I have been diving sidemount since 2011. My DIY rig is growing old and the wing is no longer in the best shape possible. I want a new rig.
I'd like to hear your suggestions. I will list some criteria below.
In short: no low profile D-rings or square D-rings or other weird stuff (KISS), weights on the 2 inch webbing only, no rigid backplate of any sort, lot's of lift.
I'd like to hear your suggestions. I will list some criteria below.
In short: no low profile D-rings or square D-rings or other weird stuff (KISS), weights on the 2 inch webbing only, no rigid backplate of any sort, lot's of lift.
- I am wearing drygloves or, occasionally, three finger neoprene mittens (wet). I do not want low profile D-rings... or I want to be able to replace them with something BIG instead. I can customize my rig if it is physically possible.
- No droppable weights or velcro-secured weight pouches. If I'd loose a weight in an overhead environment, be it a sump, a mine, an ice dive or a deco dive, I'd be in deep trouble. I want to thread my weights on the harness.
- I do not want a rigid back. The whole point with sidemount is that the kit does not restrict movement. I want to bend forward, backward, sideways, unhampered by my kit. I might actually do physical labor underwater lifting and moving heavy things (these dives would be shallow air dives though).
- I am carrying two 12L steel cylidenres (~HP100) and one to two deco gasses max (AL80 and such). In addition, I need 10 lbs of lead to stay submerged at the end of the dive. I need to make all this gear float would my drysuit catastrophically fail. (yeah, catastrophically fail does not necessarily mean 100% loss of buoyancy but better safe than sorry).