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07-10-2002, 04:40 AM,

Jason - In response to how much nitrox fills cost at GUDC, I alway purchase a prepaid nitrox punch card. I think it works out to about 7 bucks and the nitrox air cards they sell at GUDC are like $70 and 10 little puch out spots. I keep a wallet full of nitrox cards from GUDC and Bill up at Brainard has them too. One other thing about nitrox, you may want to consider 02 cleaning your tanks which I think is around $20+ dollars I can't really remember but that number sticks in my mind? It's not absolutley mandetory up to 40% EAN mixes BUT there are advantages. Do it at the same time you need your VIP. Not all dive shops which do nitrox have premix'd banks so they need to shoot 100% 02 in first then fill the balance with air (21% 02/79% Nitrogen) and if your tank (s) are not 02 clean, they can't fill this way. If you have your tanks O2 cleaned and then you decide to fill with straight air, make sure you are getting a "Hyper pure" air fill as most second class dive shops don't have hyper pure and their basic filter systems pass contaminats that are not good for O2 and can negate your O2 cleaning. GUDC has Hyper Pure air and handles all 02 cleaning, etc. Add $8+ bucks for a really nifty sticker and away you go. Of course this all adds up in cost to get into nitrox and if you have lots of tanks (I own 8 tanks) it does cost some more. nitrox up to 40% EAN is generally compatible with most equipment BUT CHECK YOUR MANUFACTURERS REGULATOR MANUAL FOR COMPATIBILITY. If you are diving titanium regs, there are issues there as 02 & titanium can be a fire hazard. I still believe the little extra cost and considerations more than offset the benefits of Enriched Air Nitrox diving. You absorb considerably less nitrogen and you can get in more diving. Good luck and safe diving ... Pete