Starting the process, advice needed

[Motojack]

I have finally found the time and resources to move into Tech/cave diving and am in the process of mapping out my progression from a recreational diver to to full cave. I am a competent recreational diver with around 350 dives and have done several guided Cenote cavern trips. I would like to do my training in Mexico in sidemount but have no experience with this configuration (or any technical or doubles training.) I will be using a wetsuit so will not have to deal with additional drysuit issues. Based on the excellent advice in this forum, I am planning on breaking up my training into at least 3 trips over a year or more with time to practice skills between.

I have a couple starting questions for the group:
1) Can I combine sidemount with an intro to tech type course, over a week or 8 days, or will I need time between to adjust to the new configuration.
2) My dive time between courses will mostly be in the Caribbean, how much will it throw off my skills practicing in salt water with a 3 mil wetsuit vs the Cenote environment with fresh water and a 5 mil wetsuit (Note I was able to use the same weighting for both in my rec configuration).
3) Once comfortable with my skills in sidemount would you suggest combining either Cavern/Intro or Intro/Full?

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Ask your dive shop what they suggest.

Where in mexico are you planning to take these courses?
Tulum?

You will have a number of excellent shops to choose from…

Protec Tulum and Playa Del Carmen.
Third Dimension Tulum. A GUE shop.
Underworld Tulum.
All of those shops will be excellent choices.

 

[Valerii Vakshul]

I have finally found the time and resources to move into Tech/cave diving and am in the process of mapping out my progression from a recreational diver to to full cave. I am a competent recreational diver with around 350 dives and have done several guided Cenote cavern trips. I would like to do my training in Mexico in sidemount but have no experience with this configuration (or any technical or doubles training.) I will be using a wetsuit so will not have to deal with additional drysuit issues. Based on the excellent advice in this forum, I am planning on breaking up my training into at least 3 trips over a year or more with time to practice skills between.

I have a couple starting questions for the group:
1) Can I combine sidemount with an intro to tech type course, over a week or 8 days, or will I need time between to adjust to the new configuration.
2) My dive time between courses will mostly be in the Caribbean, how much will it throw off my skills practicing in salt water with a 3 mil wetsuit vs the Cenote environment with fresh water and a 5 mil wetsuit (Note I was able to use the same weighting for both in my rec configuration).
3) Once comfortable with my skills in sidemount would you suggest combining either Cavern/Intro or Intro/Full?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Seven days is not enough. Side and Tek will require more.

 

[Doc Harry]

Three hour dives in Tulum cenotes and caves will make you wish you had a dry suit.

Get proficient in a drysuit.

 

[Motojack]

Ask your dive shop what they suggest.

Where in mexico are you planning to take these courses?
Tulum?

You will have a number of excellent shops to choose from…

Protec Tulum and Playa Del Carmen.
Third Dimension Tulum. A GUE shop.
Underworld Tulum.
All of those shops will be excellent choices.

Tulum or Playa, have not decided. Thanks!

 

[Motojack]

Seven days is not enough. Side and Tek will require more.

Thanks, would you split the 2 or just add more days?

 

[Underwater Tourist]

I am a competent recreational diver with around 350 dives and have done several guided Cenote cavern trips. I would like to do my training in Mexico in sidemount but have no experience with this configuration (or any technical or doubles training.)

I came into tech from a similar background, circa 500 rec dives but knowing all the tech kicks from just learning them for fun. Honestly don't overthink or overstress about SM, its not a difficult config at all because all the valves are in front of you and you can see everything you are doing. If you have the harness already, you can try jumping in a pool with a friend / instructor for 1-2 days just to get the feeling for SM. It doesnt even need to be a course, just the experience of handling two tanks, feeling them on you, swimming some laps is good enough.

I have a couple starting questions for the group:
1) Can I combine sidemount with an intro to tech type course, over a week or 8 days, or will I need time between to adjust to the new configuration.

Thats what I did and what A LOT of people do in the real world despite all the "dont do any new training in a new config advice". The reason it works for SM is because the config is an easy one. So I did SM+cavern on trip#1 to MX, and then intro+fullcave on trip#2. I believe (although dont remember exactly) i did 7-8 training days on trip#1?

That said, nobody knows your actual skill level and learning pace and that's why there is an overwhelming majority of people recommending to take it slow online. Its by far the safest advice to give on an online forum. But if you are comfortable in the water and intellectually curious about tech/cave/sm diving and know what you are getting into, you can do things faster.

Which kind of leads to your point about doing 3 trips. From personal experience, I think doing SM+cavern on trip#1 and then intro+fullcave on trip#2 is a perfectly reasonable pace.

Ultimately, the person who will finalize your pace will be your instructor, and in Mexico you are truly spoiled for choice for great instructors to choose from.

 

[ginti]

No experience in SM, just getting interested in it right now. Posting just because I am interested in hearing from more experienced people.

The toughest part of the configuration seems to be to adjust the tanks' position in a way that you are streamlined and stable. Quicker with a good instructor.

Therefore, I believe intro to tech + SM is a great combo.

No need to do it in Mexico - do it before, when in Mexico go for your intro to cave.

Your only problem is to find a good instructor in the Caribbean.

PS how often do you plan to dive? Skills need to be maintained, I would recommend at least a dive every 2 weeks as a standard

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Tulum or Playa, have not decided. Thanks!

Tulum or Playa, have not decided. Thanks!

Tulum would my choice. But both Protec shops are great.

If you have the opportunity to do SM and Cavern at the same time then I believe they will teach the SM course with some added skills knowing that cave is the goal.

Post updates if you want/can. Always nice to hear a divers progress to the beautiful world of cave diving!!