Need two LP95's

[Docc]

*sigh* Ok, fine. If y'all are going to go sidemount, I guess I'm going to have to as well!

(plus, the idea of not having to walk up the hill with 100 lbs of gear on my back is really appealing!)

That and the fact that it looks really cool and you can scooter really fast!

What rig are you folks using?

I tried the Recon I this past weekend. A little more complex design than I'd like but overall, very pleased with it.

It's a minimalist rig made by BrockBR. PM him for info. I'm not sure yet whether or not it's a rig he may want to market some day so I'd rather he do the explaining. I think he had some photos of an earlier generation on TDS.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Why are you guys bothering with backmount if you know you want to dive sidemount? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to take a course in backmount only to do your non-training dives in a different configuration.

 

[mwhities]

Why are you guys bothering with backmount if you know you want to dive sidemount? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to take a course in backmount only to do your non-training dives in a different configuration.

I'm not sure I can dive SM.. and I'm not sure Kenny P. can train us in SM...

Michael

 

[Docc]

Why are you guys bothering with backmount if you know you want to dive sidemount? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to take a course in backmount only to do your non-training dives in a different configuration.

I have an AN/DP course scheduled and Cavern scheduled and both instructors require backmount. My desire is to learn the fundamentals in backmount. From my VERY LIMITED sidemount experience it seems skills are harder in backmount. Exacting buoyancy control is harder in backmount. Propulsion is more demanding in backmount. I think if I learn the hard way, the easy way will take care of itself. Plus I paid good money for my double 104's and I want to get some use out of them. A year from now they may be split into cylinders for sidemount.

 

[denisegg]

That is pretty much the way I feel about it. I paid alot of money for my double HP100's and I want to get some use out of them. I use H valves on my singles and the same b/p, harness and regs for both so my set up is exactly the same for singles or doubles, just a different wing. I would also like to do some wreck penetration at some point and the idea of SM from a boat in the ocean doesn't sound as doable as backmount. I will take the plunge and try SM at some point. I already have a DR transpac so all I would need to add is the nomad wing and buttplate.

 

[Docc]

SM from a boat in the ocean doesn't sound as doable as backmount.

I'm gonna try it in Jamaica next week which is why we tested it first with two AL80's. I'm gonna try both gearing up in the water and gearing up in the boat and see which works best. I imagine it will freak out the DMs but I tip well so they'll get over it.

 

[denisegg]

I can see the DM trying to set up your gear for you Let me know how it works out

 

[Docc]

I can see the DM trying to set up your gear for you Let me know how it works out

I always set up my own gear. Most Jamaica boats I've been on, when they see the BP/W, 7' hose, etc. they usually ask me if I want to set it up myself, which of course I do. Those boats have mostly tourist divers from the resorts anyway so the DMs are always busy helping them figure out "which side of the oxygen tank does the breathing thing go on?" The good thing is they let you be first in, last out when they don't have to worry about watching you and making sure you can find the boat.

 

[denisegg]

I have actually started setting my gear up before getting on the boat. With dual 1st and 2nds, 7 ft hose, lights, reels, etc., it makes life so much easier. Then all I have is a small bag for my mask, fins and wetsuit.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I have an AN/DP course scheduled and Cavern scheduled and both instructors require backmount. My desire is to learn the fundamentals in backmount. From my VERY LIMITED sidemount experience it seems skills are harder in backmount. Exacting buoyancy control is harder in backmount. Propulsion is more demanding in backmount. I think if I learn the hard way, the easy way will take care of itself. Plus I paid good money for my double 104's and I want to get some use out of them. A year from now they may be split into cylinders for sidemount.

My trim and bouyancy were flat out ON, when I moved from a single tank to backmounted doubles. This was not the case when I moved to sidemount, it took much more tuning for me to get "true".

Depending on your sidemount rig, propulsion may not be any better. Lots of people consider sidemount less streamlined. Me? I personally didn't see any difference at all in streamlining or propulsion.

Valve drills may be the only thing I can think of that would be any harder in backmount. Sidemount will actually add a slight bit of task loading(which will become natural with practice).

When you split your 104s, those bands and isolator bar will still sell for perfectly good money!

I'm with Dive_Aholic. If you know that you will be diving sidemount in caves, why dive in a setup now that will teach you muscle memory that you will have to unlearn later on? Its easier to learn a muscle memory than to relearn a new one after a set of skills have already been established.

I guess it really depends on how much you think you'll dive BM doubles... If you plan to continue on with doubles in the future for other aspects of diving, probably not a bad idea, especially if you are already diving that way. If you plan to fully drop doubles for sidemount diving, I think you are truly wasting effort.

Sidemount diving is easier to get into the water and it makes tighter caves accessible. I wouldn't say its any easier in any other aspect, so if you are looking for the tougher way to cave dive first... I think you got the wrong idea.