Sidemount for local, walk-in diving, for old farts.

[grantmac]

Yes the balance is easier, for me anyway. I'll bring the tanks down any challenging section one at a time, using the tank as balance if needed.
Should I slip badly I'm wearing at most 15kg tight to my spine instead of +30kg well off my back.

 

[gmerick]

You still have to pick up the cylinders, with a single arm

And sometimes while picking through the splash and rocks on the shore I pick up and set down that tank a half dozen times to maintain stability. But it is only one tank, no BC, and no ballast.

 

[34109411]

Older ST SB Members,

Are any of you older, but otherwise healthy, ST Members considering switching to sidemount for your local, walk-in rec dives--you know, because you think this configuration should provide a bit more stability as you enter and exit the water? (Falling when wearing even a smallish BM single or BM baby doubles will majorly ruin a septuagenarian's day!)

Have any of you made the switch from BM? Is sidemount too fiddly to recommend for this? Etc.

Twenty-something-year-old studly ST Members needn't reply to this thread.

TIA,
rx7diver

i feel your pain in your knees and your backs.

 

[rjack321]

And sometimes while picking through the splash and rocks on the shore I pick up and set down that tank a half dozen times to maintain stability. But it is only one tank, no BC, and no ballast.

yeah same. It's so much easier with a 50 which can basically function as a cane

 

[rx7diver]

i feel your pain in your knees and your backs.

My ankles, knees, hips (titanium since 2020), back, and shoulders are all fine. My leg, arm, and grip strength are all fine. My concern is with falling: Don't want to!

rx7diver

 

[34109411]

My ankles, knees, hips (titanium since 2020), back, and shoulders are all fine. My leg, arm, and grip strength are all fine. My concern is with falling: Don't want to!

rx7diver

oh we are buddy i like i have a titanium plate in my right arm since 2018. This being said i usually carry a 80 cf and sling a 30 cf on the left. I will start sidemount soon i bought all my kit just missing the training. I exclusively do shore diving. i honestly have problems with my knees and back. Not being the only reasons going SM but this will help for sure. I will put the tank directly in the water this will be much easier for me.

Be safe

 

[Tigerpaw]

While I still dive BM singles, I opted to go SM when I started technical diving. At my area lake, I stage my tanks, walk in and attach them and away I go. I found BM doubles to be heavy and bad for my knees and back. Sidemount is so much easier to manage in my opinion than BM doubles. Also with sidemount you can look down directly at your tanks and reach downward to cut them off if needed, whereas with doubles you're somewhat blind. Some boats don't cater to SM divers because of the extra gear and such BUT there are boats that do cater to SM divers you just have to find them. All that to say that yeah being an older diver SM is the way to go over BM doubles.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Tomorrow I get to climb over all sorts of slimy rocks to get in the water because of a minus tide.
I'll be using a single 120.
I let you know my answer later tomorrow if I break a knee cap, twist an ankle, or dislocate my hip joint.

 

[rx7diver]

Tomorrow I get to climb over all sorts of slimy rocks to get in the water because of a minus tide.
I'll be using a single 120.
I let you know my answer later tomorrow if I break a knee cap, twist an ankle, or dislocate my hip joint.

Don't joke about this! (Don't jinx yourself!)

rx7diver

 

[Nick_Radov]

OP here. I was not really thinking about the weight of the cylinder(s), but the weight up high on your back when wearing the cylinder(s). Wouldn't sidemount move your center of gravity a bit lower when you're wearing your cylinders as you're walking in? And, as an option, couldn't you walk with a cylinder in each hand, holding them by the valve, as you're walking in, to put your center of gravity even lower? A lower center of gravity should make you less unstable as you're walking in, correct?

I don't know about that. Subjectively, stability seems to decline when the weight moves further away from your center of mass. From doing various types of workouts I certainly feel less stable doing a farmer's carry with a kettlebell hanging down in each hand than rucking with the same total weight. Plus for balancing on a rough surface it really helps to be able to move your arms around freely as natural counterweights to compensate when you get off balance.