What about Deep Air Diving?

[Red sea shark]

Yep, i dive deep air when i have to. Sometimes it's quite difficult to get trimix if you're diving for a few consecutive days. It's also not necessarily the availability either, but the actual timings of the tides/boat versus the shop opening hours and mixing time. etc

Do i think it's unsafe?....Not overly, but trimix is obviously preferable. You certainly have to build up to these dives especially when using air only.

Let’s face it, trimix has only been popular over the last 8/9 years and availability is still a problem. In diving terms, mixed gas diving is still very much in its infancy, but certainly growing in popularity

At least if i'm on a mix i feel more relaxed and aware of my actions, but deep air doesn't bother me

[Sam2000]

Sitting on a high helium mix I've watched divers I know are competent go into slow motion when a problem hits. Narcosis is at it's most debilitating trying to innovate. The same old drill again is easy but new or different is not available from a brain full of nitrogen. You may feel on the ball but you aren't. Is like saying "four pints makes me a better driver".

I have one incident in mind where I was at about 35m END and responded to but did not act on a very clear UP sign because I was having a problem. I wanted UP but it wasn't slate time yet so it couldn't be yet. These days I don't like to take the END below the low 20s as I know I am reasonably in control of myself there

[Dragonfire]

50m on air is an unnecessary added risk. If you choose to do it then that’s up to you but please don’t try and defend it any more than I can defend driving at 80MPH on the motorway. Is 70 safer? Yes of course it is.

The tools are available to negate the risk so we have no excuse.

I have dived deep air and still do when i can’t get trimix aboard

[Zeus]

50m is deep enough for most. 60m - think carefully and prepare very well. 70m+ - not for nearly anyone.

Big problem with dives to 60m and over is severe narcosis, air consumption and proper dive planning/following the plan.

[Dragonfire]

Trimix is obviously preferable to air, for the following reasons:

-On multiple day dive trip, the logistics can be a nightmare.
-Helium isn't widely stocked by dive shops.
-There sometimes comes a point when it's either deep air or no dive. That's then up to the individual to decide at the time.
-Deep air isn't for everyone.
-Rebreathers are a whole different ball game as well.

Regards,

[Mako]

What is nice with trimix: divers dive less deep... with air.
One thing is sure, air becomes toxic in a depth over 60 metres. Then we don't speak any more about narcosis but really about intoxication.
If you want to dive deep ok go for it but not without the required training. And the right training is technical diving incl. trimix.
Mako

[DiveDevil1966]

Deep Air Diving is a topic wich can become very heated and opinions are very strong and I think that the pro's have a point, as well the con's. When I started to dive, I learnt with a training association which has a slightly different approach of diving depth than many training agencies these days. The training has also been a bit more detailed and more encompassing with regards to dive planning, calculations of air consumptions etc. The major difference was that we have been dealing with decompression dives from very early on. Obviously this also extends to the diver training. The equipment used was mainly twin sets with twin first stages and appropriate BCD's. And this was on the first course.
Deep Air Diving can be done safely to a certain degree with the correct training, equipment and very importantly the correct dive and gas planning. The choice of dive buddies should be taken very seriously as well.
There is proper training courses availabe which teaches the correct procedures of deep air diving. Deep Air Diving is not something which is for everybody, but some of us are prepared to take the greater risk, the investment in training and appropriate equipment and enjoy the greater reachability this kind of diving offers.