4 ms·
Tbh scuba diving is kind of a waste of helium, and I'd rather they not use a nonrenewable resource for recreation.
by bpodgursky 5y ago
Tbh scuba diving is kind of a waste of helium, and I'd rather they not use a nonrenewable resource for recreation.
- nradov 5y ago"Waste" is in the eye of the beholder. We also use a lot of nonrenewable fossil fuels and plastics for all types of recreation. Should that all be prohibited? Most refined helium is a byproduct of natural gas production. If we don't use the helium then natural gas drillers will just vent it into the atmosphere.
- bpodgursky 5y agoNonrenewable fossil fuels are a waste of energy and pollute, but there are both natural and artificial means to undo the damage, sequester the carbon, or produce gas out of biofuels etc. When you use helium, it literally floats to the top of the atmosphere and escapes into space. It's never, ever coming back. It's a totally different class of "nonrenewable".
- nradov 5y agoIf we don't use the helium then natural gas producers just vent it into the atmosphere anyway. Helium is somewhat renewable because more is constantly created by underground decay of radiative isotopes.
- m4rtink 5y agoOne could likely produce helium, if really needed, in net negative hydrogen fusion devices, at very high energy cost.
- leo-leo 5y agoI was under the impression helium mixtures are only used for deeper dives, and thus seen more often in occupational diving rather then recreational.
- nradov 5y agoYes we only use helium deeper than about 100 ft (30 m). Commercial divers probably use more than sport divers but I haven't seen any real data on that.
- zardo 5y agoAre many rec divers using trimix?
- mensetmanusman 5y agoThey take pictures of the mysteries below our dark waters. These photos convince the masses that maybe the earth is worth saving (by being more environmentally conscious).