MichaelMc
Working toward Cenotes
Assuming you're experienced in both, do you feel more effective guiding/leading in back mount or side mount? Why? With similar gas loads, not small back vs. 2x big side. ETA: Do you see one as a more suited tool for that role?
I've shadowed post-AOW students many times and lead a few groups of post-AOW friends, all in back mount. Yet I've started diving sidemount myself. For people experienced in side mount and back mount, I'm curious how they have found leading divers, of any type, to differ when you yourself are in back or side. If people are leading divers, I assume they're also assisting or teaching and thus interact with groups while wearing at least back and possibly side. I've seen one comment on supervising in side vs. back mount but no other remarks.
Redundancy might be a difference, but back mount can be redundant with little extra load with either a pony, back or slung, or tiny doubles, AL40/LP50.
I'm not talking about teaching itself, where compatibility with student gear is an issue. ETA: But being leader, if not necessarily navigator, for some less experienced folk, in OW, that you are responsible for.
Edit: Changed from ‘capable’ to ‘effective”, as in more suited tool. Can’t change the poll title though.
I've shadowed post-AOW students many times and lead a few groups of post-AOW friends, all in back mount. Yet I've started diving sidemount myself. For people experienced in side mount and back mount, I'm curious how they have found leading divers, of any type, to differ when you yourself are in back or side. If people are leading divers, I assume they're also assisting or teaching and thus interact with groups while wearing at least back and possibly side. I've seen one comment on supervising in side vs. back mount but no other remarks.
Redundancy might be a difference, but back mount can be redundant with little extra load with either a pony, back or slung, or tiny doubles, AL40/LP50.
I'm not talking about teaching itself, where compatibility with student gear is an issue. ETA: But being leader, if not necessarily navigator, for some less experienced folk, in OW, that you are responsible for.
Edit: Changed from ‘capable’ to ‘effective”, as in more suited tool. Can’t change the poll title though.