Nitrox Dive Planner
Calculate Nitrox maximum operating depth, equivalent air depth, and the best Nitrox mix for your planned dive.
1. Nitrox MOD Calculator
2. Equivalent Air Depth (EAD)
3. Best Nitrox Mix Calculator
Quick Notes
MOD shows the deepest recommended depth for a Nitrox mix based on your selected oxygen exposure limit.
EAD estimates how a Nitrox dive compares to air for nitrogen loading.
Best Mix estimates the ideal Nitrox blend for your planned depth. Always confirm your gas mix, follow your training, and use a dive computer.
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How to Use the Nitrox Dive Planner
This Nitrox dive planner helps scuba divers calculate maximum operating depth (MOD), equivalent air depth (EAD), and the best Nitrox mix for a planned dive. It is a simple planning tool for enriched air diving and is useful for common recreational Nitrox blends such as EAN32 and EAN36.
Enter your oxygen percentage or planned depth, select your preferred PPO₂ limit, and the tool will instantly calculate safe working limits. Always analyse your cylinder, confirm your gas mix, check your MOD, and follow your training and dive computer.
What Is MOD in Nitrox Diving?
Maximum operating depth (MOD) is the deepest recommended depth for a Nitrox mix before oxygen exposure reaches your selected PPO₂ limit. Recreational divers commonly use 1.4 ata for the working part of a dive and 1.6 ata as a maximum limit.
Understanding MOD is essential when diving deeper reefs such as Protea Banks, where dives often reach 30–40 metres. Staying within your MOD helps prevent oxygen toxicity and keeps your dive within safe limits.
What Is Equivalent Air Depth?
Equivalent air depth (EAD) estimates how a Nitrox dive compares to an air dive for nitrogen loading. Because Nitrox contains less nitrogen than air, divers absorb less nitrogen at the same depth.
This allows for longer no-decompression limits on many dives and is particularly useful when planning multiple dives over several days.
What Is the Best Nitrox Mix for a Dive?
The best Nitrox mix is the oxygen percentage that gives the most efficient blend for your planned depth while staying within your chosen PPO₂ limit.
For example:
- EAN32 is commonly used around 30 metres
- EAN36 is more suitable for slightly shallower dives
Choosing the correct mix helps balance depth limits with reduced nitrogen exposure.
Planning a Nitrox Dive at Protea Banks
Protea Banks is one of South Africa’s most exciting shark diving sites, known for bull sharks, tiger sharks, and seasonal hammerheads. Because dives are often deeper and current-driven, Nitrox can help extend bottom time while maintaining safe limits.
Using a Nitrox dive planner before your trip allows you to optimise your dive profiles and improve safety across multiple dives.
Why Use a Nitrox Dive Planner?
Using a nitrox dive planner helps divers make safer and more efficient decisions before entering the water. By calculating MOD, EAD and the best Nitrox mix in advance, you reduce the risk of exceeding oxygen exposure limits and improve overall dive planning. This is especially useful for repetitive dives and deeper reef dives where gas management and safety margins are critical.
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