What is a common consequence of failing to monitor the Nitrox mix before a dive?

Monitoring the Nitrox mix before a dive is critical for ensuring a safe diving experience, and one of the most significant consequences of failing to do so is the potential for oxygen toxicity. Nitrox is a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, and its oxygen content is higher than that of normal air, depending on the blend used. When diving with a mix that has a higher percentage of oxygen, the risks associated with oxygen toxicity, such as central nervous system effects, increase.

If divers are unaware of the exact percentage of oxygen in their Nitrox mix, they may inadvertently expose themselves to higher partial pressures of oxygen than they planned for, leading to symptoms such as visual disturbances, nausea, seizures, or even loss of consciousness. Therefore, routinely checking the mix ensures that divers stay within safe operational limits, thus minimizing the risk of oxygen toxicity during their dives.

Other options relate to different diving hazards but do not directly tie to the implications of failing to monitor the Nitrox mix in terms of immediate physiological effects related to oxygen levels.