@victorzamora
I stated several times that I share and understand DevonDiver's motivations and do not want to criticize anyone!
The only thing I wanted to point out is that we are not happy with what we got, but it is all we have!
Do not demotivate 'bad' instructors, if there are no better alternatives! (if there are, you have 'my blessings', flame as much as you like ;-))
Those people are doing what they can to give others a chance at 'finding an new way to experience diving'.
They are pointing their students towards Steve's vids -and others (when I was there they thought that you needed Steve's skill to look that way though and did not know that everybody could do that in a Razor with little training... they know better by now).
The only thing that could come out of this is that less people here convert to sidemount.
Personally I am convinced that even the worst sidemounter can do better and survive more critical situations than most other people using inferior equipment.
Even if everyone only converts to 'bad sidemount' - it would be a huge improvement.
It will not take long before everyone realizes that it is not that hard to look almost good enough to be in a Steve B. video on first glance and seek advanced training or try to get there on his or her own.
btw: Barakuda defines 'monkey diving' exactly like you do - I admit in my opinion they are able to do it with two tanks as well
But that's exactly what I meant regarding my own video. My 'style of diving' is essentially monkey diving - I monkey around - I rarely do real 'sidemount diving'.
It looks exactly the same when I do it though (or try to, more precisely). I see no reason to adopt an inferior way of carrying air around just because I have a different attitude regarding the dive.
I stated several times that I share and understand DevonDiver's motivations and do not want to criticize anyone!
The only thing I wanted to point out is that we are not happy with what we got, but it is all we have!
Do not demotivate 'bad' instructors, if there are no better alternatives! (if there are, you have 'my blessings', flame as much as you like ;-))
Those people are doing what they can to give others a chance at 'finding an new way to experience diving'.
They are pointing their students towards Steve's vids -and others (when I was there they thought that you needed Steve's skill to look that way though and did not know that everybody could do that in a Razor with little training... they know better by now).
The only thing that could come out of this is that less people here convert to sidemount.
Personally I am convinced that even the worst sidemounter can do better and survive more critical situations than most other people using inferior equipment.
Even if everyone only converts to 'bad sidemount' - it would be a huge improvement.
It will not take long before everyone realizes that it is not that hard to look almost good enough to be in a Steve B. video on first glance and seek advanced training or try to get there on his or her own.
btw: Barakuda defines 'monkey diving' exactly like you do - I admit in my opinion they are able to do it with two tanks as well
But that's exactly what I meant regarding my own video. My 'style of diving' is essentially monkey diving - I monkey around - I rarely do real 'sidemount diving'.
It looks exactly the same when I do it though (or try to, more precisely). I see no reason to adopt an inferior way of carrying air around just because I have a different attitude regarding the dive.