Sidemount for local, walk-in diving, for old farts.

[rx7diver]

Older ST SB Members,

Are any of you older, but otherwise healthy, ST SB Members considering switching to sidemount for your local, walk-in rec dives--you know, because you think this configuration should provide a bit more stability as you enter and exit the water? (Falling when wearing even a smallish BM single or BM baby doubles will majorly ruin a septuagenarian's day!)

Have any of you made the switch from BM? Is sidemount too fiddly to recommend for this? Etc.

Twenty-something-year-old studly ST SB Members needn't reply to this thread.

TIA,
rx7diver

 

[Searcaigh]

I was considering side mount a couple of years back as climbing up a boat ladder with twin steels is a real PITA when the boat ladders are short.

I do a reasonable amount off shore diving but wouldn't think of carrying two tanks especially AL80s. Perhaps a couple of AL40s would work

 

[Zane]

A collapsible trekking pole might help

 

[grantmac]

I'm only in my 40s and fairly fit, but our shore entries can but rugged and I'd much rather dive them in sidemount.
Lp50s make for brilliant recreational tanks.

 

[rjack321]

You still have to carry the tanks which can be awkward and difficult on even the best of surfaces. Lighter cylinders is a huge help. Lp50s for the win honestly since you can frequently leave them at the shore, walk up and ditch your BC and lead then return for the tanks.

 

[rx7diver]

OP here. I was not really thinking about the weight of the cylinder(s), but the weight up high on your back when wearing the cylinder(s). Wouldn't sidemount move your center of gravity a bit lower when you're wearing your cylinders as you're walking in? And, as an option, couldn't you walk with a cylinder in each hand, holding them by the valve, as you're walking in, to put your center of gravity even lower? A lower center of gravity should make you less unstable as you're walking in, correct?

Yes, I'm thinking of LP50's or LP46's (or '72's) for these freshwater walk-in recreational dives.

Maybe @Zane's idea (i.e., to wear your usual kit the usual way, but use a collapsible trekking pole) is the simplest approach...

I have a good friend who is about 20 years my senior. (His eldest son is about my age.) He used to be very athletic, often competing in local 10K runs and bicycle races, still holding several local records in various age categories. When he was about my age now, he fell in his driveway while he was stopped on his road bike--he wasn't able to get his shoes unlocked from his pedals in time--and suffered a nasty break in his hip. Even though he had excellent medical care, he has never been 100% since. I watched him walking a couple of evenings ago, which made me think, once again, that I really don't want to fall and break something at my age. Hence, this thread.

rx7diver

 

[Mobulai]

Younger member here, I’m fairly healthy but have axial loading issues regarding most of my right side joints (tennis elbow, shear radial injuries in my knee, double flat footed; the continuous line of muscles from my jaws/ears all the way to my toes on that side are almost permanently tense)

Some of these developed from bad posture/habits and excessive work hours carried out standing (lab work, part of why I moved on to SW work)
When I started considering technical diving I 1st tried a doubles BM and I could absolutely feel my back on fire, and told myself I’d rather rehabilitate myself before trying again; most of my diving is shore-entry.
then I learned about SM and it kinda made sense from 2 povs: with time I grew intrest in cave diving — the most fabulous aspect on every dive I did so far was the geology and the structures underwater; but caves were certainly far away out of reach (still are)
And as OP mentioned the lower CoG (at entry); just for single tank BM entry to a rocky shore like my beloved site Canyon (Dahab, EG) is a clusterF of uneven terrain than required lots of ropewalking skills, doing that with BM doubles seemed like a recipe fir disaster for me

I’m not against parallel improvement and rehabilitation to be able to do BM; but for now I’ll stick with SM (which is super enjoyable in the water as well)

Just my 2 ponies (horrible pun I know)

 

[gmerick]

I'll admit that "Older SB Members," addresses me.
On questionable shore dive entries, I use a Beuchat Pluma Board. 1st trip - the float with fins attached. If needed moored to a rock outside the shore wave action, 2nd and 3rd trip - tanks - either AL80 or HP120, attach each to a float d-ring. 4th trip, I'm suited up and wearing my sidemount rig, clip onto the float reel, and walk out to midriff deep water. From there I clip into the tanks, and don fins. Return is the reverse.

 

[rx7diver]

I'll admit that "Older SB Members," addresses me.
On questionable shore dive entries, I use a Beuchat Pluma Board. 1st trip - the float with fins attached. If needed moored to a rock outside the shore wave action, 2nd and 3rd trip - tanks - either AL80 or HP120, attach each to a float d-ring. 4th trip, I'm suited up and wearing my sidemount rig, clip onto the float reel, and walk out to midriff deep water. From there I clip into the tanks, and don fins. Return is the reverse.

Sorry for the typo. I meant to type "SB" (rather than "ST", a completely different kind of forum!). Corrected now.

rx7diver

 

[rjack321]

You still have to pick up the cylinders, with a single arm, so the weight is hanging on one arm off your shoulder anyway. Then trundle up the beach. If using a (single) 72 you are better off with it on your back. 2x lp50s then SM. lp45s are no longer made but widely available