Recreational Sidemount Diving: Is it still the Boss?

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Gary_Ward

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Scuba Instructor
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About 10 years ago, the diving world was abuzz with the concept of Sidemount Diving for recreational divers. PADI and other training agencies launched their specialty training programs and the equipment manufacturers quickly got on board too. Today we ask the question: Recreational Sidemount, Is it Still the Boss?

Join Jon and Gary for this hilarious conversation about the pro's and con's of this configuration and tell us are you for #TeamGary or #TeamJon?

 
I didn't like the video. It didn't address the pros/cons of sidemount for rec diving. That is, how the system is used for rec divers in the kind of diving rec divers do. The video could have been titled "The pros and cons of sidemount versus backmount diving" without any allusion to recreational diving. The fact that a rec diver could use a sidemount system at recreational depths to prepare themselves for deeper tech diving equally applies to backmount -- no pros or cons there. The video did a great job summarizing the history of sidemount, if only briefly and it did a fair job of outlining the pros and cons of the two systems. Interestingly, Jon mentioned early in the video that he is a sidemount instructor but later mentioned the last time he dove sidemount was five years ago. Mmm.....apparently, he's not doing much instructing!

The only benefit I see for either system outside of preparation for tech diving is the ability to do extended rec dives (ex. lobster hunting, photography, scientific missions, etc.). Apart from those specific missions rec divers time would be better spent focusing on buoyancy and trim skills.
 
I didn't like the video. It didn't address the pros/cons of sidemount for rec diving. That is, how the system is used for rec divers in the kind of diving rec divers do. The video could have been titled "The pros and cons of sidemount versus backmount diving" without any allusion to recreational diving. The fact that a rec diver could use a sidemount system at recreational depths to prepare themselves for deeper tech diving equally applies to backmount -- no pros or cons there. The video did a great job summarizing the history of backmount, if only briefly and it did a fair job of outlining the pros and cons of the two systems. Interestingly, Jon mentioned early in the video that he is a sidemount instructor but later mentioned the last time he dove sidemount was five years ago. Mmm.....apparently, he's not doing much instructing!

The only benefit I see for either system outside of preparation for tech diving is the ability to do extended rec dives (ex. lobster hunting, photography, scientific missions, etc.). Apart from those specific missions rec divers time would be better spent focusing on buoyancy and trim skills.

Thanks for the feedback EFX. The premise of any of our video's is NOT to tell you what is the best/worst in any given area of diving, but is to start another discussion. So the question we asked regarding sidemount for recreational diving is "Is it still the boss?" i.e. is it still relevant and do people feel the same way about they did 10 years ago. I'm not arrogant enough to suggest I have the answer to that.

As we said in the video, I am still a fan of the system, and from within a dive centre environment can still see that there is a place for it in the portfolio of options that can be offered. Jon is a tech and cave instructor and learned sidemount in a caving environment. In this space, he believes it is very relevant , but for him there is little (but not none) benefit for sidemount outside of caving - so no, he has not taught sidemount or dived sidemount for many years, as we don't live/work in an area known for its caves.

So back to the original point. What do you believe? Is sidemount as a system still as relevant today as it was 10 years ago for recreational diving, and could be marketed and supported better. Or has it reverted back to a more niche configuration with very little relevance for the average recreational diver?
 
The problem with recreational side mount as I see it, is that the average sport/recreational diver is not going to spend the time to get it right. It is not a slap it on and go solution like back mount is. Along those lines, I've met a few sport/recreational side mount instructors that also didn't spend the time to get it right either.
 
The problem with recreational side mount as I see it, is that the average sport/recreational diver is not going to spend the time to get it right. It is not a slap it on and go solution like back mount is. Along those lines, I've met a few sport/recreational side mount instructors that also didn't spend the time to get it right either.

You're right, and it is a real bugbear of mine too. I usually advise students that it takes 10-12 dives just to get used to the configuration and work it out. I think the worst I saw though was one of the pro's on the island where I live wanting to get in on the whole sidemount thing. He watched a couple of Youtube videos and then just rigged up a single tank on his side with a standard recreational regulator set on it (with the alto and long gauge hose) got a couple of photos up on their website, self-certified through PADI and started offering Sidemount courses. Roll on a few months when some piss had been extracted from him.... he asked me if I could show him some basics to get him started. I declined, suggesting he needed to do a full course and LEARN it.
 
