DIR- Generic Any GUE instructor teaching Fundamentals in sidemount?

[Nick_Radov]

Local GUE groups organize dives for their members and part of that is the members using GUE configuration.
That's my perspective looking in.

There aren't really any official "local GUE groups" as such. There are a variety of local groups which are loosely affiliated with GUE but aren't really accountable to GUE HQ. Some of them are registered non-profit corporations, others are just an informal email list or Facebook group. The local groups are free to set their own rules about equipment configurations and other diving protocols. But generally divers wouldn't join one of those groups in the first place unless they had already bought into the GUE approach. Part of that approach involves using standardized gear configurations so that everyone can function smoothly as part of an integrated team.

For the dives we do in Northern California with BAUE there's no point in using sidemount. We have no cave diving or wreck penetration. So everyone uses standard backmount configuration for club dives (boat charters, projects, social beach dives, etc.). Circumstances differ in other groups.

 

[LFMarm]

So why not take the course in back mout?

Yes back mount isn't perfectly suited to all environments just the same way side mount isn't.
You should be choosing the correct configuration for the conditions.

Boat diving back mout

Tight cave diving or remote long trek to the dive site side mout if hard to beat

Don't dive sidemout because you think it's better of you want to be different.

Agree. The main reason I dive side mount is because it’s the easiest way for me to dive with 2 tanks when traveling: I can always find 2 AL80s and I only need to bring tank harness and wing. Definitely not to be different.

 

[grantmac]

Agree. The main reason I dive side mount is because it’s the easiest way for me to dive with 2 tanks when traveling: I can always find 2 AL80s and I only need to bring tank harness and wing. Definitely not to be different.

These are basically my reasons along with just preferring how it dives and I find it easier on some shore dives.
But SM isn't going to work for Fundies and doesn't fit in the GUE approach to standardization.

 

[rjack321]

Agree. The main reason I dive side mount is because it’s the easiest way for me to dive with 2 tanks when traveling: I can always find 2 AL80s and I only need to bring tank harness and wing. Definitely not to be different.

Your chances of travelling, to another area, finding GUE divers and finally expecting to join them on any significant dive or group charter, using SM, is quite low.

Just take the course in a single tank

 

[AJ]

You should be choosing the correct configuration for the conditions.

Boat diving back mout

Tight cave diving or remote long trek to the dive site side mout if hard to beat

There's one big downside on switching. To become really skilled on sidemount, you have to dive it a lot. It's a very different config than backmount. I know, because I switch between OC sidemount and CC backmount regurlarly.

But I agree, one should choose the best config if possible. If not, choose the scecond best, even if that means sidemount on a boat.

 

[PfcAJ]

just about anywhere you’re going to go that can support technical diving (ie diving that actually requires two tanks) will have manifolded doubles. And if you’re really goin in the weeds on some exploratory trip, the logistics of bringing manifolds/bands and assembling them on-site is peanuts compared to the rest of the steps needed to actually do said dive.

 

[LFMarm]

just about anywhere you’re going to go that can support technical diving (ie diving that actually requires two tanks) will have manifolded doubles. And if you’re really goin in the weeds on some exploratory trip, the logistics of bringing manifolds/bands and assembling them on-site is peanuts compared to the rest of the steps needed to actually do said dive.

Fully agree but 2 tanks for me doesn’t necessarily mean rec. I always dive with 2 tanks, also when doing recreational dives. For safety but mostly for training. In some of these locations, there is no tec support.

 

[crofrog]

Fully agree but 2 tanks for me doesn’t necessarily mean rec. I always dive with 2 tanks, also when doing recreational dives. For safety but mostly for training. In some of these locations, there is no tec support.

If you really just need 2 tanks because of whatever. Just sling an 80 as a travel stage and back mount the other one and only use the travel stage. That way you reserve your entire donatable gas supply and you basically never have to rebuild your rig.