Starting the process, advice needed

[Motojack]

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

Good thoughts, not sure if I can find someone on St Croix where I dive most. Will be diving n a regular basis. Thanks.

 

[Motojack]

A related question: do you consider diving dry to be an essential part of tech diving?

To me, wanting to get into tech without learning to dive dry is like saying you want to become a racecar driver but you don't want to get glasses to correct your vision problems.

I understand your point of view, but I am not interested in any tech diving beyond "relatively" warm Mexican caves. No NW / Great Lakes / Atlantic diving in my future. If I find its too cold will investigate dry suit at that time.

 

[halocline]

A related question: do you consider diving dry to be an essential part of tech diving?

To me, wanting to get into tech without learning to dive dry is like saying you want to become a racecar driver but you don't want to get glasses to correct your vision problems.

I think it entirely depends on where you want to dive. My interest is pretty focused these days on Mexican caves so I don’t need a drysuit. If/when that changes, I’ll get one and learn how to dive with it.

 

[AnnikaPersson]

Since you are asking for advice to out line a path - my humble opinion is to start with GUE fundamentals and take it from there.
Yes it is in not in side mount - however, my advice is to start a process you are lining up, really from the basics - and see how this develops and find the tool kit(s) best suitable for the dives you would like to do at a certain time.

Good luck

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

I think it entirely depends on where you want to dive. My interest is pretty focused these days on Mexican caves so I don’t need a drysuit. If/when that changes, I’ll get one and learn how to dive with it.

The value of drysuit in Mexican caves is not just thermal protection.

I had an itchy mosquito bite, dived wet for few days in cenotes and had to start using an antibiotic cream because the wound became very infected. Warmer fresh water can be pretty biologically active, that’s why people use all the ear beer and such.

Drysuit is also a backup source of buoyancy if you don’t use a double bladder wing - or if you are on a longer dive and only can inflate the backup wing orally which gets old very fast.

Since you are asking for advice to out line a path - my humble opinion is to start with GUE fundamentals and take it from there.
Yes it is in not in side mount - however, my advice is to start a process you are lining up, really from the basics - and see how this develops and find the tool kit(s) best suitable for the dives you would like to do at a certain time.

Good luck

+1 for GUE Fundies. You will also get a more universal training. Personally I found backmount significantly less fiddly, so it’s easier for me to get back into backmount after not diving the configuration for 6+ months.