Freediving on Trimix

[..Sam..]

With depths of -100m+ now being reached by some of the worlds best freedivers, nitrogen narcosis and O2 toxicity have become an ever bigger issue.

As the depths become greater should the safety improve as well, this is just a theory but breathing trimix with 20.9% O2 (same as air) before the dive, would give a diver that added safety while not enhancing performance.

Any thoughts?

 

[Jon]

Even if it could help with narcosis, I wouldn't do it because you could bend the crap out of yourself. Ascent rates on trimix are even more critical than on air. Just say no.:naughty

Jon

 

[..Sam..]

Ah, I didn't know about the ascent rates. Well there you go.
Just say no sounds about right.
Cheers,

 

[DivingDane]

Not to mention you start your dive with even less O2 to use during the dive! good for reduced narcosis etc but not so good for O2 consumption.

it woukld also have to be entire no set of disciplins because it is no longer a single breath of air it is now a single breath of mixed gas, same as static records on O2 are not included in static records these could not be included in our traditional disciplins because now that gas toxicity etc is becoming an issue, it is simply another limiting factor that top end ahtletes have to master, not avoid.... in my opinion.
DD

 

[Deano 647]

As Jon, said not a good idea. Helium is a vey mobile gas, it on and off gasses more quickly than Nitrogen. Recent research by one of the researchers at DAN Europe showing there may be a benefit to add a small amount of Argon to a gas pre-breathed at the surface to ameliorate the effects of O2 tax for super deep dives, but that would not help with narcosis. In the early days of tech diving, it was believed that O2 was not narcotic, but today is bevies to be so as it sits in and around other narcotic gasses on the lipid solubility curve.