Ask Joe & Larry

I'm not nitrox certified... Can I buy a Nitrox Computer?

Sure.... If your check clears.

Just kidding...

A lot of new divers who have decided to buy a computer are faced with this very question. If you're not Nitrox certified, why bother paying extra for a Nitrox computer?? And do they work for Air? Not trying to turn this into a Nitrox course, let's do a quick Nitrox overview.

The air we are breathing is about 21% Oxygen, and 79% Nitrogen. Nitrox is simply a mix where we bump up the Oxygen a bit. Normally to 32% or 36% Oxygen. The benefit is that with less nitrogen in the mix, we can extend our bottom times, or shorten our surface intervals, and still absorb less nitrogen than the same dives on air. Also many nitrox divers report feeling better, and less fatigued when diving on Nitrox.

So we can see there are benefits to Nitrox, but to fully realize them, it helps to have a Nitrox Computer. All Nitrox Computers, start out as a plain - ole - air computer. If you don't mess with the buttons - it will work like any air computer. But, if you are diving Nitrox -you push a few buttons to program the computer to your Oxygen percentage. For example, if diving on a 32% Oxygen mix and 68% Nitrogen mix, you simply program the FO2 (fraction of oxygen) to 32 on the computer. The computer takes it from there.

Now some like the XR-2 can be set up as a console, or you can just put it in a wrist boot.

Others like the Mares Nemo Excel are really no bigger than a wrist watch, and yet have full nitrox, air, gauge, and free diving modes.

If all that seems like techno - jibberish, fear not. It will all be explained when you take a Nitrox Course.

And in time, you probably will take a Nitrox class. Nitrox is getting more popular by the day, and when you realize the safety benefits, and the ease of diving Nitrox, you'll probably decide to use it yourself. When you do hit that point - you'd hate to have to start over buying another computer.

In fact in our shop, we encourage nitrox to the point where we give you a discount on our Nitrox class when you buy a Nitrox computer. We want our customers to have access to all the education they can get concerning their gear.

So if you're contemplating a computer purchase, and think that just maybe, someday in the future, you might want to try Nitrox, there is no problem buying one now - and just use it as an air computer until you can get Nitrox certified.


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