Scuba Q&A: Why Do Decompression Divers Use Nitrox?
Q. Why do decompression divers use nitrox in the shallower part of their dive?
Answer:
A diver absorbs or releases inert gas based on the positive or negative partial pressure differential of those gases in their breathing mix and body tissues.
We only have to consider inert gases (i.e. nitrogen), because they aren’t metabolised in the body. Whatever is absorbed, must be released. Oxygen is metabolised by the body and, thus, doesn’t contribute to decompression sickness.
When the partial pressure of the inert gas being breathed is greater than that gas partial pressure inside the body tissues it will be steadily absorbed – until the tissues become saturated (gas partial pressure is equal).
Likewise, whenthe inert gas’s partial pressure dissolved inside body tissues is greater than the partial pressure of that same inert gas in the breathing mix, the gas will be released. This positive over-pressure differential is called super-saturation.
The greater the pressure differential/level of super-saturation, the faster that inert gas will diffuse out of the body tissues.
Without changing the gas you breathe, the only means of creating super-saturation and a positive inert gas differential is by ascending to a shallower depth.
This is why decompression divers ascend to a pre-calculated depth (to achieve super-salutation) and then stop (to allow inert gas to diffuse out).
Bubbles can form if the super-saturation gets too high – causing decompression sickness. Every decompression model/algorithm dictates a maximum amount of safe super-saturation. That is known as the “M-value” (maximum value).
The science of decompression is to get as shallow as possible to maximise off-gassing, whilst also staying below that threshold of maximum super-saturation.
There is another way that divers can increase the partial-pressure differential of an inert gas they’ve absorbed. That is to reduce the fraction (or %)of the inert gas they’re breathing.
Divers can switch to a different breathing gas that contains less % of the inert gas – and this increases the partial pressure differential – thus speeding up the diffusion of inert gas out of their body tissues.
Because oxygen is metabolised, it is the natural choice as a replacement for the inert gas in the diver’s “deco” breathing mix.
However, oxygen poses problems in regard to CNS toxicity – so we have to maintain a maximum operating depth based on the partial pressure of the O2% used. This is why it is only used in the shallower phases of the ascent.
This process of speeding up the removal of inert gas from the body tissues by manipulating the inert gas % to cause a greater differential at a given depth is called “accelerated decompression”.
Currently residing in Subic Bay, Philippines; he has amassed more than 10,000 open-circuit and CCR dives over three decades of challenging diving across the globe.
Andy has published numerous diving magazine articles and designed advanced certification courses for several dive training agencies, He regularly tests and reviews new dive gear for scuba equipment manufacturers. Andy is currently writing a series of advanced diving books and creating a range of tech diving clothing and accessories.
Prior to becoming a professional technical diving educator in 2006, Andy was a commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force and has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Belize, and Cyprus.
