What type of gas can a diver use for deeper cavern dives?

For deeper cavern dives, divers typically utilize air and nitrox due to the benefits these gases provide in terms of safety and efficiency at increased depths.

Air, which is composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen, is commonly used in recreational diving and can be effective for dives within the recreational limits. However, as depth increases, the presence of nitrogen can lead to narcosis and increased risk of decompression sickness. This is where nitrox, an enriched air mixture containing a higher percentage of oxygen and a lower percentage of nitrogen compared to regular air, becomes advantageous. Using nitrox can help reduce the amount of nitrogen absorbed during the dive, thereby reducing the risks associated with deep diving, such as nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness.

Helium is indeed a useful gas for deeper dives (often in technical diving scenarios), but primarily in the context of reducing narcosis at extreme depths, it is not the typical choice for cavern diving. Oxygen is vital for breathing but using pure oxygen at depths greater than about 6 meters (20 feet) poses toxic risks. Carbon dioxide is not suitable for diving as it is a waste product of respiration and contributes to respiratory issues, making it dangerous for divers.

Thus, utilizing air and nitrox enables divers to