New to SM -- looking for recommendations

[grantmac]

Sidemount definitely doesn't work in wrecks:

Definitely shop the used market. Look for gear that sells well. I'm a fan of the Xdeep Tech (single bladder if diving dry).
Not a fan of the Nomad, SMS, etc. They only dive well with steels, in the same way as the Razor only dives well with aluminums. This is the Florida vs Mexico schools of thought, Xdeep crosses over between them. The Katana seems to do it as well.

I far prefer SM to BM whenever possible. The exception might be a long walk on a rough trail to a site where I only need one tank.
If I was diving off a small rhib, especially solo, SM would be the only configuration I'd consider.

 

[BoltSnap]

Thank you for your enviable support, you bear of a Muslim Brother you
Should I take this as a compliment
Come on give me a big hug,

You got yourself one heck of a bear Arab Libyan hug with a kiss on each cheek.

I'm sure you had a great Christmas as did I

LOL, I had the week off, not because it was Christmas but because the 24th is Libya's Independence day (my late uncle was the one who read the declaration of independence in 1951 and was Libya's first prime minister).

My uncle reading the declaration of independence is the second from left (first from left is Libya's King):

 

[MSargeant]

So what happens is you get told stuff, you believe stuff, and even if you maybe didn't believe stuff
you end up believing stuff that you maybe didn't, because the bloke telling you the stuff believes it

So enough about doctors and stuff

I'll have what this dude is having, it sounds powerful.

1.) How much of a difference does it make with back strain?
Quite well provided you lift things with appropriate technique. The ability to don/doff in the water is excellent and the lack of a rigid backplate most people find adds to the comfort.

2.) Is the extra cost worth it?
Second hand market is solid as others have mentioned. Just make sure you end up with the swivel turret + 5th port first stages, it'll save some ballache.

3.) Have any of you gone this route and regretted it?
The only people I know of that stopped diving sidemount are ones who felt they didn't receive good quality training, or packed in diving altogether.

 

[grassgreen]

In your original post you didnt factor in the cost of instruction. This often gets overlooked. A proper course with a proper Sidemount Instructor, preferably a technical or cave instructor also, can either make or break whether sidemount turns out being beneficial.
Sidemount is not just "clipping the tanks on "

 

[Bowers]

I switched to sidemount after a year of cave diving in twinsets. Sidemount has so many perks beyond reducing backstrain that im blown away when guys try to macho talk twinsets and convince people that sidemount is being overused.
If diving from your own boat you have no issue with needing to do things “their way” which sometimes is kitting up before entry. Instead just hang your tanks in the water and do all your donning and doffing there.
Lp50s with a cave fill will get you some decent bottom time with minimal sized tanks.
Do you dive a drysuit? Because two hp100’s would have my overweighted in a wetsuit and you are much smaller than me.
The argument that wreck diving requires narrow gear like twinsets has some validity but i just roll on my side while going through doorways. It’s worth that slight inconvenience for all the other benefits that sidemount gives.
One benefit sidemount gives that twinsets don’t is passive redundancy. In twinset you must recognize and isolate a problem quickly or it will drain both tanks (and you’re really screwed if the isolation valve is what started leaking) whereas with sidemount i could do nothing about a problem and my other tank will remain fine.

 

[Sea_Jay]

Agreed about cost, gear can be procured for a whole lot less.

You mentioned you work for a dive shop and that you will eventually do IDC; doesn’t your dive shop offer Keyman or at least significant discounts to its instructors/DMs?

Yes I get Keyman and also employee pricing; I was talking retail figures but that is not what I would end up paying.

 

[SlugLife]

Sidemount definitely doesn't work in wrecks:

That video seemed to suggest the opposite. Maybe I missed something? (sarcasm maybe?)

 

[grantmac]

That video seemed to suggest the opposite. Maybe I missed something? (sarcasm maybe?)

The heaviest of sarcasm.

One thought about rolling out of a rhib solo. I personally wouldn't do that without at least one tank on my person. Preferably the short hose/BCD inflator (left side usually).

 

[Jens Bölte]

in the same way as the Razor only dives well with aluminums.

Why is that the case?

Best wishes Jens

 

[addohm]

Hi all,

I am currently entertaining the idea of getting my sidemount certification, and I had a few questions for the experienced SM divers out there:

1.) How much of a difference does it make with back strain? I am 31 years old, 5"9" 135 lbs -- however I had a tumor removed from L3 about 15 years ago. While it doesn't hinder my current activities (including diving) I am somewhat apprehensive about strapping a twinset onto my back. I am always conscious of the weight that I load onto my back and HP100 (x2) just seems like a bad idea. With a single HP100 it takes some careful body control to "stand up" without straining myself.....I dive off of my own boat frequently so the idea of being helped over the gunnel is a turn-off to me.

2.) Is the extra cost worth it? I am looking at purchasing a SM-dedicated BCD (figure $1,000.00) in addition to a SM-oriented "pair" of regulators (figure $1,300.00) and this would be slinging two AL80s which I already own. I foresee myself purchasing HP100s almost immediately after the course (another $800.00) and then, if I have 200cf of 'back'gas on a single dive, I'm going to need a deco bottle (prob another $700.00 with regulator) ---- this is a huge cost and I am wondering if the tradeoff benefit is worth the extra expense.

3.) Have any of you gone this route and regretted it? Should I try my luck with BM twinset first? Am I overthinking it?

A little bit of background, if it makes a difference: I have been snorkeling since I could walk, I have been freediving for a decade & I have been SCUBA certified since 2017 (despite doing a number of dives with my family prior to certification.) I am currently Rescue Diver certified and working on my DM - and I work at a LDS. I have no plans to stop diving any time soon, and an IDC is in my near future (if the relationship with LDS continues as-is.) I am extremely comfortable in the water but at this time, I have no desire to pursue cave diving. I like wrecks but have only dabbled in actual penetration.

So for the veteran SM guys/gals....what say you? Run with it & see if its for me? Focus my finances and energy elsewhere? Open to all suggestions.

1) Theres really no weight to be concerned about. You put your tanks on in the water.

2) When I went SM, I never wanted to go back. I have to wear a back mounted single for instruction but thats the only time I do it.

3) I haven't. I think you are. Just do it!