Dhboner
Contributor
I appreciate your ability to read my mind.
I don't think sidemount is inherently more dangerous, and I don't have any issue with someone diving sidemount. Heck, I have a sidemount rig and I sidemount my bailout bottles from my rebreather.
The only real risk that I see in sidemount configuration is losing a reg, you will lose 1/2 of your gas in that situation. The idea of switching regs while holding your breath in a stressful situation is right up there with unicorns and rainbows. But, if you lose a reg you should call the dive and head home anyway, so it's a manageable risk.
However, here are some cons I see in sidemount:
1. increases task loading the first few times you dive it with the constant gas switching. Someone learning how to cave dive is already tasked loaded enough, and really doesn't need the extra bit of task loading involved with learning sidemount at the same time. IMHO, beginning technical / cave divers are better served diving backmount, OR mastering sidemount before undertaking technical training.
2. Is less efficient. When I dive backmount I can be suited up and in the water in a fraction of the time it takes when diving sidemount (how many trips do you make to the water?). Ditto for breaking gear down.
3. Is frequently taught in a sloppy style that leads to damage to caves. Ever notice those twin furrow trails in clay floors? Look at the antenna that are sticking out from under your armpits to understand how they happened.
But these are just my opinion, and while I think newer technical / cave divers will be better served by learning backmount first, as long as someone isn't hurting themselves or others, and their config is safe, then knock yourselves out.
Valid points unless you took your sidemount training with Steve Lewis (Doppler) then they are irrelevant ;-)