Question Sidemount recommendations

[Disaac2604]

I’m looking to get into rec side mount
Anyone done a sm course in the Philippines/Indonesia/Malaysia?
Are there any recommendations for instructors around the Asia pacific region
I’m from Singapore but I don’t know any sidemount diving instructors here, my best luck was to travel out of Singapore for the course

 

[Nic2750]

Not in the Philippines/Indonesia/Malaysia, but pretty much directly between them. I did mine recently at Sam's Tours in Palau and was very happy with the course. I think the instructor is leaving for Europe in February, though.

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

I’m looking to get into rec side mount
Anyone done a sm course in the Philippines/Indonesia/Malaysia?
Are there any recommendations for instructors around the Asia pacific region
I’m from Singapore but I don’t know any sidemount diving instructors here, my best luck was to travel out of Singapore for the course

Do you have your own sidemount harness/bcd? If so, what brand?

I teach sidemount in Bali. My main focus is the XDeep but that will change soon to the UK Sump eXplorer series.

 

[lostsheep]

Andy Davis?

ETA: I have zero personal experience with Mr Davis but in the 8 or so years I’ve been SM diving, his posts and his blog have come up so often I owe him some kind of thanks for the info I’ve gleaned. Not saying I agree with all his conclusions but he has a lot of info out there.

 

[Disaac2604]

Do you have your own sidemount harness/bcd? If so, what brand?

I teach sidemount in Bali. My main focus is the XDeep but that will change soon to the UK Sump eXplorer series.

I have a diverite nomad xt, got it because it was basically brand new and seller was selling it cheap

 

[DogDiver]

There is no such thing as recreational sidemount. I’ll quote from the inventor of sidemount harness Lamar Hires owner of Dive Rite. There are only two reasons for going sidemount. 1 mission specific. 2 personal lifestyle.

 

[lostsheep]

There is no such thing as recreational sidemount. I’ll quote from the inventor of sidemount harness Lamar Hires owner of Dive Rite. There are only two reasons for going sidemount. 1 mission specific. 2 personal lifestyle.

Okay boomer.

The only reason you need to sidemount is because you want to.

 

[Big-swede]

There is no such thing as recreational sidemount. I’ll quote from the inventor of sidemount harness Lamar Hires owner of Dive Rite. There are only two reasons for going sidemount. 1 mission specific. 2 personal lifestyle.

Wow, i didn't know Lamar was over 100 years old.
Its impressive that someone of that age is still active.

I'll quote (not sure who but im sure someone's already said it) x "life is like a box of chocolates, if you come over a sidemount harness cheap you might as well try it eaven if its rec diving. All power to Aquaman."

 

[NDonahue]

There is no such thing as recreational sidemount. I’ll quote from the inventor of sidemount harness Lamar Hires owner of Dive Rite. There are only two reasons for going sidemount. 1 mission specific. 2 personal lifestyle.

google Mike Boon.

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

I have a diverite nomad xt, got it because it was basically brand new and seller was selling it cheap

The Nomad XT is a hybrid system that also does BM doubles and STBM. In my experience, any hybrid system is a system that does none of those things particularly well. I understand getting something because it is cheap though.

There is a LOT going on with that system, most of which is unnecessary. I could probably work with it since I understand the physics of sidemount but it is not something I have ever put my hands on other than to help a diver into one he brought with him.