Does PADI permit sidemount (PSAI card) in PADI classes?

[tursiops]

Have you looked at the PADI sidemount advertisements? They are their own worst enemy. I can't believe they print stuff like that. If I was Jeff I would be embarrased with those pictures. I can't figure out if they don't know or just don't care.

Interesting point. But why would Jeff be embarrassed? Presumably that's the way he looks; do you think he knows it looks awful? I doubt it. I'm guessing PADI thinks whatever Jeff does is just fine, so why not publish it? And that he figures whatever he does must be right. The nice thing is the instructor manual does not force you to be so out-of-trim with your tanks, so a decent sidemount instructor can teach the PADI course just fine. It is not a problem with the course; it is with the model for the pix.

The new PADI Tec Sidemount Diver Manual is actually quite good, with excellent pictures of divers in excellent trim....except for the pictures of Jeff.

I would personally pay to have Jeff take a sidemount clinic from Edd, or nearly anybody in cave country, if PADI would agree to retake the pictures for the next printings of their material.

 

[Scott]

<snip> have Jeff take a sidemount clinic from Edd, or nearly anybody in cave country </snip>

I find this hilarious on so many levels.

 

[bamafan]

What I don't get is that PADI is the largest dive training agency so I would think their advertisements and literature would be top notch. If they can't even get their advertisements correct it really makes you wonder what they are teaching. Like I said before I can't figure out if they don't know any better or they just don't care. Either way it makes me question their training. You do realize that Jeff Loflin is a Course Director and Technical Instructor Trainer for PADI? Did he not see the pictures?

sidemount | Jeff Loflin

This is his own web page. Look at the awful gear configurations. Looks more like front mounting to me than sidemounting.

---------- Post added October 2nd, 2014 at 08:12 PM ----------

 

[bamafan]

So not to just pick on Lofflin

 

[Steve_C]

I am not sure but are there any courses for which SM would be a disadvantage? Foe example, Rescue. I do not dive SM, so I do not know, but it seems to me that some of the tired diver/rescue tows might be harder with SM than back mount. Tanks on the back seem more out of the way than tanks on both sides.

What is the side mount protocol for an air share? Does the diver quit switching tanks and they and the OOA stay on one tank or what?

But I may be confusing this with my old life guard training where we carried the person to be rescued on one side.

 

[Aotus]

What is the side mount protocol for an air share? Does the diver quit switching tanks and they and the OOA stay on one tank or what?

Depends on your agency I think, I can only speak to my training - my right hose is 7' long, and gets donated to the other diver in an OOA drill. Then I'm breathing from my left tank on the way out.

 

[rddvet]

I paid for a package of PADI classes at my local dive shop in spring. I have now moved away from all things PADI, but have a credit for a couple more classes. I'm thinking now, they couldn't hurt, and at least it means I get some boat dives in without paying (more) for them.

My issue is, that I've now learned side mount, and never want to go back. Will a PADI instructor permit me to dive the class in this configuration??

I have a PSAI overhead side mount card, and all my gear is SM. I don't ever want to use their crappy rental back mount gear again, so if there is a rule against it, then I guess I'm just going to lose the investment. The instructor is away until next week, and I need to decide if I'm taking the class or committing to dive elsewhere, so I'm hoping someone can tell me if PADI has rules about this sort of thing.

Thanks.

You spent the cash already so I get wanting to not waste it. To be honest you'll probably get much better skill progression going and doing a cave dive to your training limits than taking a paid deep diver class

 

[Aotus]

IF i can use my SM configuration, it may come down to which instructor at my LDS is going to be teaching...there are a couple I like, but one who has the career as a commercial diver, and I'd be happy taking the class if I get to tap into that experience/insight.

 

[DENLASCUBA]

I am not sure but are there any courses for which SM would be a disadvantage? Foe example, Rescue. I do not dive SM, so I do not know, but it seems to me that some of the tired diver/rescue tows might be harder with SM than back mount. Tanks on the back seem more out of the way than tanks on both sides.

What is the side mount protocol for an air share? Does the diver quit switching tanks and they and the OOA stay on one tank or what?

But I may be confusing this with my old life guard training where we carried the person to be rescued on one side.

Good points made. I am not familiar with side mount yet as I haven't had the time to take the course yet soon hopefully, saying that as an instructor not familiar with side mount I would not feel entirely comfortable if you just showed up ready to dive side mount. I would want to have the chance to at-least discuss with other instructors who are SM certified to understand any important points before hand. For the deep diver course sure why not.

Also just because you are SM certified how do I know you were trained well, as discussed there are some crap instructors out there from ALL agencies. Example: I know an instructor (will not name agencies but not PADI) who uses SM when teaching open water students and a few other courses, sure it sounds like a good idea when you have a large group to have extra air but the students seem confused as the instructors gear set up is completely different than theirs.

Also how many dives do you have with SM if you don't have many then it can make the course more difficult for both the student and instructor.

Will you be taking the class in a group setting or alone, if it is with other students it could make the others uncomfortable as they do not understand SM diving.

 

[RJP]

I am not sure but are there any courses for which SM would be a disadvantage? Foe example, Rescue. I do not dive SM, so I do not know, but it seems to me that some of the tired diver/rescue tows might be harder with SM than back mount. Tanks on the back seem more out of the way than tanks on both sides.

Dive the way you train, train the way you dive.

I'd suggest that, for a SM diver, taking rescue (or any course) while diving a back-mounted AL80 would be a greater disadvantage. I took rescue in double steel 119's. Why? Because that's how I dive. Taking rescue any other way would be silly.

---------- Post added October 3rd, 2014 at 08:41 AM ----------

Example: I know an instructor (will not name agencies but not PADI) who uses SM when teaching open water students and a few other courses, sure it sounds like a good idea when you have a large group to have extra air but the students seem confused as the instructors gear set up is completely different than theirs.

If the students are "confused" in that scenario, that is an "instructor" problem rather than a "gear" problem. And not just this instructor but whatever previous instructors those students had. Why? because a SM rig is NOT "completely different than theirs" as you suggest. A properly configured SM diver would be equipped with...

1. Fins, mask and snorkel
2. Compressed gas cylinder and valve
3. Buoyancy control device (BCD) with tank mount and low pressure inflator
4. Primary regulator and alternate air source
5. Breathing gas monitoring device (e.g. submersible pressure gauge)
6. Depth monitoring device
7. Quick release weight system and weights (if necessary for neutral buoyancy, or if required for skills practice)
8. Adequate exposure protection appropriate for local dive conditions.
9. At least one audible emergency surface signaling device (whistle, air horn, etc.).
10. Dive computer or RDP (eRDPML or Table)

Accordingly, a SM-configured instructor's rig has far more similarities to their students' rigs than it has differences. Assuming the students were instructed properly in their OW course, all they should need to avoid "confusion" is a simple briefing by their instructor about where their alternate reg, weights, and BCD/inflator are located. This is no different than any pre-dive buddy check.