You have received some good replies. I will echo some, and take issue with some. But, I will start with my responses to your questions / comments.
What I could probably say is, 'Ah, grasshopper, I had to start diving doubles using a manifolded BM configuration, so therefore you should as well.' But, that sounds a bit like, 'I had to walk uphill 5 miles, both ways, in the snow, carrying double 130s on my back and 2 decos bottles clipped on the left side of my harness, just to get to the dive site. Therefore, you must do that as well.'
You see more of this, than 'sidemount as the first doubles experience' because the majority of divers who start diving sidemount are still those who have already been diving backmount, and decided to try a different gear configuration That is changing a bit, but the pendulum definitely has not yet swung.I don't know whether this observation is correct, but divers seem to switch to sidemount configuration from backmount twinsets.
Now, I will comment on several other points that have come out in various posts.Johanan:I feel tempted to skip backmount doubles and go straigt to sidemount. . . .
a. I'd like to dive in caves some day; Either starting point (BM or SM will work for you if you ultimately plan to dive caves.
b. I'm not exactly young. My diver's "life expectancy" is not as long I would wish. I should avoid making detours; BM is NOT a detour at all.
c. Haven't tried, but I can hardly imagine myself walking around with two big steel tanks on my back. Sidemount may offer at least a partial solution for that. Fortunately, the 'walking around' part is fairly limited, in BM or SM. But, this is a legitimate issue.
d. I could save some money for a manifold, a doubles' wing and other equipment I don't necessarily need and invest it in a better sidemount rig; Don't count on saving money either way. I appreciate your thinking - save on the manifold, bands, etc. But, I suspect most (not all, but many) divers who use SM also use some BM. There is NOTHING wrong with starting doubles in a SM rig (I encourage it). But, I wouldn't use cost as a reason.
How prudent would it be to skip the backmount doubles? Will it cause any limitations in dives I can perform, in courses I can take or perhaps in finding buddies? It is prudent, but not required. There should be no limitation on dives at all (despite some of the comments in the 'other' thread that I know you are following). And, if you have trouble finding buddies, because BM doubles divers don't want to dive with you just because you are in SM, look for other, competent buddies.
Have seen that as well. There is no reason a diver needs extra time to get kitted up on a boat, and get in the water, just because they are diving SM. I have seen boats where the crew (for some unknown reason) wants them to go in last, then 'blames' the diver, which is simply BS. But, I have also seen a few SM divers 'futz' with their gear too much, probably because of lack of familiarity with it.Mike2Fst:there are many who sidemount and lack proficiency, many have homemade attachments which serve their purpose poorly. Unfortunately, these folks give sidemount a bad name by burdening the boat crew, taking forever to hit the water and having a setup that looks like they've used twine to secure 2 tanks, one on either side.
I don't understand this comment, and haven't seem Tammy give a clarification. Maybe, she is thinking of the differing hose lengths on each side that some SM divers use. But that should not be an issue. I still dive a 'holdover' BM configuration for SM - bungeed necklace on a short hose on the left, long (7') hose on the right. But, I keep my two cylinders within 500 psi of each other at all times, so if I need to donate, I do so from the right side (long hose), and go to my necklace reg on the left, with assurance that there is enough air in my right tank (or both of us are in the crapper). I have tried both ways - long hose on both sides, vs long hose on one side - it makes no difference to me. As JamesK said, the issue is not a SM issue - it is a gear issue (and a diver competence issue, for that matter - if you can't manage hoses with a doubles configuration, without getting them trapped, etc., you shouldn't be diving doubles, SM OR BM). Personally, I do not use the Z system - I don't see the need, although I think it is innovative. I like the simplicity of SM and don't want to add the manifold.tstormdiver:Keep in mind that sidemount is primarily a solo configuration. Can air share be done? Sure, but the configuration isn't very conducive to it.
I fail to see any real advantages of a BM independent doubles system. It adds all the downsides - you still need the bands (steel or velcro, whatever), and you have to reach behind to manipulate your valves - and no particular advantages. OK, maybe if you already have the two reg sets, a BP and a wing, and your only expense is the bands, then it might be a bit cheaper. I have dove independent BM doubles while traveling - not a particular problem, but I sure prefer independent SM doubles for the ease of set-up and the buoyancy / trim characteristics in the water.ianr33:Or you can just use something like this and dive independent doubles on vacation. Ultimate Velcro Double Bands Reviews and News by Capt. Dan Berg
What I could probably say is, 'Ah, grasshopper, I had to start diving doubles using a manifolded BM configuration, so therefore you should as well.' But, that sounds a bit like, 'I had to walk uphill 5 miles, both ways, in the snow, carrying double 130s on my back and 2 decos bottles clipped on the left side of my harness, just to get to the dive site. Therefore, you must do that as well.'
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