What is one critical point to emphasize when discussing EANx dive tables?

The critical point when discussing EANx dive tables is that they are fundamentally different from traditional air dive tables due to altered nitrogen absorption. When divers use Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx), the increased percentage of oxygen reduces the amount of nitrogen that the body absorbs during a dive. This leads to different dive profiles, including variations in allowable bottom times and safe ascent rates, compared to diving with air.

As a result, divers using EANx must refer to specific EANx dive tables, which take into account the different physiological effects that arise from this altered nitrogen absorption. Understanding this distinction is essential for divers to plan their dives safely and effectively, ensuring that they remain within the safe limits established for EANx diving.

While it is true that EANx tables can allow for longer bottom times than air dive tables and may have variations in maximum depths, the fundamental reason for these differences stems from the modified nitrogen dynamics, making that the most critical point to emphasize. Equipment requirements can also differ, but this is not as central to the understanding of how diving with EANx influences nitrogen absorption and dive planning.