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• Why I like Nitrox
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• Just found a recent dissenting opinion about Lahaina Divers
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Why I like Nitrox

May 18th, 2007   Filed Under Uncategorized  

Nitrox seems to be a somewhat debated/controversial issue in recreational diving. I think the controversy is around what the expected benefits are. For example, there are rumors/opinions that Nitrox makes you warmer than if you were diving with air. When I inquired about Nitrox certification at my local dive shop, one of their questions was along the lines of “What are you trying to achieve with Nitrox?” I like that they asked that…like they are looking out for the consumer/diver to make sure the diver will actually get what they think they are going to get.

There is one and only one benefit to Nitrox as stated by PADI and other dive organizations, and that is that, when compared to a dive profile using air, you get either a longer bottom time or a shorter surface interval. All other benefits are opinions, topics for debate and subjects of personal experiences.

What I was wanting to get from Nitrox was some alleviation from the headaches I get when I finish a dive. I am pretty sure it is caused from CO2 buildup. I don’t skip breathe or use other methods to conserve air. I am not trying to compete with myself or others on how long I can stay down. I try to keep my breathing as natural as possible, which ends up being a deep breath in and a slow exhale…then repeat. Still, I tend to get ill…and the headaches are often accompanied by nausea. When I was reading up on the CO2 thing, it seems some people are just more prone to CO2 buildup in their body, and I guess I am one of them. I hoped Nitrox would help make diving more enjoyable by feeling better after a dive. So….I got the Nitrox certification and did some dives with and without Nitrox. I did notice a difference and was getting the benefits I was hoping for.

This relates to my previous post about a dive operator saying that you don’t need Nitrox for a dive. That may be true in terms of the surface interval and dive planning for the boat trip for the day, but it is not true for the benefits I get from Nitrox. I see Nitrox as another piece of equipment for recreational diving, so let me have Nitrox just like I might want to bring a flashlight, camera, dive sausage, etc.

The owner of the shop where I got the cert from told me he likes Nitrox because it makes him feel less exhausted after being in the water most of the day teaching students. He said that when under water for a class he is constantly going here and there to help students with their exercises, get them untangled fro each other, etc.

Rescue Diver certification

May 17th, 2007   Filed Under Uncategorized  

I am catching up on this here since I let this blog go for a while. This past year I got the PADI Rescue Diver certification. Overall this was the most gradifying certification so far. I feel like a better diver now that I can more effectively help someone in an emergency situation.

The training includes scenarios for both underwater and surface-level emergencies ranging from a diver panicking to finding someone unconscious. It also includes search techniques for a diver who is not accounted for….which includes a combination of divers going in the water to look for the person, to having someone search the parking lot for the person’s car to see (1) is the car there, and (2) is there dive gear in the car (i.e. are they are the bar eating fish and chips while everyone thinks they are in the water). We also did CPR certifications, as well as certifications on using the automatic defibrillators you see in airports.

Towards the end of the course, I also noticed I was much for efficient at getting geared up. I also noticed I felt more relaxed in the water, and buoyancy felt even more natural than before (assuming proper weighting).

Next stop - Dive Master.

Just found a recent dissenting opinion about Lahaina Divers

May 16th, 2007   Filed Under Uncategorized  

I just came across this negative review of Lahaina Divers in Maui on the forum at scubadiving.com:
http://www.scubadiving.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=28242

Some points made in the post that I have comments on:
- Setting up your gear
- Food
- Dive Master leading the group
- Crew interaction with the divers
- Nitrox availability

Setting up your gear - the author complained that the crew did not set up the gear for the diver on the first dive, but then for the second. I agree with this practice - I think divers should set up their own gear for the first dive, and then then the crew will switch tanks for them in between dives. Having the divers set up their gear is kind of a test to see how “in practice” they are. If they are fumbling around and can’t get the primary on the tank correctly or can’t get their BC rigged correctly, then that tells the dive master (DM) to keep an eye on that person in the water. I like to set up my gear for the same reason why I bought my own gear - to know that it was done right…or at least the way I think it should be done

Food - The author complained about the quality of quantity of food on the boat. I don’t eat much before or in between dives since I am usually concentrating on not getting sick. I often come up from a dive feeling sick, so if anything I nibble on a little bread or some chips to get the sea water taste out of my mouth and to have a little something in the tummy. Given that, it still sounds like the dive shop should step up their game in terms of food. Instead of perishables that have to be delivered daily, they should try some packaged goods like energy bars…or something they can stock up once a week on and move from the shop to the boat on their own. They also shouldn’t limit food. It is a vacation, people pig out. If someone wants to scarf half a box of cookies and then chuck them up over the side on the way back, then more power to them.

DM not leading the group on the second dive - Every tropical & Hawaii island dive I have been on has been led by the DM in order to prevent divers from touching stuff or from doing something foolish like sticking out their finger around the mouth of an eel (a good way to lose the finger). I wonder if a DM called in sick and they couldn’t get a replacement, so they had to have the one DM stay on the boat (which they should for safety). My dives in Monterey and the Channel Islands were not guided. I wonder if dives on a tropical live-aboard are guided? I have done live-aboards in the Channel Islands - those were not guided, and the protocol is the boat is anchored at a location for so long…you can dive as much as you want or not dive at all during the time the “pool is open.”

Lack of crew interaction with the divers - I find that unfortunate. Crew interaction builds upon the the diving experience. When I went out with Lahaina, I found the crew to hang with the divers, but that was a year ago; they probably have the same instructors but all new boat crews by now.

Nitrox availability - I almost had a similar experience. I ordered nitrox for most of my dives (there was one where I was going over 100 feet, so I did air on that one), but on some they were not planning on bring the nitrox tanks, and other others I had to remind them….which meant they had to scurry at the last minute to measure the O2 and get the tank on the boat. I find it interesting that they will say “you don’t need nitrox on this dive” for shallower dives. It is all recreational diving; you don’t need nitrox on any dive from a boat like that since the dive profile will be for people without nitrox and without computers. It is more of a comfort or “the way dive” kind of thing. I tend to feel sick less often when I use nitrox. They should allow it on any dive where you won’t be going over 100 feet, or at least let divers know in the shop what their policy is on it instead of taking an order for it and deciding on their own to not fulfill the order. I think they do what they do because it takes extra time and effort to furnish nitrox for a diver, so they make excuses as to why it isn’t on the boat when the diver ordered it in advance.

So does this cancel my overall positive review of them? Well, it does remind me of some things they need to improve upon, but overall I would still go to them again.