Diving nitrox with Easy Diving - Sipalay

Much has been written on the advantages of diving nitrox; adding to the conversation, we know some of the nitrogen has been replaced with oxygen to decrease inert gas uptake.

No-decompression limits for a given depth may be extended as original air profiles are calculated with a nitrogen load of roughly 79% Using a 32% oxygen blend, the nitrogen is now reduced to 68% allowing an equivalent air depth to be calculated.

A diver may descend to a given depth and calculate nitrogen upload at the reduced nitrogen amount allowing extended no-decompression limits. Whilst some suggest they feel better after a dive, there is no evidence to verify this claim although I admit to feeling less fatigued.

My dive trip to Sipalay, Philippines saw me diving with nitrox for free, a slogan promoted extensively in the Red Sea a number of years back. I see a real advantage of multi-level diving with nitrox in the 21 to 30 metre range.

Whilst I prefer a 36% mix, most agencies err on the side of caution promoting conservative partial pressures of 1.4 atmospheres. I learnt nitrox with IANTD where a maximum partial pressure of 1.6 ata was used and a best gas mix of 1.5 ata was calculated to maximise the advantages of nitrox.

Regardless, EAN32 is the standard mix and although not the best mix for diving to 30 metres, this blend still offers plenty of advantages over air and since it is readily available, this is a good choice for many profiles.

Easy Diving, a German dive resort in operation since 2003 offers nitrox to certified divers at no extra cost increasing bottom time without the need to limit time at depth. As most of the multi-level dives are within this range, any advantage allowing time at depth is greatly appreciated.

I noticed the dive centre offered a five-hour enriched air nitrox course to certify divers and unlock the potential of the area. As I have dived extensively throughout the Philippines, I have found it extremely rare to dive with nitrox outside of the high traffic areas of Puerto Galera and Bohol.

Whilst technical dive centres offer nitrox for open circuit decompression diving and closed circuit rebreather, the use of nitrox is becoming mainstream in the Philippines. This is a dive resort aligned to recreational diving in some pretty pristine waters, they have good boats and outstanding service.

The cylinder contents analysing station is easy to use, it is connected to the wall, a base cylinder of air is used to calibrate the analyser and the individual cylinders are tested and the log filled out. In these days of easy nitrox diving, Easy Diving has their procedure well sorted.

This process is simple, as Easy Diving uses a membrane and not partial pressure blending, the gas mix is always the same - you are just checking. The diver then sets their nitrox mix in their computer and they are off - this really is easy diving.