First, decide on your budget when purchasing a diving tank. There are many choices in terms of price, features, and types. Although the most expensive tanks offer the best performance, they may not be the best for diving. It is best to establish a budget and to stick to it. This will keep you from going over your budget and prevent you from getting distracted by other issues. You could regret buying later if your spending exceeds your means.
Nitrox is a shallow diving gas
Recreational divers use Nitrox, a relatively recent dive gas. It is used to increase the oxygen concentration in the water. It is toxic at deeper depths and more so divers should undergo specialty training before using nitrox. It is popular among recreational divers and shallow-depth divers as it is a good choice.
There are many advantages and disadvantages to diving with nitrox. The first is that you can use it for longer periods of your dive and suffer less from decompression sickness. This allows divers to spend less time in the water and to wait to get out. However, decompression sickness can happen for any diver, so if you are a novice or are planning a dive with a group of divers, it is important to consult the dive table for the recommended surface intervals.
It is also safer than helium. According to the American Divers' Association (ADSA), a diver using nitrox has a lower risk of decompression sickness. Although nitrox is less likely to cause decompression sickness than other forms of gas, it has been linked with numerous fatalities. This is because nitrox has a lower concentration of oxygen and a high level of inertgas. DAN states that divers should test their tanks before diving and clearly mark their maximum operating depth.
In a Scuba Tank, pure oxygen can produce explosive or flammable conditions.
Pure oxygen is dangerous in a dive tank. It must be handled with caution. In extreme cases, pure oxygen can ignite and cause a fire. To safely handle this cylinder, divers must have special equipment. To avoid an explosion, they must be able slowly open the valves. Safety of the filler and tank is also important.
The problem occurs when the tank is overfilled or the oxygen level falls below a safe level. Because oxygen behaves different from air, compressed or nitrogen, there can be a high pressure in the tank. An explosion could result if oxygen enrichment equipment is not properly maintained or protected. It is possible for a fire to start and it can be difficult to extinguish.
This problem is made worse by the high velocity oxygen from the oxygen tube. The high velocity of the oxygen cylinder creates friction that can lead to ignition. Dead ends in the oxygen cylinder can also create flammable or explosive situations.
Safety precautions before using scuba tank oxygen
You should use oxygen from your scuba tank safely and follow the recommendations. You should check the tank's pressure gauge every so often to ensure proper operation. The tank's air level determines how long you are able to stay underwater. For this reason, you should always surface with a good reserve of air, usually about 50 Bar or 500 PSI. Following the rule-of-thirds is one way to allocate air into the tank.
A second safety precaution is to not breathe underwater while using scuba tank oxygen. This is a dangerous practice that can lead to serious injury or death. Lung overexpansion due to the oxygen can lead to air bubbles escaping the lungs. This can cause the oxygen-containing cells of the lungs to burst.