Aggressor and sidemount

[Ministryofgiraffes]

Hi all, I’m due to go on an aggressor Jim church trip this year and someone just told me that aggressor has a ‘no dual side mount’ policy. Can anyone comment on this or confirm it? If it’s true it will p1ss me right off...I have a shagged hip and single sidemount is a b$gger for me when i’m trying to shoot macro..

 

[DogDiver]

Getting off a boat in sidemount is no problem. However, getting back on a moving object like a boat is a whole different problem. Been cave diving sidemount for over 10 years and will never do boat diving sidemount. Just a dumb idea.

 

[tursiops]

It is very clearly stated on their website.

 

[tursiops]

Hi all, I’m due to go on an aggressor Jim church trip this year and someone just told me that aggressor has a ‘no dual side mount’ policy. Can anyone comment on this or confirm it? If it’s true it will p1ss me right off...I have a shagged hip and single sidemount is a b$gger for me when i’m trying to shoot macro..

What's wrong with single tank backmount?

 

[runsongas]

can confirm, no dual tank. same as their no doubles policy whether banded or independent.

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

What's wrong with single tank backmount?

Nothing major, I just prefer the sidemount for trim when shooting and will have to take my back mount BCD which is a bit of a pain to lug on the flight. I also saw that it says it on the website, but I also understand/have heard that are things on the website that end up being more ‘options’ Once you get on the boat.

Either way, thanks for the response. I’ll post an update afterwards if anyone is interested.

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

can confirm, no dual tank. same as their no doubles policy whether banded or independent.

Ugh... tnx. I’ll try to get in the pool for a few runs before I go down.. what a pain.

 

[drrich2]

This came up on the Turks & Caicos Aggressor II back in April 2018. Another diver and his wife were onboard, and he (I think they, but at least he) had a side mount rig and wanted to dive side mount. Captain was under the impression Aggressor Fleet didn't allow it, so he ended up using a rental from them. At the end of the trip back in port, it turned out Aggressor Fleet didn't mind him using a side-mount BCD, but he could only use one tank. So they didn't charge him for nitrox and the Captain was apologetic about the misunderstanding.

I just checked the 'Know Before You Go' sheet for that particular boat; it says all dives should be planned as no decompression diving.

Since a side-mount rig with 2 tanks is, in effect, 'doubles' diving, I wonder if that's a concern? Or space a 2-tank rig would take up on a boat not set up for it? I wish Aggressor Fleet had a rep. post on the forum; it'd be interesting to hear their reasoning.

Richard.

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

It may be the way they secure tanks on the deck when you come up from a dive, if it’s a plastic tank brace as opposed to a belt, that could be the reasoning...or that they think it will mean divers ignore the divetime and stay down too long etc. I know there are a few rules they have that don’t really have much reasoning other than ‘ we just don’t want the hassle of divers doing whatever they want’...which is fair enough I suppose. We have all seen our fair share of yahoos.

 

[KathyV]

This came up on the Turks & Caicos Aggressor II back in April 2018. Another diver and his wife were onboard, and he (I think they, but at least he) had a side mount rig and wanted to dive side mount. Captain was under the impression Aggressor Fleet didn't allow it, so he ended up using a rental from them. At the end of the trip back in port, it turned out Aggressor Fleet didn't mind him using a side-mount BCD, but he could only use one tank. So they didn't charge him for nitrox and the Captain was apologetic about the misunderstanding.

I just checked the 'Know Before You Go' sheet for that particular boat; it says all dives should be planned as no decompression diving.

Since a side-mount rig with 2 tanks is, in effect, 'doubles' diving, I wonder if that's a concern? Or space a 2-tank rig would take up on a boat not set up for it? I wish Aggressor Fleet had a rep. post on the forum; it'd be interesting to hear their reasoning.

Richard.

It may be the way they secure tanks on the deck when you come up from a dive, if it’s a plastic tank brace as opposed to a belt, that could be the reasoning...or that they think it will mean divers ignore the divetime and stay down too long etc. I know there are a few rules they have that don’t really have much reasoning other than ‘ we just don’t want the hassle of divers doing whatever they want’...which is fair enough I suppose. We have all seen our fair share of yahoos.

There is a forum on SB devoted to the Aggressor Fleet, see the link below. It was started by Wayne Brown but he hasn't been around for awhile, but you could try posting your questions there.

Aggressor Fleet