What factor can influence a diver's oxygen exposure in Nitrox diving?

The time spent at certain depths during a dive is a critical factor that influences a diver's oxygen exposure when using Nitrox. Nitrox mixtures typically contain a higher percentage of oxygen than air, and as depth increases, the partial pressure of oxygen also increases. This means that the longer a diver spends at greater depths, the greater their exposure to oxygen becomes.

Oxygen exposure is commonly measured in terms of both the partial pressure of oxygen and the cumulative exposure over time, which can lead to a risk of oxygen toxicity. If a diver remains at depth for an extended period, they can exceed the safe limits of oxygen exposure, which can have dangerous physiological effects. Therefore, understanding the relationship between time spent at depth and oxygen exposure is vital for planning dives with Nitrox to ensure safety and avoid exceeding recommended limits.

While the diver's weight, type of gear, and water temperature may affect other aspects of diving, they do not directly determine the oxygen exposure resulting from the specifics of the dive profile and the gas mixture being used.