What is the role of a dive planner when using EANx?

The role of a dive planner when using EANx, or enriched air nitrox, is fundamentally about ensuring that all dives are conducted within safe limits. When planning a dive with EANx, it is essential to consider the specific mix of oxygen and nitrogen, as well as the associated maximum operating depth and bottom times to avoid risks such as oxygen toxicity and decompression sickness.

A dive planner uses dive tables, dive computers, and knowledge of the specific gas mixture to calculate these limits, providing guidelines that help divers stay within safe exposure levels throughout their dive. This promotes safety and enhances the overall diving experience by minimizing the risks that can arise from exceeding these limits.

Other options, while important in the broader context of diving, do not directly pertain to the specific responsibilities of a dive planner in relation to the use of EANx. Determining the weight of equipment is more about gear selection and personal comfort, analyzing tank pressures is focused on equipment management and safety but does not encompass the planning stage, and providing emergency procedures pertains to preparedness rather than the actual planning phase. Each of these elements is crucial in its own right, but they are secondary to the primary focus of a dive planner, which is ensuring that diving activities remain within safe operational