From: craig@cattnts.canada.ncr.com (Craig Campbell)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Nitrox Diving
Date: 14 Dec 92 15:16:57 GMT
Organization: AT&T / NCR Canada Ltd., Toronto, Canada

In article <1992Dec9.183247.18356@atux01.att.com> graff@atux01.att.com (Christopher Graff) writes:

>	 I am not a nitrox diver as of yet but the outfit I dive out
>	of supports the use of it and very profesionaly I might add so 
>	you might say Im trying to collect the facts.

Fact:  1) Nitrox is a gas with less nitrogen than normal air (let it lie
	 oh pickers of nits... :-)).  This nitrogen 'shortage' is the 
	 direct result of an increase in oxygen.  Hence...

       2) On a nitrox dive, the body absorbs less nitrogen (since less is
	 available) than on an air dive.  Hence....

       3) If you dive air tables, there is a generous safety factor now
	 built in... OR

	  You may use nitrox tables and enjoy extended no-decompression
	 bottom times.

       4) Nitrogen narcosis is decreased.  Many claim much more enjoyable
	 and clear headed (safer) dives.

       5) Your oxygen toxicity depth is more shallow than on air, so a diver
	 must plan the dive and breathing gas to complement each other.

Those are the major facts (hope I haven't forgotten any :-}), now you
have a basis for further investigation which will allow you to make
an informed decision/ form an informed opinion of your own.

My Opinion:  Sport divers should use nitrox since it adds to safety and has
	    no down side.  (Recall official sport diver limits. :-))

>	Also I noticed all these articles on how one group of instructors
>	mildly abused there class in the pool for experience sake. Way back
>	when didnt a NAUI certification provide you with a gorilla diving
>	experience in the pool where they attacked you underwater. Stress
>	management maybe. But now apparently that has all changed. This Ive
>	heard from a few firsthand sources. Is this just a bunch of hooey
>	or is there anybody out there who can confirm it. And I bet there is.

Harassment of students, if done, must be done safely and carefully.  Divers
will have masks knocked off and regulators torn from their mouths (those damn
boat ladders are murder!!).  I believe that it is far safer to experience
this in a pool first.  This is not the same as half drowning a frightened
newbie diver.  The goal is to experience and learn, not traumatize (sp?).

Harrassment between DM's during boring parts of the pool sessions is not
uncommon (or un fun).  When appropriate, the instructors are fair game as
well.  (Note:  This is not done in such a way or at such a time as to in
any way detract from the care and safekeeping of the students.)

True story:  A friend of mine was in a wreck, in a zero vis situation when 
	    he unexpectedly experienced a complete air failure.  (suck..no
	    air forthcoming)  He thought he was finished.  He reached back
	    and turned his (dual tank) isolation valve.  Thwump!! 2000 PSI
	    now available.  Someone on the boat had closed his valve (by 
	    accident, not malice). Had he panicked, he would have died.
	    I'm not saying harassment taught him to stay calm and act, not
	    react, but it certainly didn't hurt. 

I believe that there is a time and place for learning stress 
management.  A place for everything, and everthing in it's
place.  BTW, I ENJOY playing with my buddies at 'stress'
situations, but then I know that if I couldn't handle something,
they're there to bail me out as well (as I am for them).

The most harassing exercise I ever saw/was in was an 'underwater
hockey' game with new students on scuba.  They were vicious!
Masks, fins, regularors.  The instructor was shocked and appauled!
The game was not repeated.  (Got to love that Canadian hockey
competitiveness!! :-))
dunking.

>	Chris.

Merry Christmas to all,

craig
(Just missed a corny quote!! :-})
-- 
Craig Campbell		|	These opinions are entirely the result of a 
Systems Engineer	|	small butterfly crashing into the far side
NCR Canada,		|	of the planet.  Chaos Rules.
an AT&T Company		|	I speak for no one, except, possibly, myself.