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Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 17:42:10 -0500
From: Jason Weisacosky <hypoxic@tr*.mi*.or*>
To: Jason Reese <jreese@en*.dt*.ha*.co*>
CC: Hans Petter Roverud <proverud@on*.no*>, techdiver@aquanaut.com
Subject: Re: IANTD & trimix
All I can say, Jason, is that you better know what the fuck you're talking about
before you decide to throw a quarter in the pot.  The Trimix post was quite
clear in content as related to Technical diving.  Read it again, then get some
training-------Jason Weisacosky



Jason Reese wrote:

> Are you getting trimix and nitrox mixed up?  130 feet would be pushing it
> for something like EAN32 (1.6 pp at 130).  However, narcosis wouldn't be
> that much of a problem due to the lowered nitrogen content.  The lowered pp
> of nitrogen would make the dive equivalent to ~110fsw (as far as narcosis is
> concerned).
>
> Trimix is generally never used shallower than 100-120 ft.  Depending on the
> mix you could die of asphyxia at shallow depths with trimix due to the
> reduced oxygen.
>
>                                 -- Jason
>
> At 09:20 PM 10/15/97 EDT, Hans Petter Roverud wrote:
> >Somebody stated: Technical trimix is a deep air
> >course. I believe he's right -- this course is
> >definitely bordering on the "deep air" that most
> >most of us agree to avoid.
> >
> >My deepest "technical nitrox" dive was a nitrox
> >23 dive to 160'. Of course, 23% oxygen is
> >a ridiculous mix since it's not worth the effort,
> >but the point was to practice making EAD calculations. The
> >purposes of "technical nitrox" are to learn gas
> >management, practice swimming with a heavy rig
> >and practice gas switches.
> >
> >My question to the board is, what do you think
> >would be the preferred depth limit? We definitely
> >do not need "level stoned" yet we do want a
> >realistic task loading, deco obligation included.
> >I would suggest 130' as a good target depth for
> >"technical nitrox" -- it's enough to provide a
> >realistic training scenario for future trimix divers, yet
> >narcosis is not a problem.
> >
> >However, as a physiologist I know that narcosis
> >can be measured at depths shallower than 100'. If
> >we demand no narcosis whatsoever, we really have
> >to pull back. What is a reasonable EAD for a
> >trimix dive? Ask some and the answer is 200' --
> >ask others and they go 100'. Ask me and you get
> >100' - 130'. I believe the "technical nitrox",
> >"extended range air" or whatever you call it
> >should have a target depth matching the EAD you
> >will prefer as a trimix diver. Learning the
> >toting, configuring, switching and balancing
> >the rig does not depend on going deep. Actually,
> >some of the best training may be to swim
> >sidemounts for an hour at 20'.
> >
> >I think most of the current philosophies are
> >based on giving students a taste of narcosis
> >and prove the need for trimix. I believe most
> >of today's trimix divers have thorough
> >knowledge of nitrogen narcosis from past
> >experience.
> >
> >Discussing this with some friends,
> >the opinion was voiced that past deep air experience
> >might be an advantage. I half-heartedly
> >disagree. Sure, it may be sort of an advantage
> >to have been there and know what to avoid, but I
> >don't think new trimix divers need to go
> >through the same phase of trial and error. In
> >retrospect, an advantage but no prerequisite, and
> >definitely not the direct way to learn trimix.
> >We need to build a record and gain experience
> >underwater doing what we're supposed to do. If
> >trimix is the tool of the trade, it makes a lot
> >more sense to log more trimix dives than it
> >does to practice deep (or even deepish) air
> >dives.
> >
> >My conclusion: 130' is a good target depth for
> >practicing and preparing for trimix. What do
> >you say?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
> >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
> >
>
> --
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