very clear on the PADI Nitrox course, the dreaded Oxygen Toxicity. This is generally fatal at depth due to the associated convulsions which cause the diver to drown (unless a full face mask is worn). What is worse there is very little indication something that might be wrong before the convulsions begin. |