tinkering with the idea of sidemount for rec diving (cold and warm water)

[lermontov]

my two cents worth- it sounds to me like your going to head down the tech route- remember current methodology is there because divers have experimented with all sorts of combinations and a twin set or sidemount set ups are pretty solid when it comes to having been thrashed and bullied into a robust system. If you are leaning tech and the way you are asking Questions seems to me that you are then get a system that will expand as your dive ambitions grow - A single back mount and 40 is not going to cut it past 40m or be suitable for a deep penetration dive. slinging extra tanks is better suited for extended deco or staged dives not for more air

 

[Midwesterndvr]

im not getting the whole "doubles is easier than a pony" discussion. I have a couple of HP steel 120s and a 19cf as a pony and also an AL40.

Why wouldnt my 120 back mount with a slung 40 NOT be better than backmount doubles? I dont see where backmount double 80s beats my 120 and 40. Im talking about weight and bulk. I only sling the 19 or 40 once i hop in water and can hand it up as I get out of water.
For me slinging a pony is easy and comfy compared to what I think doubles would be.

Im not disagreeing with anyone but just trying to figure out why a backmount single and pony is more of a pain than backmount doubles which seems cumbersome.

maybe its all just personal preference

You’re backmount 120 with slung 40 has been done for a long time and is nowhere nearly as trendy as doubles or Sm.

 

[Diving Dubai]

Why wouldnt my 120 back mount with a slung 40 NOT be better than backmount doubles?

It firstly depends on your requirements and preferences.

But it can be simplified as follows

BM single and pony - okay and easy to rig on standard gear if you have D-rings. As your tank size increases it becomes more unstable like a keel. a pony can exacerbate this. This is generally not a problem of not really noticed much like you don't notice you hands moving and yoru body corrections to maintain balance on a bicycle. However once you go deeper your gas requirements get larger as does your redundancy. Also that pony takes up "real estate" you might want for deco cylinders.

For a travelling diver they either have to schlep their own pony or be able to rent one at destination.

BM Doubles, obv give you more gas (generally) also you're extremely balanced with the weight distribution and their harness is "just" a bigger wing. You have plenty of real estate for deco and they have little impact on boats as they aren't wider than the diver. However you need to be able to deal with the extra weight when exiting the water and ensure the boat ladder can take you. Taking your kit off in the water and expecting the boat crew to haul it up on your behalf because it's too heavy for you really isn't' fair

But you have the additional weight, and you've dedicated two tank to "permanent" use as they're banded and manifolded together. Again not great for the traveling diver unless going to a dedicated tech shop where you can rent them (also harder to transport in your car than singles


SM Needs a dedicate rig which is very different from others. Also it takes time and faff to get fully dialled in. Some boats don't like it because its wider and some SM divers just faff getting in and out of the water. It is nicely balanced, but if you're deco diving then your SM cylinders cut into the real estate for deco cylinders. But for the travelling diver its easy to grab 2 cylinders anywhere and put your slings on them and go. And of course if you're in restricted overheads SM is good

For easy dives I'll use a BM 15l (HP120) and AL 40 sometime I may chose my SM and I certainly take my SM on vacation. I've never dived BM Doubles nor will I ever make dives where I reach the limit of deco cylinders I'm able to carry on SM

 

[NAUI Wowie]

You’re backmount 120 with slung 40 has been done for a long time and is nowhere nearly as trendy as doubles or Sm.

ah trendy, you must be over sixty lol. Ok so I was trying to go for trendy hmm....very intredasting

 

[Midwesterndvr]

ah trendy, you must be over sixty lol. Ok so I was trying to go for trendy hmm....very intredasting

These youngsters sure like their Sidemounts..

 

[NAUI Wowie]

It firstly depends on your requirements and preferences.

But it can be simplified as follows

BM single and pony - okay and easy to rig on standard gear if you have D-rings. As your tank size increases it becomes more unstable like a keel. a pony can exacerbate this. This is generally not a problem of not really noticed much like you don't notice you hands moving and yoru body corrections to maintain balance on a bicycle. However once you go deeper your gas requirements get larger as does your redundancy. Also that pony takes up "real estate" you might want for deco cylinders.

For a travelling diver they either have to schlep their own pony or be able to rent one at destination.

BM Doubles, obv give you more gas (generally) also you're extremely balanced with the weight distribution and their harness is "just" a bigger wing. You have plenty of real estate for deco and they have little impact on boats as they aren't wider than the diver. However you need to be able to deal with the extra weight when exiting the water and ensure the boat ladder can take you. Taking your kit off in the water and expecting the boat crew to haul it up on your behalf because it's too heavy for you really isn't' fair

But you have the additional weight, and you've dedicated two tank to "permanent" use as they're banded and manifolded together. Again not great for the traveling diver unless going to a dedicated tech shop where you can rent them (also harder to transport in your car than singles


SM Needs a dedicate rig which is very different from others. Also it takes time and faff to get fully dialled in. Some boats don't like it because its wider and some SM divers just faff getting in and out of the water. It is nicely balanced, but if you're deco diving then your SM cylinders cut into the real estate for deco cylinders. But for the travelling diver its easy to grab 2 cylinders anywhere and put your slings on them and go. And of course if you're in restricted overheads SM is good

For easy dives I'll use a BM 15l (HP120) and AL 40 sometime I may chose my SM and I certainly take my SM on vacation. I've never dived BM Doubles nor will I ever make divers where I reach the limit of deco cylinders I'm able to carry on SM

with some of your stories of washing machine scenarios i might use a 120 and a slung 80 lol

 

[Diving Dubai]

with some of your stories of washing machine scenarios i might use a 120 and a slung 80 lol

Been there.. done that and sometimes still do.

If I'm honest I prefer my SM for those conditions. The issue is because we're away for 2 or 3 nights and the boat doesn't' have a compressor you take everything with you

So for the first dive my SM has roughly the same gas as my 15l+Al40, because I then need to transfil I have less gas for the second and third dives. I start a new pair of Al cylinders each day. Yes I could hire some extra cylinders but then that's more to schlep and greater cost.

My point here is my gear config is decided not only on the dives I'm doing and the conditions I'm likely to expect but the logistics of that trip too

 

[Charles Graves]

Sidemount is pretty great, in my opinion. It allows you more time in the water, and it is less weight on your back. It also makes it a little easier to keep proper trim, if you have the adjustable slides.

However, IMO sidemount is mainly great for cave diving. I learned sidemount previously so that I could get into cavern and cave diving safely

 

[The Chairman]

Use the right tool for the job! If I'm headed into a cave, then it's sidemount. If I'm diving off of a RIB, then sidemount makes sense there too. Off of a boat, then it's back mount all the way. You want to learn sidemount? Go for it. It's a great tool to have available to use. In the Keys, sidemount is called "Wide Mount" It's not great for diving wrecks and it can be harder getting back on the boat in rough seas.

 

[Diving Dubai]

it can be harder getting back on the boat in rough seas.

As I'm not familiar with FL dive boats, why is this?