What type of gas mix is recommended for wreck diving?

A more conservative gas mix is recommended for wreck diving due to the specific conditions and potential hazards associated with these environments. Wreck diving often occurs in areas that may present limited visibility, entanglement risks, or the possibility of needing to ascend quickly in the event of an emergency.

Using a conservative gas mix minimizes the risks of oxygen toxicity and narcosis during deeper dives and longer bottom times that can be required in wreck scenarios. This allows divers to maintain a clearer state of mind and better manage their bottom times under varying conditions, which is particularly important in the confined spaces typically found in wrecks.

Moreover, a conservative approach often entails using mixes that can reduce the volume of nitrogen inhaled, thereby helping to avoid decompression sickness. While enriched oxygen mixes can benefit some dives, they may not be suitable for all depths, and a standard air mix, while common, does not offer the specific advantages that a more conservative strategy would provide in the unpredictable environments of wrecks. A helium-rich mix may be beneficial for deep dives but can complicate logistics and is not typically necessary for most wreck dives, where the focus is on safety and conservativeness.