The Journey to Decompression Procedures with Sidemount

[halocline]

You’re in sidemount, correct? The first time I added a stage to sidemount I really struggled, although it was an AL80, same as the SM tanks. Why did you sling it on the right? Usually it goes on the left, then if you have two bottles it’s stage left, deco bottle right. Maybe people do it differently. I know there’s the ‘right-rich/left-lean’ adage but if you only have one slung bottle, why not left?

If you spend enough time swimming around with a stage, your balance and trim will get better. You figure out how to make those small adjustments. For me, it’s worse when the stage is near empty, it becomes quite buoyant. That’s when the tail mount can be very comfortable.

The skills that I practiced most when I was learning to dive with a stage were stage drop/pickup and to a lesser extent managing the stage in a restriction. That was for cave diving with a stage to extend the dive. For DP in open water, don’t know how much emphasis they put on stage dropping/picking up but you really want to be good at it regardless. Part of it is making the right buoyancy adjustments, part is getting fluent with clipping the stage in, presumably to your drop D ring. If you’re using AL80s as SM tanks, they are usually re-clipped forward by the time you pick up the stage, and that makes it harder to reach the drop D. I went from a cord leash to bungee leash under the band clamp and that really helped.

In DP I remember having to run the switching protocol several times before it felt natural. It’s a team communication issue mostly. It’s not hard, but your instructor will hopefully give you each step clearly and you need to remember to do them all in the right sequence. For me, I forgot to switch my computers a few times after the team had completed the switch and got dinged for that.

Sounds like you’re preparing well, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the class.

 

[Tigerpaw]

Feel for the plastic flange/cover. You'll find the string right in the middle after that.

I did, that's how I find it. It just take a bit of time. On my BPW it's right there. It's just going to take getting used to, I'm just frustrated I can't get to it as quickly as I can with my BPW.

 

[J-Vo]

I did, that's how I find it. It just take a bit of time. On my BPW it's right there. It's just going to take getting used to, I'm just frustrated I can't get to it as quickly as I can with my BPW.

Cut the cord as short as possible. I also have my cord tied to the top side of the flange so it's always there on top.

 

[Tigerpaw]

The skills that I practiced most when I was learning to dive with a stage were stage drop/pickup and to a lesser extent managing the stage in a restriction. That was for cave diving with a stage to extend the dive. For DP in open water, don’t know how much emphasis they put on stage dropping/picking up but you really want to be good at it regardless.

In DP I remember having to run the switching protocol several times before it felt natural. It’s a team communication issue mostly. It’s not hard, but your instructor will hopefully give you each step clearly and you need to remember to do them all in the right sequence. For me, I forgot to switch my computers a few times after the team had completed the switch and got dinged for that.

Sounds like you’re preparing well, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the class.

Yes I'm prepping for Sidemount DP. Your comment makes me feel a bit better about staging and that it will take continued work and practice. When I did AN with my instructor a few months ago, he had me stage my right SM tank. While I was able to remove it and reattach it I was ALL OVER the place. LOL I'm sure he got a good laugh. As for which side to place the AL40, I just randomly picked a side. Since you mention it, I'll place it on my left side next week.

While I occasionally ask my instructor questions, I don't want to "blow up" his phone so I figure practice the basics and we'll fine tune everything when I start. From reading you post, I did forget to switch my computer, so I'll make sure and add that step next week also.

Yes I love being prepared and ready to go, I've finished the course work last year so all I have to do now is dive, dive, dive.

 

[Tigerpaw]

Cut the cord as short as possible. I also have my cord tied to the top side of the flange so it's always there on top.

Hmmmm, I'm gonna give that a try!

 

[grantmac]

Generally you want to stage a single additional tank on the left to make keeping the long hose accessible easier.
When I'm clipping with neutral to positive tanks I like to slide the main tank d-ring way back then reach though to grab the bottom boltsnap on the stage, hook it into the drop D on the back. Finally slide that d-ring forward to tighten everything up nicely.
A longer bungee tail on the stage boltsnap definitely helps too. They don't need much to keep them in position.

 

[RainPilot]

Yes I understand and I have been working Fundamentals. My question was roughly how much tolerance is acceptable for the tanks. So if my tanks float up by let's say 2 inches and it takes me 5 min to correct it, on my own would I be penalized?

What will get you penalised is acting unsafe, not hitting stops, not switching gas safely, not being able to solve problems and not maintain depth / team awareness. I doubt that most instructors would care about tanks being a bit out of trim.

Yes, very true, my main question was how much was allowable for testing purposes. On one of my dives I noticed my tanks were drifting and I eventually corrected it. I was wondering if there was a time limit or certain amount of floating before I would get dinged on it. The consensus is it's up to the instructor BUT if I am adjusting my tanks I shouldn't get dinged for it.

Sigh. This really gets my goat about our industry.

OP, you are not being tested, you are being TRAINED. If you could do everything already there would be no need for an instructor.

This is not aimed at you, its that there seem to be 2 and only 2 faces of scuba training:

1. Pay the money and you'll get a card regardless
2. You should already be great and the instructor is a examiner/gatekeeper

Both of these abdicate the ENTIRE role of the instructor which is to instruct. Exit standards are there for most courses, SM tank angle and duration of out of trim before are not really stipulated in any courses I am aware of but trim angles, hover depths and times, time for fault rectification etc are.

If you are "lacking" in any aspect that the instructor /standards deem critical, it's literally their job to mentor/coach/train you to that required exit standard. If that is going to take more dives than budgeted, thats a conversation to be had BEFORE the course. There should be NO "penalized" or "dinged for" in a students mind, you are there to learn, they are there to teach. This is a hobby, FFS, we are blowing bubbles and looking at fish or wet rocks or rusty old boats, not curing cancer or bringing world peace. If we are not enjoying ourselves and having fun, what are we even doing it for?

As long as you are safe, considerate and thoughtful about the decisions you make, and your skills are up to the point where they are a stable foundation for self improvement moving forward and not a possible source of accident for you, there should be no thought of "failing".

Rant over, hope you have a great time on your course

 

[Tigerpaw]

Sigh. This really gets my goat about our industry.

OP, you are not being tested, you are being TRAINED. If you could do everything already there would be no need for an instructor.

As long as you are safe, considerate and thoughtful about the decisions you make, and your skills are up to the point where they are a stable foundation for self improvement moving forward and not a possible source of accident for you, there should be no thought of "failing".

Rant over, hope you have a great time on your course

Thanks for the input. Most of my concerns are me, being me. I'm obsessed with being prepared and doing as much as I can to be sure that I'm ready. I am finding out now that my concern about the SM tanks being level isn't much of a big deal and the divers that mention it are SM purist. I appreciate your input and thanks again.

 

[Valerii Vakshul]

Thanks for the input. Most of my concerns are me, being me. I'm obsessed with being prepared and doing as much as I can to be sure that I'm ready. I am finding out now that my concern about the SM tanks being level isn't much of a big deal and the divers that mention it are SM purist. I appreciate your input and thanks again.

brother! you don't owe anyone anything. look at the path you've taken.....and tell yourself - I'm the best...