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mdm@im*.en*.de*.co* (Maria) writes:

> ... I only dive on air.  I've yet to 
> be convinced that nitrox is worth the trouble.  For shallow
> depths, I would run out of air or get cold, long before I would 
> get any benefit from the reduced nitrogen level of nitrox.

But you have said that you do minimal decompression diving - so
little that you could complete deco using a pony bottle. I think
you are underestimating the benefit of nitrox if you think it is
not worthwhile for dives like that. Any time you are near, let
alone over, a no-decompression limit there is a safety advantage
to nitrox. For the kinds of minimal decompression you are doing
nitrox would probably be enough of an advantage that you wouldn't
be in mandatory decompression at all. Do you think that advantage
is small? Possibly even more important is the increased feeling of
well being after a nitrox dive compared to the same dive on air.
This has been attributed to reduction or elimination of silent
bubbles, i.e. subclinical DCS. It is not unreasonable to speculate
that this have may long term consequences. In any case I'd rather
feel better than worse after a dive.

>  For deep 
> dives, there's a pretty severe depth limitation even with nitrox I.  
> It's only those depths in between that I think it would be useful, 
> and it seems only marginally useful.

A depth limit of around 130 feet is not severe if the bottom or
whatever it is you want to visit/see is at a shallower depth. 
In any case your criticism of nitrox is misplaced. No one has been
pushing it as a gas for deep diving (except as a deco gas). But if it
were not for the cost and lack of easy access to nitrox fills I don't
see any good reason to use air in the 70-130 foot range. (Being so
careless as to risk seriously exceeding a safe depth is not a good
reason. Such people should not be diving at all, IMO.)

Bill Mayne

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