Hybrid Sidemount - with a standard Wing or BCD

[SlugLife]

More importantly I had definately not considered the handling of the tank on a boat/zodiac.

SideMount really shines here, because you can....

• Put on your sidemount rig, minus tanks.
• Lower each tank into the water one at a time (tethered of couse)
• Enter the water yourself fully kitted, minus tanks.
• Don tanks in the water 1 at a time.

Or in reverse

• Remove each tank 1-at-a-time and clip/tether/secure to the boat.
• Climb ladder without tanks.
• Pull up each tank 1-at-a-time.

If the only change that I have to make with independant tanks is to swap my regs every 20 or 30 bar then I think that that would be the best solution for me.

If you breathe down one tank faster than another in SM where the cylinders are far apart, the worst thing that happens is you very gradually start leaning to one side. I've done this in SM completely using 1-tank, while not using the other, and it gets noticeable and annoying towards the end of the dive, but is fairly manageable.

If your independent doubles are on your back next to eachother, I'd probably not worry about it that much, other than practicing regulator-switching as a highly valuable skill, or ensuring both tanks have enough air at all times to handle an emergency.

 

[NorCalDM]

SideMount really shines here, because you can....

• Put on your sidemount rig, minus tanks.
• Lower each tank into the water one at a time (tethered of couse)
• Enter the water yourself fully kitted, minus tanks.
• Don tanks in the water 1 at a time.

Or in reverse

• Remove each tank 1-at-a-time and clip/tether/secure to the boat.
• Climb ladder without tanks.
• Pull up each tank 1-at-a-time.

I'm a different tools for different jobs kind of guy and I think sidemount is great for certain types of diving but not practical for others. So what you described is not practical for some boat diving I do or have done, doable but practical maybe not. So how would you handle negative entries in current when you can't sit on the surface gearing up or you miss the target? We on S.B. have a tendency to push one-way is the only way to dive no matter what type of diving it is. I'm actually asking how, not trying to start an argument because I like the pros and cons when making a decision.

 

[Marie13]

IMO, the OP would be better off going with either independent doubles OR single tank slinging an 80.

 

[SlugLife]

I'm a different tools for different jobs kind of guy and I think sidemount is great for certain types of diving but not practical for others. So what you described is not practical for some boat diving I do or have done, doable but practical maybe not. So how would you handle negative entries in current when you can't sit on the surface gearing up or you miss the target? We on S.B. have a tendency to push one-way is the only way to dive no matter what type of diving it is. I'm actually asking how, not trying to start an argument because I like the pros and cons when making a decision.

Context: He said boat/zodiac, so I assumed a rather small boat. The thread is also about diving with two tanks of air.

I literally said "SideMount really shines here, because you can...." with "here" being a key word. Please don't include me in the "we" in "We on S.B. have a tendency to push one-way is the only way to dive no matter what."

 

[NorCalDM]

Context: He said boat/zodiac, so I assumed a rather small boat. The thread is also about diving with two tanks of air.

I literally said "SideMount really shines here, because you can...." with "here" being a key word. Please don't include me in the "we" in "We on S.B. have a tendency to push one-way is the only way to dive no matter what."

So your not going to answer the question? I legitimately wanted to know as I just did almost 30 dives in the last two weeks from a small boat/zodiac like I described on holiday which is what the OP was also asking about.

 

[Wibble]

I think small RIB diving with sidemount's perfectly achievable. Kit up in the boat with the cylinders resting on the sponsons.

Does depend how you clip the tins on though. I use a normal stage mounting kit with a top bolt snap which is clipped to a second, lower, chest D-ring. This means you can sort the bungees out in the water.

 

[SlugLife]

So your not going to answer the question? I legitimately wanted to know as I just did almost 30 dives in the last two weeks from a small boat/zodiac like I described on holiday which is what the OP was also asking about.

I missed the part where you asked about doing that in a current.

I'm lacking personal experience, that specific scenario with current. However, If I'm remembering correctly, on sidemounting.com they had an entry for this kind of scenario. They donned all of the gear in the boat, sat on the edge, with both tanks resting on the edge, clipped to top-d-rings, and rolled backwards into the water, and then secured the bungies after. I don't remember if lower d-rings were clipped while in the boat.

It's been about a year since I saw the video, and I think it's behind a paywall, so my description is probably not the best.

 

[happy-diver]

We were doing sidemount with TransPacs and Rangers and harnesses 20+ years ago no idiotnet





I'll have a half double decaff half caff with a twist of lemon.

 

[Bierstadt]

So your not going to answer the question? I legitimately wanted to know as I just did almost 30 dives in the last two weeks from a small boat/zodiac like I described on holiday which is what the OP was also asking about.

Sidemount is extremely flexible. For a negative entry, attach your tanks before you get in the water and wait to slide on your bungees until you are on your way down, or even all the way to the bottom if you have too much going on during the descent. For every situation there is an optimum order to kit up. My favorite is boat diving when it's fairly calm and I can deploy an equipment line, especially for the ascent. By the time I hit the surface I've shed my scooter, deco bottle, and right primary tank and I am climbing the ladder with just one tank, which I normally hand up too. It feels like cheating.

 

[NorCalDM]

Sidemount is extremely flexible. For a negative entry, attach your tanks before you get in the water and wait to slide on your bungees until you are on your way down, or even all the way to the bottom if you have too much going on during the descent. For every situation there is an optimum order to kit up. My favorite is boat diving when it's fairly calm and I can deploy an equipment line, especially for the ascent. By the time I hit the surface I've shed my scooter, deco bottle, and right primary tank and I am climbing the ladder with just one tank, which I normally hand up too. It feels like cheating.

Thank you for the reply. Most of my diving I don't have the luxury of sitting on the surface to gear up it is either in current/swell or punching through kelp and our shore diving usually has some surf as well. I hate to admit it but I'm getting older and my back and hips aren't what they used to be so looking at options but I like to hear the good and bad before I make a decision.