What is Nitrox? Why dive with it?

Normally when we go scuba diving we are breathing compressed air in our tanks. This is a gas mixture of 21% Oxygen, 78% Nitrogen, and 1% other gases. Nitrox is also known as Enriched Air. Nitrox is when we change the gas mixture to greater than 21% oxygen.

Spanish Manta Diving Lanzarote Website

In recreational diving, we dive on mixes up from 22% up to 40% Oxygen. Here at Manta Diving the most common blend that we use is 30% Oxygen. We’ve found for diving in Lanzarote, this is the best balance between extending our no-stop limit and maximising our depth limit so that we can spend as much time as possible exploring the reefs in Puerto Del Carmen.

Why do we use Nitrox?

The number 1 reason to use Nitrox is to extend our no-stop limits and dive for longer!

By reducing the % of the Nitrogen in the mix, we reduce the risk of bubbles forming in the bloodstream and extend our no-stop time. For diving in Lanzarote if you are diving to 30 metres Nitrox is a game changer, especially if you are doing multiple dives in a day. If you were to do your 1st dive as a 30 metre dive to the Blue Hole, then have a surface interval of 1 hour and then head off to dive the Cathedral as a 30 metre dive, it would be possible. However, you wouldn’t get long at 30 metres and your time exploring inside the cavern would be limited. If you change your gas mixture in your cylinder for Nitrox 30%, you would get plenty of time to poke around in those nooks and crannies, looking for those groupers! ⁠

Take a look at the following Air/Nitrox comparison table. Showing you that the higher oxygen % you breathe the longer your no stop time.

Air/Enriched Air Comparison Table For No-Stop Limits

(Created using Aqualung i200 dive computer)

Nitrox is becoming more popular all the time, it’s also becoming more readily available. We have our own Nitrox membrane and have 50 cylinders dedicated to Nitrox, that we fill onsite. However it is not something to be taken lightly. It requires special training to be used properly and safely. So before you dive with enriched air, be sure to get the necessary training and gain the appropriate certification. Here at Manta Diving we offer Nitrox training with the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Speciality

So if you want to extend your no-stop limits and start diving on Nitrox sign up for our Enriched Air Speciality! Complete all the theory online before you arrive in Lanzarote. So when you get here you can dive all your dives on Nitrox 30% at no extra charge!

Open chat
Scan the code
Hello 👋
How can we help you?