sidemount, the new "DIR"

[MXGratefulDiver]

I only know a few instructors pushing SM. Most seem to be divers who have no clue that they can do everything they aspire to in backmount (possibly easier on the learning curve, certainly for less $$)

The disturbing trend I'm seeing is sidemount instructors who did just enough diving in a sidemount rig to "qualify" to teach it. Their primary motivation is adding SM training to their "repertoire" of classes. Most can't tell you a thing they didn't read in a manual somewhere. My advice to those who ask me about sidemount training ... find an instructor who dives the rig outside of a classroom ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Superlyte27]

The disturbing trend I'm seeing is sidemount instructors who did just enough diving in a sidemount rig to "qualify" to teach it. Their primary motivation is adding SM training to their "repertoire" of classes. Most can't tell you a thing they didn't read in a manual somewhere. My advice to those who ask me about sidemount training ... find an instructor who dives the rig outside of a classroom ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

I agree, which is why I don't teach Sidemount (YET)

 

[chrisch]

The disturbing trend I'm seeing is sidemount instructors who did just enough diving in a sidemount rig to "qualify" to teach it. Their primary motivation is adding SM training to their "repertoire" of classes. Most can't tell you a thing they didn't read in a manual somewhere. My advice to those who ask me about sidemount training ... find an instructor who dives the rig outside of a classroom ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

This is a feature of the way diving is taught in the specialty market I'm afraid. However, if the student doesn't want to do anything other than familiarise themselves with a new gear configuration it's not such a big issue. the problem is where folks want to use SM to penetrate wrecks or other constrictions but don't have the relevant training for overhead that worries me. I#ve not seen an evidence of anyone thinking SM is a substitute for OHE training yet. But that is ....yet....

 

[Superlyte27]

This is a feature of the way diving is taught in the specialty market I'm afraid. However, if the student doesn't want to do anything other than familiarise themselves with a new gear configuration it's not such a big issue. the problem is where folks want to use SM to penetrate wrecks or other constrictions but don't have the relevant training for overhead that worries me. I#ve not seen an evidence of anyone thinking SM is a substitute for OHE training yet. But that is ....yet....

I think you might be missing NW's point. But I'm not sure.
Imagine you have a new Cavern or Intro to Cave student who is dead set on taking his class in a sidemount configuration. He signs up for Cavern and Intro with a "sidemount" instructor who had gone through the short number of dives necessary to be deemed a sidemount instructor (based on their agency standards). The diver is taught all the skills necessary for being a cave diver, but only 10% of the skills necessary for being a sidemount diver. Sure, they were given some brief discussion and instruction on how to set up the rig, but not really told why. They weren't given additional skills on removing bottles, reconnecting bottles when approaching restrictions with sharp turns or elevation changes. They were simply shown how to set up their gear. Have they received the proper sidemount instruction? Nope, because the instructor doesn't know everything he needs to know just because he's done a few dives as part of his Sidemount Instructor Cert.

To give you an example of this, I spoke with a sidemount diver who was cave diving a few weeks ago that didn't know he should be switching bottles back and forth. Breathe off the left one for 300 or 500psi, then breathe the right tank for 300 or 500psi.

There is more to sidemount diving than just wearing the gear. Hopefully a top notch instructor can teach you all of that. It's the reason I don't teach sidemount. I don't want to be anything but the best that I can be. And I'm certainly a long way away from that.

 

[JamesK]

I consider myself a sidemount diver now. I have been diving sidemount for over a year now and have over 100 dives in both OW and cave. I prefer sidemount to back mount. Does that make it the be all end all? Nope. For the dives I do it is what works best for me. Even if a dive does not require SM, I still dive it because I prefer it. It's simply what I like. If diving with back mount buddies we go over everything. If someone insists I dove BM, I will more then likely dive BM. Or I will find someone else to dive with. If the dive itself requires BM, I will dive BM.

It's all about enjoying the dive, and using a tool/system that works.

 

[DevonDiver]

The diver is taught all the skills necessary for being a cave diver, but only 10% of the skills necessary for being a sidemount diver. Sure, they were given some brief discussion and instruction on how to set up the rig, but not really told why.

Bad training is bad training. That isn't specific to sidemount only. One would hope that any conscientious cave instructor would know what issues needed to be taught - irregardless of whether the student were in sidemount or backmounted doubles. If they didn't... one could only hope they'd refrain from offering sidemount tuition until they could provide an equal outcome to what they do already in backmount.

I can't speak for every sm course run - but for PADI and ANDI, at least, there is a wide flexibility for the instructor to run a 'clinic-like' approach to sidemount theory. That allows (a good quality) instructor to dove-tail the sidemount training into the overall progression for overhead etc.

