Is Side Mount the new DIR??? Building resentment towards us as a group...

[Wookie]

II kept hearing people saying I dont do doubles anymore because of xxxxxx injury. So I decided to skip the bad disk in my back and more wear on my knees and will do the sidemount thing.

I keep hearing this too. So I asked my orthopedic surgeon last time I went to have my knee done. His response was that weight on the shoulders is weight on the shoulders. For sure, SM can be easier to balance (BM tends to pull you off balance backwards), and shore entries are easier (carry in one tank, carry in another, clip in), but weight on the back is weight on the back. Rigging does not help discs or knees.

 

[toby43]

It's the scuba disease...the vanity of small differences....service providers (agencies and manufacturers) are not innocent in this regard I'm afraid.

 

[Razorista]

While I think most people misuse the reduced burden on the spine to just carry more weight less responsibly, I still believe a significant advantage exists:

You move part of the weight pulling on you downward towards the hips, reducing the weight pulling on the spine drastically.
That is useless for the knees however.
The knees still get a different advantage as they do not have to strain against the tank pulling you backward with each step.
Injured knees mostly dislike rotations and being pulled in a direction different from the direction of walking, they can take a lot of weight without issues if all the force is directed straight down, however.
Being stabilised by two tanks pulling you down with identical weight on both sides will also help while walking with knee injuries.

While diving in horizontal position there is less weigth pressing directly on the spine and ribcage.
On the other hand the strain on the lower back can still be significant and is concentrated mostly at the hip backplate.
Placement of the individual pieces of lead can be very important for people with back problems, no problem at all with damaged knees however.
If done well there should be no more than a few kilos stressing the injured or more sensitive areas, not felt at all by most.

But as I said most people then soon start to misuse that advantage, carrying both tanks one handed on land, swing one on their shoulders, or walk out of the water carrying 3 times their own weight in tanks and gas...

 

[The Chairman]

Rigging does not help discs or knees.

It can... here is my "rigging" to get down to the water, approximately 120 yds away. I do see peeps carry their gear all the way, sometimes both tanks at the same time. My first reaction is that they're doing it wrong, but it doesn't really affect me, now does it? I always offer the use of my cart at dive sites. Some people take advantage of it, and that includes Back mounters too. Elena dives Back Mount, and I usually use this to get her gear to the water. We're not getting any younger, you know.

Fully loaded and ready to roll...

Same cart a few years ago, after I had just made it.​

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I keep hearing this too. So I asked my orthopedic surgeon last time I went to have my knee done. His response was that weight on the shoulders is weight on the shoulders. For sure, SM can be easier to balance (BM tends to pull you off balance backwards), and shore entries are easier (carry in one tank, carry in another, clip in), but weight on the back is weight on the back. Rigging does not help discs or knees.

... it's that perception based on experience thing ... you dive mostly off a boat, while I dive mostly out of my car. So what you perceive as benefits and drawbacks are going to differ from what I perceive them to be. Almost all of the disagreements we read about here on ScubaBoard boil down to the differences in where we dive ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[WarrenZ]

Lower center of gravity with the tanks clipped on and waddling to the water seems safer when on a rocking boat. Taking the tanks to the water separately when shore diving sounds even better.

 

[The Chairman]

Almost all of the disagreements we read about here on ScubaBoard boil down to the differences in where we dive ...

Maybe not "Almost all...", but a goodly number in any event.

 

[Imbodie]

Sorry to hear your transition was a struggle Tim.
Can I assume the rig was 95% the problem?
I found comfort, control and trim all improved over bm. Immediately.

Yeah the rig was a LOT of it.... it wasn't a struggle though, it was a learning event.... but then after the rig update 30 minutes with Chris and things were REALLY rocking...

 

[kensuf]

It can... here is my "rigging" to get down to the water, approximately 120 yds away. I do see peeps carry their gear all the way, sometimes both tanks at the same time. My first reaction is that they're doing it wrong, but it doesn't really affect me, now does it? I always offer the use of my cart at dive sites. Some people take advantage of it, and that includes Back mounters too. Elena dives Back Mount, and I usually use this to get her gear to the water. We're not getting any younger, you know.

Fully loaded and ready to roll...

Same cart a few years ago, after I had just made it.​

What's the helmet for? Going skateboarding after?

 

[The Chairman]

What's the helmet for? Going skateboarding after?

My head's not nearly as hard as yours! For those who don't know, back mounted doubles act like a bumper guard for your head. Not perfect, but usually your tanks will hit the ceiling before your head does. Move those tanks out of the way and your head is less protected. Either way, this should be a very rare event... until you go lights out. Also, it's a great place to mount lights and a GoPro.