Sidemount Rebreather

[lostsheep]

You are actually a taller profile than in backmount when you are moving around but that is rarely an issue in most caves.

WUT?

Wider obviously, but taller I don't think so. Someone get a tape measure and an inclinometer to check trim.

I'm not saying the OP needs a chop but this doesn't make sense. Care to elaborate?

 

[Tracy]

WUT?

Wider obviously, but taller I don't think so. Someone get a tape measure and an inclinometer to check trim.

I'm not saying the OP needs a chop but this doesn't make sense. Care to elaborate?

I think he is referring to using it with backmount doubles.
With the chop and backmount 50s, I am the same vertical profile as wearing my 104s. I also have the ability to swing it forward and cut that profile down a few inches.
In sidemount, I am probably four inches thicker with the chop, again with the ability to push it ahead if needed.

 

[lostsheep]

I think he is referring to using it with backmount doubles.
With the chop and backmount 50s, I am the same vertical profile as wearing my 104s. I also have the ability to swing it forward and cut that profile down a few inches.
In sidemount, I am probably four inches thicker with the chop, again with the ability to push it ahead if needed.

I interpreted the post to say the chop with SM was thicker than just OC doubles; it's very possible I misinterpreted.

 

[Whitrzac]

I interpreted the post to say the chop with SM was thicker than just OC doubles; it's very possible I misinterpreted.

I would bet it's very close though...
The chop is 4-5in + another 2-3in worth of wing/ harness/weights on the back. You might gain a tiny bit with it, but nothing in the ballpark of a sw/sm rb

I was going to do a comparison once a friend got theirs setup.

 

[tbone1004]

WUT?

Wider obviously, but taller I don't think so. Someone get a tape measure and an inclinometer to check trim.

I'm not saying the OP needs a chop but this doesn't make sense. Care to elaborate?

If you're feet are up properly then you have a taller profile because it hands below you and your feet are the highest point on your body. Pedantic? Sure, but at the same time if that's where they need to be to trim properly and move around adequately then they have to be up. You can get through slightly smaller spaces with the Choptima than in backmount without taking the unit off but we are only talking a couple of inches in vertical height at most for that, most of the time for a restriction you could pass in OC sidemount but not backmount you will be pushing it ahead of you. Big deal? Only for a couple of specific bedding planes but with this unit you have to be prepared to flip it ahead of you fairly often if you are serious about doing restrictions.

 

[sea_ledford]

@sea_ledford the Poseidon Se7en is being used by some of the AZA programs and any diver can be factory certified to service them. It's actually much more open than the Prism since it is open to any diver not just someone with a Huish dealer account. I'm 99% sure that Dive Rite will still do factory training for institution programs but don't quote me on that.

I completely forgot about the Poseidon. I know some aquariums were using them for dive experiences, or at least Georgia was. I think most of them are transiting to the prism though. Georgia Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cal Academy of Sciences, Cal Science Center, Moody Gardens, Aquarium of the Pacific are all on Prisms.

I'm a little surprised that Optimas aren't more popular. It's probably because the first version wasn't fantastic, and dive program adoption is a slow moving beast. The move to Prisms can be traced back to a conversation that Elliott Jessup (DSO at Cal Academy at the time) , Gregg Stanton and I had at the 2012ish AAUS symposium. Gregg convinced Elliott to go with the Prism, and it's been trickling down since then, mostly in the last few years, and primarily from the aquarium side of things.

 

[rjack321]

CHOPtima and/or Triton questions for those using them...

How easy is it to flip in forward and simultaneously run a reel? Can you unclip it and flip it forward with one hand or do you have to have both right and left hands free to address each side's clips? Do you have to use both hands to hold it in front of you or is one (or no) hand enough? Can you see past it when flipped forward? Does it float, sink, or is it basically neutral flipped forward? When flipped forward does it rise and fall as you inhale/exhale through the CL? Does it mess with your trim to flip it forward? Is it possible to angle it off to the side? eg flipped partially forward but 45degrees to your body to go around a corner?

 

[Tracy]

CHOPtima and/or Triton questions for those using them...

How easy is it to flip in forward and simultaneously run a reel?

You could. It wouldn't be very smooth if you stayed on the loop.

Can you unclip it and flip it forward with one hand or do you have to have both right and left hands free to address each side's clips?

You would need each hand free, they don't need to be done at the same time, you can switch hands if holding something.

Do you have to use both hands to hold it in front of you or is one (or no) hand enough?

no

Can you see past it when flipped forward?

yes

Does it float, sink, or is it basically neutral flipped forward?

Depends on how you configure it, it your oxygen is on board, it is neutral, but tail heavy, so it sinks down while flipped. With no onboard bottle It is floaty.

When flipped forward does it rise and fall as you inhale/exhale through the CL?

yes

Does it mess with your trim to flip it forward?

Again, same answer as before. It depends on your configuration. With no bottle mounted to it, nothing changes when I flip it forward. Bottle mounted will cause you to go head down.

Is it possible to angle it off to the side? eg flipped partially forward but 45degrees to your body to go around a corner?

Yes, but not while on the loop. The loop is very short. It would pull out of your mouth.

 

[GiraffeMarineSalvage]

You could. It wouldn't be very smooth if you stayed on the loop.

You would need each hand free, they don't need to be done at the same time, you can switch hands if holding something.

no

yes

Depends on how you configure it, it your oxygen is on board, it is neutral, but tail heavy, so it sinks down while flipped. With no onboard bottle It is floaty.

yes

Again, same answer as before. It depends on your configuration. With no bottle mounted to it, nothing changes when I flip it forward. Bottle mounted will cause you to go head down.

Yes, but not while on the loop. The loop is very short. It would pull out of your mouth.

Pretty much ditto for Triton, other than with standard 2L aluminum O2 bottle configured on the Triton it is basically neutral (I can't speak to Triton's tank because bought it without a tank so I wouldn't have to deal with trying to get a hydro from the USA on an EU tank which didn't have DOT/TC markings).

 

[rjack321]

Thank you @Tracy and @GiraffeMarineSalvage
I have a sidewinder in my stable right now... which is great except for totally sucking at trying to put suit gas on it, boat diving in general, and having the flood tolerance of a housemouse. So was curious about the pluses and minuses of the whole "flipping forward" which is unique to chest mount.