Getting back into diving

[Celt]

Greetings

I'm an older diver getting back into the sport. I got certified in 1995 and will be diving while cruising. Starting out from San Francisco then down the coast and on to the Sea of Cortez. My main focus will be learning to sidemount.

I thought splitting my twins to 2 side mounted tanks would be easier on my back and tried side mount, it was worse. There not stable, which is a killer on your back on land. My solution when sailing was to rig a small block and tackle on the end of the boom and dress and undress in the water. I used the boom to swing my gear out and in. It takes a bit of practice but worth it. To get into my rig, singles or twins I have it just floating with the straps open behind me, push the rig under with both arms, like you’re trying to sit on it and slip yourself in as it wants to float up. Practice in a calm with a helper. As you get older you need to dive clever or it will give you up.

 

[Aquaviolator]

Definitely in the right spot for unlimited information! Another possibility with a bad back is inflating the BC and putting it in the water before and after diving with a float line> this was you can enter and exit the water without the weight of the BC with tanks, weights< etc.

 

[grantmac]

I thought splitting my twins to 2 side mounted tanks would be easier on my back and tried side mount, it was worse. There not stable, which is a killer on your back on land. My solution when sailing was to rig a small block and tackle on the end of the boom and dress and undress in the water. I used the boom to swing my gear out and in. It takes a bit of practice but worth it. To get into my rig, singles or twins I have it just floating with the straps open behind me, push the rig under with both arms, like you’re trying to sit on it and slip yourself in as it wants to float up. Practice in a calm with a helper. As you get older you need to dive clever or it will give you up.

Based on what you've written about sidemount I think you either got very poor training or gear which just didn't work.
Having dove both sidemount and backmount there is absolutely no comparison in terms of in water comfort or ease of handling out of the water.
The one narrow exception might be on large dive boats. Shore dives and small boats sidemount is far easier if you know what you're doing.

 

[happy-diver]

Yeah but it's still sidemount, like someone with tattoos they can't wear, awkward, that just don't fit, like sidemount

 

[Celt]

Based on what you've written about sidemount I think you either got very poor training or gear which just didn't work.
Having dove both sidemount and backmount there is absolutely no comparison in terms of in water comfort or ease of handling out of the water.
The one narrow exception might be on large dive boats. Shore dives and small boats sidemount is far easier if you know what you're doing.

The OP is using a 40 foot sailboat with limited room in the cockpit, for him side mounted tanks will not be easy. If he wants to dress in the water to take the weight off his back when he hangs the tanks in, there negative and will sink, causing them to bang the side of the boat, back mounted the bc can be inflated and the rig floated to leeward. If he hangs them deep they have to be hauled to the surface to clip them on, Been there and got the medal.

 

[grantmac]

A 40 ft sailboat is exactly where I wouldn't want doubles and would choose sidemount tanks. I've dove both on small boats and a set of doubles will destroy a cockpit sole in no time.
It's easy to just use the boom and a purchase to get them into and out of the water.

Sounds like you've only used very negative tanks, like the common 12L steel in Europe.
Sidemounting fairly neutral tanks is a completely different situation. Again this is either a poor training or equipment problem rather than an issue with the system. Good sidemount divers just don't struggle in the ways you describe.

 

[Celt]

A 40 ft sailboat is exactly where I wouldn't want doubles and would choose sidemount tanks. I've dove both on small boats and a set of doubles will destroy a cockpit sole in no time.
It's easy to just use the boom and a purchase to get them into and out of the water.

Sounds like you've only used very negative tanks, like the common 12L steel in Europe.
Sidemounting fairly neutral tanks is a completely different situation. Again this is either a poor training or equipment problem rather than an issue with the system. Good sidemount divers just don't struggle in the ways you describe.

Do fairly neutral tanks sink when full, if so they’ll bang off the hull when clipped off. The rig has to float to leeward in order to keep it and the diver clear of the boat. Are you sure good sidemount divers dress in the sea beside a sailing boat. It’s not easy or safe with the tanks sunk under the boat in any kind of sea.

 

[WaitAdamMinute]

Welcome back! I’m in a similar situation - took a few years off and now getting back into things and getting trained on sidemount soon!

 

[happy-diver]

Trained?
Trained for what?
Oh yeah sidemount diving!

 

[grantmac]

Do fairly neutral tanks sink when full, if so they’ll bang off the hull when clipped off. The rig has to float to leeward in order to keep it and the diver clear of the boat. Are you sure good sidemount divers dress in the sea beside a sailing boat. It’s not easy or safe with the tanks sunk under the boat in any kind of sea.

I don't think you understand sidemount well enough since you keep bringing up problems that don't exist.
Getting tanks on and off in water is extremely easy and safe with neutral tanks. Especially since you can enter with an inflated BCD and clip tanks before releasing them from the line you've run off the boom if needed. Or you can very easily clip them on while standing on the swim ladder.

Sailboats are tricky to dive off. A set of LP50s or even AL40s for rec dives would make a lot of sense and be super easy to handle.