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> ... Everyone I know
> uses Air. Second, the rule here is that you don't use your own tanks to
> do deco even if you have enough air. In reality you would probably use
> them up to 6m.

Why is the rule there that you don't use your own tanks to do deco,
since you aren't doing a gas switch anyway? If forced to use only
air for a dive I always breathe down my doubles on deco instead of
switching to a deco bottle, although I generally have an extra
deco bottle available if needed. This is partly because it is easier
to just continue breathing from my doubles, partly because I have my
best breathing regulator on them, and partly to save the cost of
filling the safety bottle for my next dive.

By the way, on a single stage (cave) dive, where I am using a stage
bottle to extend penetration, I still prefer to breathe down doubles.
I breathe 1/3 of the stage bottle on the way in before switching to
my doubles. Then if all goes well and I turn the dive after consuming
1/3 of my doubles I should be able to make it out with plenty to
spare without using any more from the stage bottle. If the dive is
so extreme that I can't then decompress of what is left in the doubles
I would most likely be using another bottle with nitrox or oxygen
for deco. I feel that having a big reserve in a stage bottle gives
me more options in case of problems. If a buddy has an air loss it
is easier to give him my stage bottle than to share air from my
doubles.

> I think this is one of the reasons that SSAC is about to endorse the use
> of nitrox for sport diving.

I certainly agree that any time nitrox is available and you are within
its depth limitations it is safer.

Bill Mayne

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