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

[clownfishsydney]

I think the main reason a lot of people are against side mount is because many are using it when it is not the most appropriate setup for a dive. For example, using side mount for a simple shore dive, or a simple boat dive when a single tank would be far better (lighter, more streamlined, taking up less space on the boat, quicker to gear up etc).

I really am close to banning side mount on my private boat as the space is limited and they take so long to gear up compared to a normal set up.

I can understand using for caves and some wrecks, but I cannot even understand using on a non-penetration wreck when it has so much more drag, especially when we often have strong currents on the wrecks we dive in Sydney.

 

[Razorista]

... especially when we often have strong currents on the wrecks we dive in Sydney.

Because current is one of the main strength of open water sidemount.
So much 'superior' streamlining to a backmount setup it become indescribable.

There are more bad configs than good configs, however.
Additionally many choose sidemount because of some injury or something and simply could not manage strong current another way anymore.

 

[DevonDiver]

Perhaps the issue of 'building resentment' stems from sidemount diver frustration with hearing the same pointless generalities again and again...

"....it is not the most appropriate setup for a dive...." That depends on the diver's specific goal for the dive, not simply the dive parameters. Many sidemount divers practice... because spending hours in a rig is what makes them good at it.

"... a single tank would be far better..." Again, that depends on what the diver wants to achieve, and why.

"... they take so long to gear up compared to a normal set up.." Again, a crass generality. Who are 'they'? Beginners at sidemount? Beginners take longer to set up. People who practice something, tend to get quicker at doing it.

 

[Bennno]

@DevonDiver
I think what clowfish is getting at is that sidemount is unnecessary for dives that only require a single tank. IMHO, sidemount is a good alternative for doubles but not for single tank dives. When I dive of a 5m rib with 6 other divers, SM takes space away from other people and it's just overkill for a 60 min dive and a max deph of 25m.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It's sad to get tired of debating a system.

... what's sad is not having better things to do ...

"Debating" the merits of a system is rather a waste of time. I'm happy to explain, if asked, my opinion on a given configuration and the reasons why I have such an opinion. But "debating" someone else's choices ... and their reasons for making them ... is an exercise in condescension. We're all adults, and capable of evaluating our own choices, and making them for our own reasons.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[DevonDiver]

@DevonDiver
I think what clowfish is getting at is that sidemount is unnecessary for dives that only require a single tank. IMHO, sidemount is a good alternative for doubles but not for single tank dives. When I dive of a 5m rib with 6 other divers, SM takes space away from other people and it's just overkill for a 60 min dive and a max deph of 25m.

I understand the sentiment... but as I suggested, the divers' purpose is the divers' purpose. There are reasons to dive sidemount beyond 'need'.

Just like CCR (or even backmount), your fluidity, familiarity and skillfulness in a particular configuration improve with the hours your invest diving it.

If a dive boat goes out for a two-tank recreational dip... then the sidemount diver has two tanks. Every other diver has two tanks. What's to whinge about? Same number of tanks... pretty easy to count them on one hand... (with three fingers left over). |

Plus, the sidemount guy- diving the same cylinders for both dives, is the only one not causing hullabaloo on your 5m rib changing tanks between dives..

The initial premise of this thread was "building resentment because of sidemount divers attitudes". But all I see... repeatedly.... is these stupid arguments against sidemount diving (not divers)... and who doesn't get infuriated to be told that they are not welcome on X, Y or Z dive boats because of their chosen config....

Hey.... ban newbie divers also.... they take longer to set-up than anyone, in any rig. And pony cylinders take up space... ban them. BCDs over 40lbs lift... unnecessary for single tank recreational dives... ban them. Drysuits over 16-celcius... unnecessary... ban them.

 

[Bennno]

@DevonDiver
A bunch of shops I know have the people gear up, get on the boat and go back after one dive. In this situation SM is a bit of a hassle.
Other than that, I don't disagree with anything you're saying.

The initial premise of this thread was "building resentment because of sidemount divers attitudes". But all I see... repeatedly.... is these stupid arguments against sidemount diving (not divers)... and who doesn't get infuriated to be told that they are not welcome on X, Y or Z dive boats because of their chosen config....

I think what's building resentment is when people come on to strong. T

 

[Bennno]

If memory serves, Mr Schloeffel was the only German speaking Tech2 Instr. at the time when he left. Bluemed on here is an ISE instructor (Instructor Trainer?) along with Tom Steiner in Gozo. A few guys from a Belgian sidemount group I have some contact with have also moved moved over, they all look rock solid in the water .

All I have seen of ISE sidemount was the promotional video they made and that was ... mmm... lets say it wasn't very impressive, especially considering they wanna sell courses.
I'm not a fan of AL cylinders for cold water, I don't get why people do it. Less gas more weight and I don't like to use a backplate when sidemounting either.

 

[beester]

All I have seen of ISE sidemount was the promotional video they made and that was ... mmm... lets say it wasn't very impressive, especially considering they wanna sell courses.
I'm not a fan of AL cylinders for cold water, I don't get why people do it. Less gas more weight and I don't like to use a backplate when sidemounting either.

That's something I've never really understood... why use a backplate to sidemount? It doesn't remove the rigidity of the backmount system (because you still have a backplate on your back) which is basically as I understand it one of the advantages of sidemount diving.

 

[decompression]

That's something I've never really understood... why use a backplate to sidemount? It doesn't remove the rigidity of the backmount system (because you still have a backplate on your back) which is basically as I understand it one of the advantages of sidemount diving.

I quite often use a backplate when SM in cold water, thick undergarments and heavy steels. This is worlds away from the warm water SM set up for flexibility and freedom. You are already restricted by things, but the backplate helps with ballast and distributing the weight around.