Evaluation of critical flicker fusion frequency and perceived fatigue in divers after air and enriched air nitrox diving.

Introduction: Many divers report less fatigue following dives breathing enriched air nitrox (EANx) compared with breathing air. A reduction of post-dive fatigue with EANx would suggest a pathological origin, possibly the presence of asymptomatic nitrogen bubbles in the body after a dive.

Method: We studied fatigue in 219 healthy divers performing either an air (n = 121) or EANx32 (oxygen 32%, nitrogen 68%; n = 98) dive to 21.