What type of gas is typically utilized for scuba diving?
Scuba diving is an incredibly popular pastime, and it’s no surprise why. It allows people to explore the wonders of the underwater world in ways that were unimaginable a few decades ago. But in order to dive safely and effectively, divers must use a special type of gas: compressed air. Compressed air is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and other trace gases. It is typically stored in tanks and delivered to the diver through a regulator. The most common type of compressed air used in scuba diving is called “Nitrox”, which contains an increased concentration of oxygen compared to regular air (21% oxygen versus the regular air’s 20%). This extra oxygen can help divers stay underwater for longer periods of time without experiencing decompression sickness. However, Nitrox isn’t suitable for all types of dives.
For deeper dives, divers may need to use a special type of breathing gas called Trimix. Trimix contains higher levels of helium and less nitrogen than Nitrox, which allows divers to dive deeper without experiencing nitrogen narcosis (a condition where nitrogen builds up in the bloodstream resulting in disorientation and confusion).
In addition to Nitrox and Trimix, there are also other types of breathing gases that can be used for scuba diving such as oxygen-enriched air (OEA) and pure oxygen (PO2). OEA contains higher levels of oxygen than regular air but still has some nitrogen mixed in. PO2 is pure oxygen with no nitrogen or other gases mixed in. PO2 is typically only used by advanced divers who are trained to handle its unique risks.
No matter which type of gas you choose to use for scuba diving, it’s important that you understand how each one works and what risks are associated with them before you take the plunge into the depths below!
Conclusion: Compressed air is the most commonly used type of gas for scuba diving due its availability and its decreased risk for decompression sickness; however experienced divers may also opt to use Nitrox, Trimix, OEA or PO2 depending on their individual needs and preferences.
