If you think that scuba diving is all about attaching an oxygen tank in your back and breathing through it with the use of a regulator, then you are wrong. Theres a lot more to scuba diving than that. In fact, pure oxygen is never used in scuba diving, especially on deep sea diving.
In recreational diving, air is commonly used and not pure oxygen as most people assume. Air is basically composed of 70 percent nitrogen and 30 percent oxygen. However, nitrox mixes are now being used a lot more in recreational diving as it decreases the chances of nitrogen sickness.
Although nitrox is still composed of nitrogen and oxygen, the oxygen concentration is a lot higher than air. This will reduce the risk of nitrogen sickness or bends, but it trades off depth. The more oxygen there is in your scuba diving tank, the shallower you are allowed to dive.
So, just why is pure oxygen not used in deep sea diving? This is because of oxygen toxicity. As you go deeper underwater, the pressure increases and oxygen toxicity becomes a factor. So, by reducing oxygen in the air you breathe, you will be able to go deeper. However, by doing so, you will also increase the amount of...