HOW DEEP WOULD YOU GO ON AIR while SOLO DIVING IN A CAVE?

[bullfrog]

People say they wern't narced makes me think of drunks who say I am not drunk. By definition narcosis can make you think inaccurate thoughts. I have been to 130 fet on air in cold (38 degree) dark water. Did not feel drunk, warm or fuzzy. And I would say I was not narced. But on the other hand I have done some work for a resort, solo, 60 feet deep. zero vis, brush and garbage infested water, removing cable clamps off of anchor blocks. Same temp. Before the dive I was considering the wisdom of doing the job at all. Down there I remember thinking, What was I worried about? This is a piece of cake. And I was functioning well. I need three different wrenches to do the job. And had no trouble completing the task. Was aware that some of the cables would give you a ride when they came loose, especialy If my glove was snaged on a splinter. But I have always remembered how much braver I felt down there and considered that maybe it was not a good thing.

[tomhauburn]

What's this "air" you speak of?

" Gods Gas" to quote friends

Have you ever heard of anyone toxing on it?

[OH]

I did Hendley's castle all the way down on my CCR with air in my dil tank.
BELIEVE ME - I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!!!
I was not solo there either btw.

The deepest I've been on air in a cave was 150 feet in Hendley's Castle, but I wasn't solo. I remember feeling warm and fuzzy and comfortable and happy and stupid, as if my IQ had dropped a couple of dozen points. Won't do that again.

[Sludge]

Normoxic Nitrox.

Mike has been waiting a year to use that term!

[OH]

I was just gonna say, WHO the HELL uses that expression
NORMOXIC NITROX ))
will have to use that in some speech about tech diving ;D
just to see the reaction of the audience

Mike has been waiting a year to use that term!

[OFG-1]

I was just gonna say, WHO the HELL uses that expression
NORMOXIC NITROX ))

The same person that uses the term "Di-hydrogen monoxide".

[Skorpiov]

Yes the old days of Deep Nest downstream dives through the 302' pit restriction on air were crazy. I remember once only concentrating on "follow the line stupid" kick "follow the line" kick "o-right the line" kick "I could take a nap right here" kick "line? o its in my hand" kick

The only time I've been badly narced like this was at 90' but it was due to extreme exhertion. Used to help Frank on the Spree drilling moorings for the Flower Gardens. Carrying an extra 50 lbs to the drill site can work an old man hard. I remember once getting to Franks feet at the site and looking up at him smiling as I let go of the 50 lbs. He grabbed my ankle as I went by (heading to the surface) and after I got the air dumped out of my wing he just stood there and shook his head. Gotta respect being narced, it'll kill ya.

[OH]

It could also be Hypercapnia (too much CO2 - in this case because of hyperventilating), couldn't it?
Just a thought

The only time I've been badly narced like this was at 90' but it was due to extreme exhertion. Used to help Frank on the Spree drilling moorings for the Flower Gardens. Carrying an extra 50 lbs to the drill site can work an old man hard. I remember once getting to Franks feet at the site and looking up at him smiling as I let go of the 50 lbs. He grabbed my ankle as I went by (heading to the surface) and after I got the air dumped out of my wing he just stood there and shook his head. Gotta respect being narced, it'll kill ya.

[Skorpiov]

Reference: Increased risk of narcosis results from increasing the amount of carbon dioxide retained through heavy exercise, shallow or skip breathing, or because of poor gas exchange in the lungs.[22]

I'm sure its related! it was also poor planning on my part. We do JSA's on nearly everything at work (well I dont, but the guys that actually work do) and I am so used to stepping through every step of a job looking for potential issues, that I should have seen this coming.

PS. I also used to smoke cigarettes at that time. Gave them up due to CO hits at depth (and I wanted to live longer). Did you know chain smoking before deep dives is a recipe for trouble? I didnt.

[alanf]

A coincidence, but I had to think about exactly this last week. I had previously laid my line to 100' but was unsure how the cave would progress. For various reasons the next dive was to be air. I created various plans but with a limit of 120'. I decided that surveying at that depth on air would not be optimal and I will survey with a light trimix in the future. My air limit for survey I guess would be around 80'.