is Sidemount diving more safe?

[Stunni]

point. proper training is all... but high quality gear seems to compensate everything...
as a good buddy and Instructor always says: Put the money in equipment and not in Training cause the salesman never gives you a bollocking...

 

[Wibble]

point. proper training is all... but high quality gear seems to compensate everything...
as a good buddy and Instructor always says: Put the money in equipment and not in Training cause the salesman never gives you a bollocking...
View attachment 817421

Is that a throttle on his left?

 

[Wibble]

What risks are you trying to mitigate?

Getting stuck in a restriction or a broken manifold? Sidemount helps.

Preventing broken bones before jumping off a rocking boat? Backmount wins, no contest.

What level of training? Sidemount requires more training and tweaking - we had to put a diver on O2, as he skipped 10 mines of deco after he was not able to dump gas from his sidemount wing due to its construction/his trim. I haven’t seen that happen with backmount.

Being able to shut down a valve and analyse what's going wrong is possible in sidemount; far more difficult in backmount. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Having two completely redundant gas sources should anything happen whereas backmount you could breathe down your entire gas source. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Having superb trim and streamlining, even when at any angle. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Being able to split your equipment up for carrying and transport. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Cheaper testing and servicing (no manifold). Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Having a lower profile when in wrecks or overheads. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

So far that's 6-nill to Sidemount.

 

[Stunni]

Is that a throttle on his left?

suppose its a torch. ... maybe he thought there was some space to decorate...

 

[Stunni]

Being able to shut down a valve and analyse what's going wrong is possible in sidemount; far more difficult in backmount. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Having two completely redundant gas sources should anything happen whereas backmount you could breathe down your entire gas source. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Having superb trim and streamlining, even when at any angle. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Being able to split your equipment up for carrying and transport. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Cheaper testing and servicing (no manifold). Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

Having a lower profile when in wrecks or overheads. Sidemount 1, Backmount 0.

So far that's 6-nill to Sidemount.

left Air, right EAN
7-0

ok, out of redundancy, but one death you always have to die

 

[SlugLife]

So far that's 6-nill to Sidemount.

More likely to have other people complain about your kit. SideMount 0, BackMount 1

 

[Stunni]

More likely to have other people complain about your kit. SideMount 0, BackMount 1

looking sexier in SM outfit
8-1

 

[SlugLife]

More likely to have other people complain about your kit. SideMount 0, BackMount 1

Less likely to care what other people think about your kit. SideMount 1, Backmount 0.

 

[grantmac]

What risks are you trying to mitigate?

Getting stuck in a restriction or a broken manifold? Sidemount helps.

Preventing broken bones before jumping off a rocking boat? Backmount wins, no contest.

What level of training? Sidemount requires more training and tweaking - we had to put a diver on O2, as he skipped 10 mines of deco after he was not able to dump gas from his sidemount wing due to its construction/his trim. I haven’t seen that happen with backmount.

Out of curiosity, which BCD?

 

[Marie13]

Out of curiosity, which BCD?

It’s apparently an issue for some people with shorter arms that they have a difficult time reaching the butt dump (the only dump) on the X-Deep style SM rigs when the wing is fully inflated.