Enriched air (also called enriched air nitrox) is a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen that is used as a breathing gas in scuba diving. Enriched air contains only nitrogen and oxygen, any other gasses are only present in trace amounts. The name “enriched air” signifies that the mixture of oxygen and nitrogen has a higher percentage of oxygen than normal air (more than 21% oxygen); it is essentially air that has been “enriched” with additional oxygen. Enriched air nitrox is abbreviated EAN or “EANx”. While enriched air nitrox may contain any percentage of oxygen greater than 21%, the most common mixtures are EANx 32 (NOAA Nitrox I) and EANx 36 (NOAA Nitrox II) which are have 32% and 36% oxygen respectively. Special training and certification and required to dive with enriched air nitrox.
More Enriched Air Nitrox FAQs
• Why Dive With Nitrox?
• 7 Risks and Limitations of Diving With Enriched Air Nitrox
• What Is EAN?
• What Is EANx?
• What Is NOAA Nitrox I?
