So why is my LDS so excited about sidemount all of a sudden?

[ianr33]

I'm agreeing with you here Frank! Ocean diving off a boat,backmount is just easier.

 

[billgraham]

Because all the cool kids are doing it? FWIW, I tried sidemount ten years ago and never did another dive in backmount until I did the CCR training.

 

[TONY CHANEY]

But it does look cool, doesn't it?

Yes it does and Steve makes it look easy because, IMHO and have yet to meet him, one of the best! You will be surprised at how much of that stuff you can do in backmount (James get the camera and let's make a video). He is also showing the Razor...that he made. As for my take on the situation, I embrace and support all types of diving. I have tried SM and am currently putting together a kit as we speak. There are times for each style of diving. I have a single wing, BP and rec. reg kit I use for DMing and rec stuff and for me the easiest to use, larger steel tank with H valve and wing and BP with tec and regs for the in-beween dives and doubles with a dual bladder wing and BP with tec regs for caves and the deep stuff. (Would love to dive rebreather but have not exhausted what I can do now with the gear I have). Certain dives in caves and wrecks require SM and unless you are damn good at turning sideways or going no mount some require backmount. I have to agree with the multiple trips back and forth to the water. Easy at Peacock but a real pain in the ass at dive sites like Cow or Bolo Point Okinawa. At this point in my cave diving I am more or less on the mainline and still have a lot to see in the main passageways. I also have very little desire to try and cram my ass into a very tight and small sility cave. So why an I setting up a SM kit? Well, I was stationed in Okinawa and double tanks were far and few between because almost no one dove them. So I would have to rent two tanks and set them up as independant doubles (flame on if you want). I now feel that since SM has really came about I can now go to any place that has two tanks and perform tec dives and travel with less weight. So ask your self a few questions: Have I surpassed in my diving what my current kit offers? Do I have a need for a different tool due to a different task? Is there something physically wrong with me that I cannot backmount? Am I going to take on additional training and diving that requires SM? Now, not saying anything is wrong with it but seeing the number of dives you have you would more than likey benifit more from additional training before jumping into a very technical manner of diving. Just my take on the situation.

 

[Colliam7]

Until we can reach them at the top of the ladder, or we hang deco lines. Deco lines are for scooters, deco bottles, bailouts, whatever someone wants to hang there, but if you come up the ladder with your bottles on (as I do) we take them from you at the top of the ladder (if you so choose).

OK, I would expect that. Now, where I was going with this - what is the difference (other than the number of people you have on a tec charter is probably less than the 24 people you mention on a recreational charter) between a deco diver handing you a bottle (or usually two) at the top of the ladder, and a sidemount diver doing the same (except it is not a deco bottle, but one of their two bottles - which is all that is really needed, anyway)? Unless you have a really significant freeboard on your boat, there shouldn't be much climbing to do, anyway. For most of the boats I use, I get on the ladder, take maybe one step up, and hand my deco cylinders up without the crew having to strain their back to bend down to me. I find the same to be true for SM. At the same time, is there a difference between hanging a deco line for scooters, bottles, etc., and hanging a line for a SM diver who wants to clip off one of their bottles (the right side one)? Just curious. Where I can readily appreciate, and agree with, your view as captain, is when a SM diver can't get in the water with reasonable efficiency.

 

[Wookie]

OK, I would expect that. Now, where I was going with this - what is the difference (other than the number of people you have on a tec charter is probably less than the 24 people you mention on a recreational charter) between a deco diver handing you a bottle (or usually two) at the top of the ladder, and a sidemount diver doing the same (except it is not a deco bottle, but one of their two bottles - which is all that is really needed, anyway)? Unless you have a really significant freeboard on your boat, there shouldn't be much climbing to do, anyway. For most of the boats I use, I get on the ladder, take maybe one step up, and hand my deco cylinders up without the crew having to strain their back to bend down to me. I find the same to be true for SM. At the same time, is there a difference between hanging a deco line for scooters, bottles, etc., and hanging a line for a SM diver who wants to clip off one of their bottles (the right side one)? Just curious. Where I can readily appreciate, and agree with, your view as captain, is when a SM diver can't get in the water with reasonable efficiency.

It's a long story, but it's a 6 foot drop to get in, so all bottles have to be handed in by rope if the divers can't get in by themselves kitted up. The last time one of my DM's hauled up someone's gear because they couldn't climb the ladder with their gear on, the boat went up while the gear didn't, and I bought the deckhand a rotator cuff and never had him crew for me again. Not only did I lose a great crewmember, rotator cuffs aren't cheap. It's is to my (and my insurance company's advantage) for me to just say "you gotta be in good enough shape to actually go diving. If you physically aren't able, we aren't the boat for you."

 

[Angry Turtle]

But it does look cool, doesn't it?

BTW, can anyone identify what fins is he using?

they look like mares avanti quattro like these....http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...s-plana-avanti-quattro-fin-x-large-black.html

 

[Johanan]

So ask your self a few questions: Have I surpassed in my diving what my current kit offers? Do I have a need for a different tool due to a different task? Is there something physically wrong with me that I cannot backmount? Am I going to take on additional training and diving that requires SM? Now, not saying anything is wrong with it but seeing the number of dives you have you would more than likey benifit more from additional training before jumping into a very technical manner of diving. Just my take on the situation.

You're absolutely right, Tony, I am a novice diver. I got my AOW and Dry Suit certs just last summer. Even though I still can / have to achieve much with my single backmount BP&W rig, I am starting to consider learning to dive also with two tanks. Which configuration to start with? For some reasons I feel attracted to the sidemount. My question in "the other" thread was, whether a diver can survive and move around in the world of more advenced diving with sidemount only or will it put limitations. But thank you for sharing your insights which help me to examine the reasons of my attraction to the SM.

they look like mares avanti quattro like these....http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...s-plana-avanti-quattro-fin-x-large-black.html

Thanks! It did not come to my mind to look the Mares direction.

 

[fnfalman]

I'd do it just for the coolness factor.

 

[JamesK]

My question in "the other" thread was, whether a diver can survive and move around in the world of more advenced diving with sidemount only or will it put limitations.

Yes. However, some things will be easier in back mount. You can still do deep decompression trimix dives, long cave pushes etc. You can carry up to 4 stages at a time. It is all in practice.

 

[Rich Keller]

Sorry, it's probably a naive question, and with only 43 dives under my belt, I realize that I'm a newbie, but still.

I've read some discussions about trim and about staying horizontal, but is there a reason to embrace sidemount rather than conventional backmount, other than for cave diving?

The only rig I've used is the traditional jacket BCD and BP/W with single tank.

Please, enlighten me.

If you are not using side mount tanks for confined space dives the only advantage I can see is that you would be able to dive doubles if you are renting tanks from a place that does not rent doubles. I would not waist the money if you do not have a specific need for that type of system. If you shop really thinks this is such a great idea let them provide you with a free demo, there may be something there that you find preferable to back mount.