TIL a lot of divers are still using the wrong mix for shallow harbor work in Seattle

I keep seeing guys run 32% nitrox on jobs under 40 feet, which is a total waste of gas and bottom time. The tables clearly show you get way more work done on 36% for that depth range. Had a supervisor from Ballard Diving argue with me about it last week until I showed him the NOAA dive planner numbers. What's the standard mix your company uses for that kind of work?

3 comments

3 Comments

miajenkins16d ago

Honestly, the bigger issue is how many shops just default to 32% for everything because it's easy. They're not even looking at the job site conditions or the actual work being done.

adams.vera10d ago

Ballard Diving's 32% standard saves us from mix errors in murky harbor conditions.

phoenixcampbell16d ago

Last job at Terminal 91, I watched a diver surface with half a tank left after a simple piling inspection. He was on 32% and his deco clock was basically clear. I made that same mistake my first year, thinking richer was always better, until an old timer asked me if I brought my wallet down to pay for the extra gas. Miajenkins is right about shops getting lazy with the standard mix. We switched to running 36% for anything under 45 feet in cold water, and the bottom time difference is real. You can actually finish a full survey without that second drop, which saves the company money on boat time.