broncobowsher
Contributor
Since the OP wants to do both, I'm not down the path of which is best in a pool test dive. It's which one to start with. If he is really going to own both setups, I think sidemount is easier to get into with what he is starting with.BB...
All good points...but nothing beats...taking the time trying...before spending the money buying...
As far as cylinder collecting...at some point...annual service costs/actual use/practicality far out-strip bragging rights and ''perceived need''...
W.M...
As far as the cylinder collecting, Every time I thought I was going to get rid of one because I got something different I found I still had a need for the one I was going to get rid of. Twice I thought I was going to sell off my AL80s, only to keep them. Both have trimix in them right now. Steel 100s, don't dive them, but they are a good way to get clean high pressure air home from the dive shop. AL40s, OK I may have an extra one that I don't use but I bought the last two as a good deal on a pair. I have one extra cylinder. My last 3-day road trip dive weekend I had 10 cylinders in the truck with me, used everything I brought. Yes the annual service is a pain, but it is what is needed. Now if I owned 2 more 3L bottles I could have left 3 big bottles and the booster at home. So really I need more. What could I really get rid of? One of the AL40s and one HP100 are not completely needed. But the HP100s are twins, consecutive numbers. Been thinking that they would be good for doubles. So one extra AL40.
A cylinder is usually one of the last things someone buys when getting dive gear. It is also one of the items they can never get rid of and just keep getting more. Starts off with wanting to make more dives in a day/weekend before going back to the dive shop. Turns into collecting special cylinders for special needs. The only "perceived need" in owning all the cylinders I own is the need to dive. I could just go back to renting an AL80 from the dive shop and dive a single tank setup. That would get rid of all my annual service costs. But it will also limit my diving.