I reject the premise. Never was the boss, never will be the boss. And especially for rec diving. A solution looking for a problem to all but a few people. Even on SB which is tech, goon and outlier ( I fit all three catagories ) heavy it's more bark than bite.

10-12 years ago, when I was in central america and Indo, I would have disagreed with you. It seemed as though every other young diver was wanting to do sidemount recreationally. At this time it was when Steve Martin's original Razr system was about all you could get hold of (or build one yourself), but it really was the fastest growing segment of diving and really appeared to be capturing people's imagination. Now? It does seem to have lost its relevance (or perhaps I'm not hanging with the young folks anymore), hence why I was asking the question.
 
I reject the premise. Never was the boss, never will be the boss.
Agree 100 (percent)
Single tank BM always has been, always will be "The Boss" for recreational diving. (Well until rebreathers take over in the rec world anyway.)
 
I also did not like the video and feel the titles of your videos are a bit of clickbait.

But as for recreational SM, there is quite a bit of hate for it here. I for one teach SM and know many people who will never dive caves yet they want the benefits of SM. Benefits such as true, independent redundancy, stability in all positions and of course the ease of getting up ladders. Many people want to take the weight off their backs due to bad backs or bad knees.

I love knowing that if I have a first stage failure, I do not have to worry about finding my buddy, signaling to them and getting gas from them all before I need another breath.

There are also people who have higher sac rates and dive with a buddy with a much lower sac rate. This allows the to learn a config that will not limit their buddy's dive times (think husband and wife)

To say SM is just for caves is myopic. I listed a few reasons about why SM is good for recreational diving and there are more. If you listen to Speaking Sidemount, there are people on there that will also state the same things.

IMO, saying SM is just for caves is like saying rebreathers are only for deco dives. In order to improve the industry we need to eliminate these hardline stances and limiting factors. Share the love of diving and the love of all the different configurations.
 
I dive tiny sidemount so think rec. sidemount is good, but not any current boss. I would not say casually doing rec. sidemount is easy.

If I think of a backmount diver in a jacket BC who dives occasionally for fun, seeing them manipulating LP50s on land or boat to gear up does not seem likely. It looks like a tech dive level of work. Compared to strapping on a jacket or even a backplate and standing up with it.

Partly due to tanks. The actual weight is not bad. Even with dual tanks, you need not weight (much) more in gear than singles backmount. But I think the admitted clutter adds to the self perception of more encumbrance. And clipping tanks on is more heavy work. Though I may be forgetting how my backmount rig felt.

The gain of sidemount is freer movement in the water. But long tanks hanging at the sides to get there is the cost. Ideal for ease would be smaller LP tanks. Like LP35, if they existed. I have an LP27 which is tiny and two would be nothing to gear up. That would be a effortless gear up and entry to the water. And likely no tank handing worry in the water. Or AL30s. That I would see as a casual easy type of sidemount to do. Just not as much gas.

Several (short) mermaid or merman dives with really tiny tanks would be a draw that could lead to doing it with 'larger' tanks like the LP50s (or AL40s).

Another entry seems like someone wanting a bit more self reliance from a flaky buddy/friend and sidemount being a way with all the mermaid/man possibility. They I could see going the full gearing up with 50s or 40s from the start. Solo was my entry, not that my buddies were flaky.

Now, if you are rigging in the water and someone else is hauling them into a boat, whatever tanks are fine. Though AL72s or LP50s seem good. Or being rigged on a gunnel and backrolling in, if they do not wack themselves. Or a boat entry with one rigged and carrying the right is easier, if they do not drop it.

And travel, if you will put 72s, 63s, or 80s in the water for me or have LP50s and all I need is my harness, wing and regs that is easier to travel with than a jacket or BP/W. But I think that is more subtle than the 'why try sidemount' starting point.

Cool question. The boss no. But ease of rec. is interesting.

On the video, yeah, tech doubles and stages does not play into the question you asked of rec. sidemount. Maybe small rec. doubles. but not tech. And the alternative is not doubles but the existing single tank. Between doubles and sidemount, doubles are cool but sidemount is fun (in the water).
 
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