Atemgasverfahren

Atemgasverfahren refers to any breathing gas mixture used by divers or in hyperbaric environments that differs from normal atmospheric air. The primary purpose of using specialized breathing gases is to mitigate the physiological risks associated with breathing compressed air at depth. These risks include decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity, and nitrogen narcosis.

Different Atemgasverfahren are tailored to specific dive profiles and depths. Nitrox, a common example, is a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with a higher oxygen percentage than air. This reduces the partial pressure of nitrogen, thus extending no-decompression limits and reducing the risk of decompression sickness. However, the increased oxygen partial pressure at depth necessitates careful management to avoid oxygen toxicity.

Trimix is another frequently used Atemgasverfahren, combining oxygen, nitrogen, and helium. Helium is added to reduce nitrogen narcosis, which can impair judgment and cognitive function at depth. The precise blend of gases in trimix is calculated based on the maximum depth of the dive and the desired partial pressures of oxygen and helium.

Other Atemgasverfahren, such as Heliox (a mixture of helium and oxygen) and technical rebreathers that precisely manage gas mixtures, are employed for deeper or more complex dives. The selection and use of any Atemgasverfahren require specialized training, meticulous planning, and adherence to strict safety protocols to ensure diver safety. The development and application of these procedures are crucial for enabling safe exploration of underwater environments beyond the limits of standard air diving.