BC Remove and Replace Skill

[Blackcrusader]

I have one word: sidemount!

For basic OW students?

 

[Cthippo]

For basic OW students?

I mean, why not? Anything is "normal" if you learn on it the first time. My OW was on BP/W because it is all that would fit me, so to me it is totally normal.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

For basic OW students?

Some students do take open water in sidemount. It is rare though

 

[MichaelMc]

Cold water R and R is much easier without all your weight on the rig. I can do R and R in a 20/10 farmer john in the ocean, off the bottom, horizontal and smoothly. But I have 12 pounds on a weight belt. That way the rig is only moderately heavy and very manageable to take over the head and down in front of the chest.

It is just like the modularity of BP/W, some lead on me, some lead on the rig. The rest of my lead is high up on my rig so I still have a balanced weight distribution.

R and R is good practice in knowing your equipment and how to work with it under the water.

But yes, sidemount is much easier to fix underwater.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Some students do take open water in sidemount. It is rare though

I believe most agencies have a pre-requisite number of OW dives first though?

If you're a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, at least 18 years old and have a minimum of 30 logged dives, you qualify to enroll in a Tec Sidemount Diver course. It's recommended that you also have a PADI Enriched Air Diver certification.

SDI/TDI Sidemount Diver Program - International Training - SDI | TDI | ERDI | PFI

www.tdisdi.com

 

[MichaelMc]

I believe most agencies have a pre-requisite number of OW dives first though?

Padi and RAID allow sidemount to start within the OW class. SSI, SDI and TDI immediately after.

Padi allows incorporating the performance standards for the first of three sidemount dives into the OW class dives 2, 3 or 4. Minimum age is 15. Dive 2 and 3 of the sidemount cert are completed after the OW class. Sidemount prereqs are OW and 15 years, so you could complete your sidemount cert with lifetime dives 5 and 6. Why were you quoting the tech sidemount prereqs?

RAID sidemount can be combined with OW, according to the sidemount student guide.

SSI does not allow combining specialty dives with OW. But prereq for sidemount are 12 years and referral (OW) diver.

SDI sidemount requires OW and 18 years or 15 with parental consent.
TDI tech sidemount requires OW and 18 years, via the link you provided.

NAUI puts sidemount under technical diving, which I think used to require intro to tech, but now seems to just need AOW.

 

[rongoodman]

Does anyone knows for sure - do they teach BC removal and replace as part of cave or tech classes? I don't remember that being covered.

I remember doing it on the surface in my rebreather class. Didn't do it in cave or trimix, although in my last sidemount cave class I was taking off one tank to get through restrictions.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I believe @Jim Lapenta teaches sometimes students in his SDI open water courses in sidemount.

Is this correct Jim?

 

[sea_ledford]

How much lead did you have when in your dry suit? And how was it distributed?

I would be in my steel plate and either a HP100 and about 6 lbs total or in an al80 with 10lbs in pockets on the waist band.

Don't get me wrong, not getting separated from your gear with a lot of weight can be a challenge, which is why it's nice to practice it. Doff over the head and keep it close to the body and there aren't any problems. Or take it off jacket style, but have the diver spin into and out of it but that is easier to do when vertical rather than horizontal.

 

[sea_ledford]

That's interesting about the mask. I had it happen to me on one dive. Mask strap broke. I can't remember exactly how since I always replace rubber / silicon straps with some slap strap. I was also on a separate dive when a dive buddy looked strange somehow. I took a closer look and realized he was holding his mask on his face as his strap had broken. He was simultaneously reaching in his pocket for his backup mask so he had it under control.

I guess that was just a case of lightning striking twice. Who knows.

I did have one other situation where a buddy switched out a mask. For some reason, the mask she was using was fogging like crazy. She effed with it for a while but then gave up. She stopped the dive, changed out her mask and then we went on our merry way.

Mask straps are there to keep your mask on your face at the surface. You can do a whole dive with no mask strap at all and not have any problems. When I have students that have their straps too tight, I'll have them take the strap off their head, exhale through their nose and shake their head back and forth to try to get the mask off. They can't do it until the mask is completely flooded.