Drawbacks of Sidemount, compared to backmount diving

[billgraham]

I think there has to be a greater focus on educating students AND instructors because despite the fact that every agency's standards forbid overhead to untrained divers, there have been a number of recent incidents. I don't say "accidents" because I agree with Steve Lewis on that point, it's not an accident. Evidently, what's being taught is not enough. This applies accross the board, but I think the open water sidemount class offers greater temptation to venture into the overhead environment. I don't know how to fix it, I'm not an instructor of any kind, just a diver.

 

[DevonDiver]

Personally, I don't see the 'capacity = temptation' issue as a valid 'con' against sidemount. The people who'd kill themselves in caves are the people who'd kill themselves in caves. I doubt they are the sort of people who'd spend $800 on a sidemount rig for redundancy, and then go into a cave untrained. That's illogical. Idiots die in caves on single tanks - because idiots don't think about risks before they enter. It isn't a case of 'half-measures'... it is 'no measures'.

If they did think about risks, to the point where they'd equip, rehearse, practice and perfect with sidemount... then they'd probably be sufficiently risk aware to appreciate the value of cave training also.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I think there has to be a greater focus on educating students AND instructors...

Not only a greater focus on educating instructors but sanctions when violations are reported. We've all heard of instructors doing instructional open water dives in the overhead. Eagles Nest is a prime example of where this has been happening for years. I recently had a student tell me he completed his Deep specialty in Paradise Springs! I've also seen appointed cave diving safety officers bring non-overhead students into the overhead during open water training dives. These instructors know better but they also know nothing is going to come of it so they keep doing it.

 

[billgraham]

I don't know, the first thing I wanted to do was stuff myself into something small, luckily I was already a cave diver.

On the original question of this thread, one of the drawbacks of sidemount is that it requires a greater level of dexterity than any other type of diving I've done. It's one thing in warm water with bare hands, like in cave diving, and a whole 'nuther thing in cold water with spock gloves or mitts, and you have to put big beads on things to find them. Some people just aren't comfortable switching and stowing regulators and moving bottles around. Other people have problems with hand strength and it can be an issue with sidemount.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I don't know, the first thing I wanted to do was stuff myself into something small, luckily I was already a cave diver.

Exactly, you were already a cave diver. I can't think of a single non-cave diver I've trained in sidemount that told me he/she wanted to dive in small passage, even after completing their cave training. Granted, some of them probably change their minds after a while. In fact, I know some have. I regularly dive with one of them now. But that has only come after full training. The decision to go sidemount has never been to go small but rather because of the other benefits they see to the configuration.

 

[Paulmal]

Side mount is not DIR so your going to Die. But really, both are tools that have their uses.

 

[The Chairman]

This has been an interesting read so far. It's obvious that the biggest drawback for sidemounting is ignorance and the reticence of some to accept people NOT doing things their way. One of the best benefits of sidemounting is when I travel. I can use any two cylinders and dive with them with no fuss. I don't need bigger cylinders since I am an air hog... I just need two and even AL80s work just fine. Now I get to do an hour on each and every dive (no matter how deep) and I always come up with plenty of air.

On the last liveaboard I did (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/si...liveaboard-musings-my-trip-rocio-del-mar.html), I was almost always the first one in the boat and I had to wait on the others. Unlike the other photographers, I didn't spend my time stuck to the bottom either. I was far more fluid and never had to touch. Most of that had to do with technique and awareness rather than gear configuration.

However, the absolutely best part about sidemounting, is that I can create and modify my own equipment with absolutely no one getting all huffy about it. It's acceptable to tinker again. Yay!!! Break out the sewing machine. Plug in the drill press and the welder. We're fabricating and no one is telling us we're going to die!

 

[ajduplessis]

@Doc: It's called DW² : Doing What Works

 

[FoxHound]

@Doc: It's called DW² : Doing What Works

I like DIB for side mount
Do It Best

 

[j2s]

Tried 'side-mount' [cave/wreck diving only] and didn't find enough advantages to give up 'back-mount'.....I dive mostly solo and use a AL40 'bail-out' bottle when I do...Side-mount made that more difficult/cumber-sum...When squeezing into tight places it was easier to take off/put back-on, back-mount to do it....I use cut-off valves on my 2nd stages [don't want to hear about it] in case of free flow.....If it's just the 2nd stage I still have all my air....W/side-mounts you loose 1/2 of it......I also felt I lost 'range of motion' w/my arms and taking 'stage' bottles into caves required more effort......My preference for staying w/back-mount is based on my very specific needs and way of diving........Others will have to decide for themselves........It's subjective, based on personal preference and environment.....