Scuba diving is a recreational and commercial activity. While tourists participate in this activity to enjoy underwater views, diving is a critical aspect of construction and industrial applications. Workers must perform repairs, weld parts and handle many other projects underwater, and diving is secondary to the job.
At Meritus Gas, our partners provide the bulk gases diving operations need to keep workers safe and productive.
Most gases used in scuba diving are found in the tanks divers use to breathe underwater. The right mixture of these gases is critical for safe diving at various depths.
Naturally, oxygen is one of the most critical gases in a scuba tank because humans cannot live without it. While divers need oxygen to stay coherent underwater, this gas doesn’t act independently. Oxygen can affect the central nervous system at high partial pressures, so it needs to be mixed with other gases to keep divers healthy as they dive deeper. Tank mixtures with oxygen are similarly important for recreational diving.
Nitrogen is an inert gas that makes up a significant percentage of the air we breathe on land. In scuba diving, this gas is used with oxygen to create a safe blend for diving. The ratio of nitrogen to oxygen depends on the applications. Nitrogen has a narcotic effect at greater depths, so mostly nitrogen mixes are only recommended for more shallow dives.
For repetitive or deep diving, gas mixes will have a narrower ratio of oxygen to nitrogen. These mixtures reduce the toxicity of oxygen while preventing the narcosis of nitrogen.
Helium is another inert gas used for diving. This gas is nonnarcotic, so it’s typically added to tanks when divers intend on going significantly deeper than recreational diving. A trimix — a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and helium — is commonly used for sport and commercial diving. One of the most notable benefits of helium for diving is its weight. Gas weights increase with depth, so helium is easier to breathe at greater depths.
Argon is another inert gas used for diving, but it’s not found in tanks. This gas is far more narcotic than nitrogen, so it should not be inhaled. Divers use argon to inflate their drysuits because it’s an excellent thermal insulator.
Meritus Gas is a partnership with several gas and welding supply companies in the United States. While we back these suppliers with corporate resources, their independent operation allows them to provide attentive and personalized customer service to their buyers. Explore our partners and their locations:
Scuba diving tanks with the right ratio of gases are essential for keeping divers safe as they work underwater. With our partners, you can find the right gases and work with dedicated experts to create ideal mixtures for diving. Find a partner near you, or contact Meritus Gas to learn more about our network.