Naïve question: Side mounting on tropical dive trips

[SkimFisher]

very true

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

The problem is finding steel tanks at resort locations like Cozumel.

Ask and ye shall receive. I dived steel 120s with Aldora in the Spring. But I was looking for an option when working with an operator that does not supply steelies. This last trip, I was meeting folks who had already booked with Blue Angel.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

i guess they would be easier because you could more easily bring your sm rig & put some cam bands on existing tanks than bring your own manifold & double up existing tanks.

That is very true. OTOH travel bands were designed to do exactly that with backmounted independent doubles. A sidemount rig offers a variation on the same theme of being able to easily band single AL 80s for doubles use and achieves the same end, so it is mostly a matter of preference.

A potential issue with backmounted independent AL80's from the average resort however is the position of a "standard" valve knob on the left tank - it is pointing toward the center and is darn hard to reach to shut down in the event of a freeflow.

In sidemount diving, the valve on the left tank is also facing inward and is not ideal, but it can still be easily reached with the right hand so it is a non issue.