Question Sidemount in warm water?

[robbiny]

I’m answering this before reading your entire thread, so forgive me if I repeat something already said.

If you are talking about recreational dives on a dive boat filled with recreational, single tank divers, then just use single tanks like everyone else. It’s MUCH more convenient. Of course there are always people on the internet that will say it’s fine using doubles (SM is double tanks) on single tank dives, but in the real world it’s a pain for yourself and the operators of the boat.

If you love the cenotes (who doesn’t!) then learn sidemount for that environment, and practice your sidemount skills in cenotes and OW shore dives. That’s exactly what I did. On the occasion where I do some rec diving, typically in Cozumel while on a cave trip, I use a single tank on my back just like everyone else. In cave diving, which is the vast majority of my diving, I use SM and stages.

When I did ANDP, I did a few SM dives off a small boat. But those were deco dives, on a boat with tech divers and crew, with stages. And it was not easy to gear up and get everything sorted, and that’s with years of experience diving SM in caves. So….not ideal.

You mentioned currents in SM vs single tank. For sure you are less mobile and more affected by currents in double tanks. You have a bigger profile, even though SM is about as streamlined as you can get with 2 tanks, and quite a bit more mass to move around.

Divers use SM in caves because: 1) double tanks are required, and 2) the cave environment often favors the profile and flexibility of SM, and 3) it’s very convenient to gear up in the water. None of those things apply to single tank recreational diving off a boat.

Thank you that was really helpful and super detailed. Almost answered all my questions just a last one - when diving with single tank do you feel more vulnerable to currents and do you use an octo in that case?

 

[halocline]

Thank you that was really helpful and super detailed. Almost answered all my questions just a last one - when diving with single tank do you feel more vulnerable to currents and do you use an octo in that case?

No, you’re less vulnerable to currents with a single tank. In general, diving is physically easier and less effort when you are only moving around with one tank as opposed to two.

And yes, you always use an alternate 2nd stage when diving single tanks with other divers. That’s not negotiable with most diver charters, and it’s standard practice.

I don’t know where you are in your dive training and experience, but if you’re a new diver, diving for a while with a single tank is not a bad idea at all, even if your eventual goal is to cave dive.

 

[Tigerpaw]

That is correct, the Fling does not allow double sidemount. If you have a sidemount rig, they will only allow one tank only.

Don't believe they allow doubles of any sex on the MV Fling on the Flower Gardens (never went, but want to and have read their site, both under the old and new operators). They'll allow a pony for redundancy, but will only fill once on the trip. Doubt they'd allow an 80 as a pony, side or back mount.

Don't know if its the length of the dive at a given location that they wish to limit or if they are trying to avoid somebody getting themselves into a deco position as shore side support is only 10-12 hours away unless it's on one of those things that don't really fly but shake so violently that they kinda throws you up thorugh the

 

[grantmac]

Left tank only with primary donate is a really pleasant way to dive in the tropics and I personally prefer it to BM.

 

[Nemrod]

I have a couple of friends who dive warm water side mount. I have also encountered a few people here and there both double and single side mount. I am not going to do side mount because there is no interest on my part nor do I see any advantage for me (note that I said for me). However, they had reasons for their doing so that made sense to them, heavy air user, wanting to kit up and down in the water, bad knees, maybe just because they liked it, I do not know. But they were having fun and not causing any harm to anyone so why not, do you .

 

[robbiny]

Left tank only with primary donate is a really pleasant way to dive in the tropics and I personally prefer it to BM.

Is it the freedom of not been strapped by a tank on the back that made it pleasant?

 

[robbiny]

I have a couple of friends who dive warm water side mount. I have also encountered a few people here and there both double and single side mount. I am not going to do side mount because there is no interest on my part nor do I see any advantage for me (note that I said for me). However, they had reasons for their doing so that made sense to them, heavy air user, wanting to kit up and down in the water, bad knees, maybe just because they liked it, I do not know. But they were having fun and not causing any harm to anyone so why not, do you .

That is a great point. Most people dive for fun. I was thinking of this as a fun to myself learning new skills while being practical in some scenarios.