PodDiver and DAN on Narcosis
The other great scuba diving podcast I listen to is PodDiver Radio.
In Episode 067 of PodDiver, Joe talks with Dr Richard Vann of Divers Alert Network on the topic of inert gas narcosis (among other great topics).
This was a great discussion, and Dr Vann explained narcosis in one of the simplest, most straightforward way’s I’ve heard, describing narcosis as being an intermediate state between full consciousness and being anaesthetised. Consciousness is affected but you’re not totally unconcsious.
Dr Vann also talks about the narcotic effect of carbon dioxide, and how CO2 also plays a role in narcosis when diving on air (in particular). Essentially, CO2 can be narcotic when at depth when at work or with heavy breathing resistance. This explains why we can be diving at intermediate depths where we may not normally be narced, and still experience narcosis if diving in a current or with poorly tuned regs.
Narcosis is an important topic for all divers to get a handle on, especially recreational deep divers and technical divers. Go and download PodDiver Radio Episode 067 and listen to this great interview, plus a good discussion on wreck diving and the technique of progressive penetration.