PADI: Would I be able to take my AOW in my sidemount rig?

[Reku]

I'm in the process of getting a new sidemount rig. Do you think any instructors would be opposed to me doing sidemount? What would you think of someone doing AOW in sidemount? (I'm preparing for the future. I already know I'm going the tech/wreck/cave route.)

 

[Scott]

I would accept a student who was geared up with sidemount.
It's allowed by standards so the only problem would be because the instructor knows nothing or little about sidemount.



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[Aquavelvet]

I would suggest if you're serious about going the tech route, skip the PADI weekend AOW course, and take the full individual specialty courses instead. Nitrox, Deep, Night / Limited Visibility, Rescue. All of these are fine with single tank backmount, and the Deep class may be an opportunity to add a pony bottle to your rig.
I suggest starting with a backplate and wing system, since that will be the foundation for most training after recreational. A BP&W has interchangeable parts that will allow switching between single and double tanks. If you ever train with GUE, that will require a BP&W system, as they don't use sidemount.
A sidemount rig is fun and very comfortable in open water, but really comes into its own in tight overhead spaces (caves). It's not popular for charter boat diving unless most of the boat is tech divers with similar setups. I've been known to dive single tank sidemount off a liveaboard, and that works Ok with a boat full of recreational divers.
I would suggest adding sidemount when you are transitioning into technical training. TDI Advanced Wreck, Advanced Nitrox or Cavern would be good courses to do in sidemount. Prior to that it would be good to take a separate Sidemount course and be well versed in neutral buoyancy and technical, anti-silting fin kicks.


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[KevinNM]

I'd also suggest finding a very good sidemount instructor and have them help you buy your gear and set up your rig. IIRC, lots of people are technically qualified to teach the PADI sidemount course who really have no business teaching people about sidemount. Cave Adventures in FL is a name that come up a lot, but I'm sure their are many other highly qualified instructors.

 

[Johanan]

If I understand correctly, "I'm a Fish" in your profile means, you have thousands of dives and you don't log them any longer? Why would you need the AOW? Agreed with Aquavelvet, For SM it would be much more purposeful to find a really good SM instructor and do the SM specialty course. Or, are you SM certified already and only getting your own gear? It's not clear from your post.

 

[DevonDiver]

I'm in the process of getting a new sidemount rig.

It's not clear if you already qualified in sidemount or plan to. That has a bearing on your questions.

Do you think any instructors would be opposed to me doing sidemount?

I primarily teach sidemount, so it's no problem. Other instructors might have a problem, especially if they aren't sidemount themselves, or were generally unfamiliar with the techniques involved.

You'd need a sidemount qualification though...

What would you think of someone doing AOW in sidemount?

I encourage it

I'm preparing for the future. I already know I'm going the tech/wreck/cave route.

In which case, definitely find an instructor who will train you "beginning with the end in mind".

Seek out a dedicated, specialist (not specialty) sidemount instructor... who also dives tech/overhead. Whilst you aren't at that level yet, only they will have knowledge and experience to help you get your foundations right from the start. The best instructors provide novice/intermediate students with a 'road map' to attain their future development goals.... that saves having to 'unlearn' bad habits, falling down later because of weak foundations.. and getting your gear selection all wrong.

For example: here's my 'primer' that I give my students before they attend training -
Technical Wreck Sidemount Equipment Primer | Free eBook

 

[Neilwood]

I would suggest if you're serious about going the tech route, skip the PADI weekend AOW course, and take the full individual specialty courses instead. Nitrox, Deep, Night / Limited Visibility, Rescue. All of these are fine with single tank backmount, and the Deep class may be an opportunity to add a pony bottle to your rig.
I suggest starting with a backplate and wing system, since that will be the foundation for most training after recreational. A BP&W has interchangeable parts that will allow switching between single and double tanks. If you ever train with GUE, that will require a BP&W system, as they don't use sidemount.
A sidemount rig is fun and very comfortable in open water, but really comes into its own in tight overhead spaces (caves). It's not popular for charter boat diving unless most of the boat is tech divers with similar setups. I've been known to dive single tank sidemount off a liveaboard, and that works Ok with a boat full of recreational divers.
I would suggest adding sidemount when you are transitioning into technical training. TDI Advanced Wreck, Advanced Nitrox or Cavern would be good courses to do in sidemount. Prior to that it would be good to take a separate Sidemount course and be well versed in neutral buoyancy and technical, anti-silting fin kicks.


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The reason for taking the AOW might be to allow them on to certain trips where AOW is asked for - it saves hassle if you can simply hand over the card for AOW rather than have to show all the cards to someone who may or may not know that they mean.

As for suggesting BP&W, there may be other reasons as well as tech for diving a sidemount such as physical limitations.

 

[Bob DBF]

I would suggest if you're serious about going the tech route, skip the PADI weekend AOW course, and take the full individual specialty courses instead. Nitrox, Deep, Night / Limited Visibility, Rescue.

You would not be able to get an AOW cert from PADI with those classes, UW Navigation is required. Also Rescue is a completely separate certification, you cannot take any part of it as a dive in AOW, in addition you have to have the Nav dive as a requirement for the Rescue class.


Bob

 

[tursiops]

Just do the AOW in sidemount, no big deal. If some bozo instructor objects, find a better instructor. You lose nothing by doing AOW, the dives count toward the full specialties later, if you choose to do them.

 

[Aquavelvet]

You would not be able to get an AOW cert from PADI with those classes, UW Navigation is required. Also Rescue is a completely separate certification, you cannot take any part of it as a dive in AOW, in addition you have to have the Nav dive as a requirement for the Rescue class.


Bob

These are all good points. I was thinking of some of the specialty classes that I got the most from. I forgot Nav, and should have mentioned that as well.
My own training was a mixture of PADI and SSI. Under SSI, one does not receive the AOW card until completion of four specialty programs (which may include Stress & Rescue) and at least 24 dives. I actually switched to SSI mid-stream because I preferred their approach. This was the basis for my recommendation of taking the full specialties, rather than the weekend course of 4 or 5 dives.
I used a Sidemount rig myself before ever strapping on a twinset. I found this easier on my back, though it does take a little longer to gear up this way. Having strengthened my back over the last couple years, I now alternate between a twinset and Sidemount based in the kind of dive I want to do.


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