why did GUE , DIR take so long to adopt sidemount.

[Dhboner]

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 ;-)

 

[kensuf]

Not really... for an agency, if you direct the agency.

What takes longer (but not more 'difficult') is determining what you think the optimum standardization should be.

I respect the GUE don't rush into decision like that, even if it puts them 'behind the drag curve' with regards market demand for sidemount training etc etc



There's a bunch of well documented pros and cons for sidemount. However, your point is a valid one.

What I'd say is simply that we need to develop a high degree of equipment familiarity. Even more so if we are using sidemount for the most challenging of overhead dives (extreme restrictions).

As for CCR... same for sidemount.... (or backmount for that matter).... we need to devote 3 or 4 digit in-water hours in a given configuration to really achieve an intimate, ingrained familiarity with the kit and the protocols. That means diving it in the pool, on recreational open-water dives and later in the overhead.

Slinging inherently unfamiliar kit on 'only for dives that need it' seems a recipe for disaster.

I agree with that 100%. It's one of the reasons I spent a lot of time diving shallow caves in my rebreather config this past summer, and one of the reasons I also go to the very familiar shallow system when testing out a gear change.

 

[Bennno]

The idea of switching regs while holding your breath...

Where do you guys are getting this from? Does anyone actually teach this or is this from some youtube video?

 

[PfcAJ]

A poster on here used to teach it. I forget who, it was too dumb so I blocked it from my memory.

---------- Post added December 13th, 2015 at 04:40 PM ----------

Found it
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/si...-valve-breathing-post6654760.html#post6654760

 

[kensuf]

I met some guys from Sarasota Florida that told me they had to demonstrate that skill for their Tec Sidemount class.

 

[Bennno]

I met some guys from Sarasota Florida that told me they had to demonstrate that skill for their Tec Sidemount class.

Ok, that's just weird. That can't be in some agencies standards... I hope.

 

[bamafan]

Ok, that's just weird. That can't be in some agencies standards... I hope.

I was told that until recently it was in the NACD standards. It was changed but my understanding is Larry Green fought it. I am just going on what I was told so I could be wrong.

 

[Bennno]

I was told that until recently it was in the NACD standards. It was changed but my understanding is Larry Green fought it. I am just going on what I was told so I could be wrong.

That reminds me of a video I saw of people discussing NACD standards inside of a bunker.

 

[bamafan]

Roflol. I think I saw that one too.

 

[nakatomi]

The problem with Classic Independent Doubles technique with Sidemount[...]

There is no "problem" with independent tanks. The only problem is with people who do not understand the merits and limitations and how to use such a system accordingly.

Also, inside of a wreck there can be a lot of "Toxic Brew" in the machine spaces/engine rooms/cargo holds -especially on the 70 year-old WWII Truk Lagoon Wrecks (fuel oil, caustic aviation gasoline, chemical leakage etc)- you want to minimize taking out switching regs if at all lest you inadvertently take a mouthful of this foul soup. . .

How about purging the regs before breathing them? I'm sure that would blow all the crud right out. And as you may know, it also helps to exhale before breathing.
If in doubt, you can do both. Or you could choose to delay the gas switch altogether.
Either way, a non issue.

UTD's Z-system sidemount
[...]
connected via Swagelock QC6's through the common Distribution-Block or Iso-Fold Manifold.

Oh no, not again. This horrible contraption has been discussed and beaten to death so many times already.