They weren't given additional skills on removing bottles, reconnecting bottles when approaching restrictions with sharp turns or elevation changes.

That wouldn't be included on a basic sidemount course... but neither would it be included on an equivalent equipment (not overhead) back-mount course. I'm thinking here that the sidemount should equate to an 'intro-to-tec', 'doubles familiarization' or 'advanced nitrox' sort of level. Basic equipment procedures and configurations. Cave training is cave training. THAT's when "dealing with restrictions" should be taught - if that's what's in the syllabus and/or a performance requirement for that level.

They were simply shown how to set up their gear. Have they received the proper sidemount instruction? Nope, because the instructor doesn't know everything he needs to know just because he's done a few dives as part of his Sidemount Instructor Cert.

I agree with you on this. As an example, PADI haven't even yet released a manual or DVD. That means a few (very few) experienced sm instructors are providing courses for a multitude of instructors and instructor-trainers. PADI are signing off those newly qualified pros to teach in rapid order. The latest 'Undersea Journal' boasts of the interest in SM...some 500 instructors signed off since May 2012 (when the basic course was released). Obviously... with a small pool of "experts" and a long trail of fast-track newbie sm instructors/ITs...and no manuals/materials... it's a bad case of Chinese whispers and degraded knowledge continuity.

To give you an example of this, I spoke with a sidemount diver who was cave diving a few weeks ago that didn't know he should be switching bottles back and forth. Breathe off the left one for 300 or 500psi, then breathe the right tank for 300 or 500psi.

That's as basic as basic can be. It is (even) mentioned clearly in the PADI SM instructor notes. Proper gas management should be mastered in confined...dive #1...day #1.

It is compelling evidence (and I've got a dozen similar stories) that the rush to promote SM has caused a gross dilution of experience.

 

[Superlyte27]

That wouldn't be included on a basic sidemount course...

Actually, it is covered in the IANTD Sidemount curriculum.

As an example, PADI haven't even yet released a manual or DVD. That means a few (very few) experienced sm instructors are providing courses for a multitude of instructors and instructor-trainers.

I'm trying not to giggle, but you really can't use PADI as the benchmark.

 

[DevonDiver]

Actually, it is covered in the IANTD Sidemount curriculum.

Miss-communication - what I meant was more the 'manipulation of diver, rig and tanks' for passage through restrictions specifically. The skill to partially or fully remove cylinders is included on every sidemount course (all agencies) that I know of.

I was thinking more along the line of specific 'tight environment' training, where the student puts the 'basic' partial/full removal skill into practice as part of more advanced overhead environment training.

I'm trying not to giggle, but you really can't use PADI as the benchmark.

Less 'benchmark', more 'lowest common denominator'.

 

[rjack321]

The disturbing trend I'm seeing is sidemount instructors who did just enough diving in a sidemount rig to "qualify" to teach it. Their primary motivation is adding SM training to their "repertoire" of classes. Most can't tell you a thing they didn't read in a manual somewhere. My advice to those who ask me about sidemount training ... find an instructor who dives the rig outside of a classroom ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

At least locally, these instructors have no clue. They've used what maybe one configuration for the bare minimum of dives in a non-overhead environment. Not even deco in many cases, certainly no drifting deco (like we sometimes do here) or tethered to the anchor line deco (like you might be required to do in the north atlantic). And for sure no actual sidemount caves.

I really don't have a problem with this, its just bad instruction that's all. Although some of our terrible backmount instructors are these very same terrible sidemount instructors. Somebody's got to be 10th %ile crappy instructor though. I just wish the 10%ile was a little higher.

Personally my biggest beef is with the marketing, its just unreal how sidemount is touted as the greatest thing for every dive. <sarcasm on> Backmount doubles and backmount CCR can't hold a candle to it <sarcasm off>. Lord help us when sidemount CCRs (which do exist) finally hit the mainstream, at least the price point might cause people to pause before jumping onto that bandwagon.

For the record, I did a sidemount dive off my RIB on Saturday. Normally I would dive backmount for a ~40ft open water dive. Air temp was about 38F, water temp at the surface was 41F. Gearing up was horrible, my hands, even in dry gloves were nearly numb. I kept thinking the tanks were going to slip off the tubes and plummet into 150+ft of water. But I was looking for a cave (actually florisene we dropped into the other end) so there was so plausible reason to be using the tanks and rig I brought, which was sidemount.

 

[TSandM]

Hmm . . . hadn't thought about the issue of handling sidemount equipment in below freezing temperatures, but you can sure see how it would be a problem!