Nitrox vs. Air: Why You Should Dive with Enriched Air?

The Secret to Spending More Time Underwater

Have you ever been on a wreck dive, exploring an amazing engine room, only to check your dive computer and see that you are running out of "No Decompression Time"? You have plenty of air left, but you have to go up because of nitrogen limits. It is frustrating, right?

This is exactly why Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx) is the most popular diving specialty in the world. If you spot divers on our boats with a green and yellow band on their tanks, they aren't just looking cool—they are diving smarter.

Here is the breakdown of why you should consider making the switch from standard air to Nitrox on your next trip with Dive More Group.

What is Nitrox Anyway?

Standard air (the stuff we breathe now) consists of roughly 21% Oxygen and 79% Nitrogen. Nitrox is simply air that has been "enriched" with extra oxygen. The most common blends in Hurghada are Nitrox 32% (32% Oxygen) and Nitrox 36%.

• More Oxygen = Less Nitrogen.

• Less Nitrogen = More Time Underwater.

1. Longer Bottom Time (The Main Benefit)

Nitrogen is the enemy of long dives. Your body absorbs it under pressure, which limits how long you can stay deep. By breathing less nitrogen, your "No Decompression Limit" extends significantly.

• Example: At 18 meters, a diver on air has about 56 minutes of bottom time. On Nitrox 32, that extends to 95 minutes! That is nearly double the time to enjoy the reef.

2. Shorter Surface Intervals

Because you absorb less nitrogen during the dive, you also have less to "off-gas" on the surface. This means you can get back in the water sooner for your second dive. This is a game-changer on Daily Diving trips where time is precious.

3. The "Fatigue" Factor

While scientific evidence is mixed, thousands of divers (including our instructors) swear by it: Diving with Nitrox makes you feel less tired at the end of the day. If you are planning a week of intense diving, this energy boost makes a huge difference.

The Common Myth: "It Helps You Go Deeper"

This is FALSE. Nitrox actually limits your depth. Because oxygen becomes toxic at high pressures, Nitrox is best for shallow to medium depths (15m – 30m). It is perfect for the Red Sea’s coral gardens and wrecks like the SS Thistlegorm.

Essential for Safaris

If you are booking a Liveaboard Safari where you do 4 dives a day for a week, Nitrox is almost mandatory. Without it, your allowable bottom time would shrink drastically by the third dive of the day.

Ready to Get Certified?

The PADI Enriched Air Diver course is one of the easiest to complete. You can even study the theory online and do a short practical session (analyzing the tank) at our center. No ocean dives are strictly required!

Ask us about adding the Nitrox course to your package today.