My journey into tech

[barth]

That's actually not exactly correct. The difference between TDI SM and SDI is that the TDI cert adds a stage/deco bottle. TDI Intro to Tech can be taught in a single cylinder with a stage/pony bottle, backmount doubles, or sidemount. TDI SM is not the same as Intro. There are different skills and classroom. Personally, I like to have a student try several SM rigs because none will do everything for everybody.

If you are going to do sidemount go ahead and do it. Don't worry about Intro or even Tech SM until you have 50-100 dives in basic sidemount. (Don't even waste money on BM doubles unless you plan to dive BM and SM regularly. I once had 4 sets of BM doubles. Now I have zero. All got broken down into SM tanks. If I ever do need to use BM doubles I'll rent a set or two.)

At that point if your sidemount skills are good, adding a stage is not a big deal. You'll add a 30 or a 40. No need for the TDI SM class. Go ahead and sign up for AN/DP with an instructor that teaches it in sidemount.
I've done that with several students and it's worked nicely and saved them the cost of the TDI SM class.

If you are doing SM to go tech, the TDI AN/DP class is going to be better anyway because you'll be using your deco cylinder. If you're not doing deco there is no need to carry an extra bottle which again makes the TDI SM class unnecessary.

I was one of the editors and a technical contributor to the SDI/TDI Sidemount materials. I pretty much exclusively dive SM now. Even for OW checkouts. I used a single tank rig in open water last weekend for a couple dives just because I wanted to empty some cylinders and the max depth was going to be 20 ft. It felt strange being in open water with only one tank.

I don't understand why you would use sidemount for wreckdiving.

Here at the Northsea nobody is using sidemount for wrecks. When you leave the boat or enter the boat that wouldn't be fun with tanks at sides.

When you jump into the water there is a lot of current and all gear and tanks are attached. It doesn't matter if you are using backmount or sidemount, you have to carry the weight.

When using backmount doubles I can breath the same regulator during the dive. That is not possible when diving sidemount.

Is wreckdiving different where you are diving than when I'm diving in the Northsea?

 

[barth]

I'm brutally honest with myself, and I know I need a lot more work. That's why I'm planning on ITT for 2019. I had an idea of what I needed to work on (trim, buoyancy, frog kick), but I wanted to see what else.

I'm also getting into better shape. Rescue class is in a month.

ITT = intro to tech? I wouldn't wait 2 yours for intro to tech. Your dives would be more fun and easier after doing intro to tech.

 

[Marie13]

I don't understand why you would use sidemount for wreckdiving.

Here at the Northsea nobody is using sidemount for wrecks. When you leave the boat or enter the boat that wouldn't be fun with tanks at sides.

When you jump into the water there is a lot of current and all gear and tanks are attached. It doesn't matter if you are using backmount or sidemount, you have to carry the weight.

When using backmount doubles I can breath the same regulator during the dive. That is not possible when diving sidemount.

Is wreckdiving different where you are diving than when I'm diving in the Northsea?

Two words: bad knees. They would not hold up to the weight of BM doubles. I don't know why people are having such a hard time understanding this or perhaps they're just not reading enough. You don't think I'd do doubles if I could? Sheesh.

 

[barth]

Two words: bad knees. They would not hold up to the weight of BM doubles. I don't know why people are having such a hard time understanding this or perhaps they're just not reading enough. You don't think I'd do doubles if I could? Sheesh.

For me it doesn't matter if I have to carry my tanks backmount or sidemount I still have to carry my tanks when I enter the water or when I climb into the boat. Maybe it is different for you, than sidemount would make sense.

 

[mdb]

I don't understand why you would use sidemount for wreckdiving.

Here at the Northsea nobody is using sidemount for wrecks. When you leave the boat or enter the boat that wouldn't be fun with tanks at sides.

When you jump into the water there is a lot of current and all gear and tanks are attached. It doesn't matter if you are using backmount or sidemount, you have to carry the weight.

When using backmount doubles I can breath the same regulator during the dive. That is not possible when diving sidemount.

Is wreckdiving different where you are diving than when I'm diving in the Northsea?

Sidemount seems to be just the latest phase in: "I'm a tech diver! I'm a Rebreather diver!! Now I'm a sidemount diver!!!"

There are legitimate reasons for all methods of diving; of course.

barth has a good question and he is out doing the dives in a demanding environment.

 

[Marie13]

Sidemount seems to be just the latest phase in: "I'm a tech diver! I'm a Rebreather diver!! Now I'm a sidemount diver!!!"

There are legitimate reasons for all methods of diving; of course.

barth has a good question and he is out doing the dives in a demanding environment.

I have daily knee pain. It's either SM or I don't do anything besides rec diving. If I have an option that works for me for tech diving, I'll go with it. If it doesn't fit with your ideas of diving, I don't give a flying fig. My local charter boats and others I know of on the Great Lakes have no issues with SM.

Who are you to tell me nope, you can't do that?

 

[lowviz]

Hey, mdb is only trying to help.

Cool your jets for a minute and consider: Low Pressure 50 Dubs Package - Silver - Dive Right in Scuba and a single slung travel or deco cylinder.

Ready on the right, ready on the left, ready on the firing line...

 

[mdb]

I have daily knee pain. It's either SM or I don't do anything besides rec diving. If I have an option that works for me for tech diving, I'll go with it. If it doesn't fit with your ideas of diving, I don't give a flying fig. My local charter boats and others I know of on the Great Lakes have no issues with SM.

Who are you to tell me nope, you can't do that?

Easy, easy, good girl.

Dive as you like. If SM diving is your best option good for you.

All diving is fine.

I do think there are "fads" that sometimes seem in vogue for whatever reason.

I do not really have any "ideas on diving".

I just dive, solo mostly, and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the ocean.

 

[JohnnyC]

I have daily knee pain. It's either SM or I don't do anything besides rec diving. If I have an option that works for me for tech diving, I'll go with it. If it doesn't fit with your ideas of diving, I don't give a flying fig. My local charter boats and others I know of on the Great Lakes have no issues with SM.

Who are you to tell me nope, you can't do that?

barth's point is that, for some boat dives, SM vs BM doesn't offer any advantage because you have to carry all of the weight of the tanks together regardless of where they're mounted. While BM doesn't have the option for carrying separate tanks to the water, handing up individual cylinders, etc., his point is that when the option to deal with the tanks separately doesn't exist, SM offers no advantage.

Obviously this is not the case with all diving situations or dive boats. Those that allow/are capable of handling SM cylinders separately enable SM to offer said benefit.

 

[KevinNM]

Cave diving sidemount means you only have to carry one tank at a time. But boat diving to get to wrecks? Assume worst case. You strap on a pair of HP100 and giant stride into the water. And they immediately issue the diver recall signal. Consider the mechanics of how you are going to hand up to the crew at the top of the ladder a pair of full HP100s when you are bobbing around in 2 -3 ft waves. Is that possible and safe for you to do? Or are you going to be climbing the ladder with them attached?