What should be monitored closely to manage the risk of oxygen toxicity?

Monitoring depth and time is crucial in managing the risk of oxygen toxicity, especially when diving with enriched air nitrox. Oxygen toxicity can occur when a diver is exposed to elevated partial pressures of oxygen for extended periods. The relationship between depth and the percentage of oxygen in the breathing gas is central to this risk; as divers descend, the pressure increases and subsequently elevates the partial pressure of oxygen.

As the partial pressure of oxygen increases, the likelihood of experiencing central nervous system (CNS) toxicity also rises. Each diver must be aware of their depth and the time spent at those depths to avoid reaching a threshold where toxicity symptoms could manifest. By tracking how deep they are and how long they have been submerged at those depths while breathing nitrox, divers can mitigate the risk and ensure safe diving practices. This is why managing both depth and time is essential in oxygen toxicity prevention, and it forms the cornerstone of safe nitrox diving protocols.