In what way does a Nitrox dive differ from standard air dives in terms of nitrogen exposure?

In a Nitrox dive, the primary difference regarding nitrogen exposure compared to standard air dives is the need to manage your exposure to nitrogen. When diving with enriched air nitrox, which has a higher percentage of oxygen and a lower percentage of nitrogen than standard air, divers experience reduced nitrogen uptake in their tissues. This changes how much nitrogen is absorbed during a dive and affects decompression limits.

Because of the lower nitrogen content, divers using Nitrox can generally extend the duration of their dives at certain depths and potentially reduce their overall nitrogen exposure, which can lead to a lower risk of decompression sickness. However, it is essential to manage this exposure carefully, particularly when planning dives and calculating optimal ascent rates, to prevent issues that could arise if diver profiles exceed safe limits for nitrogen absorption.

The other options suggest misunderstandings about Nitrox diving; for example, increasing depth, surface intervals, or ascent rates do not fundamentally relate to nitrogen exposure management, as these factors vary according to dive plans but are not inherently linked to the differences introduced by using Nitrox.