Too many projects, not enough time

[LiteHedded]

swapping to a dead reg definitely happens. but separation shouldn't be too big of a deal with a solid team

 

[Tegg]

I agree James. No one (else) should use stages in sidemount.

This way I have more cave to explore...

 

[rjack321]

Because it's a complete cluster **** with stages. Everyone says it's not, but no one has posted a video to show otherwise.

Also, I'm not a huge fan of swapping regs on the motor...accidentally swap to a dead reg and you've got a recipe for buddy separation while your buddy is continuing and you're coughing your guts out. I know everyone says it's really simple, but a recent student of a well known and highly recommended sidemount instructor recently posted a video after her course, and she stills swaps to dead regs during a valve drill. It's a real concern.

This, as well as the learning curve, is my concern. 95s (either SM or BM), 1 bottom stage of 32%, 2 bottom stages of 18/45, 2x 40s of deco gas.

The cave is huge, there's no problem "fitting" backmount. Its getting out of the water, over the dry hump and back into the water without breaking gear or ankles which is such a concern.

 

[ucfdiver]

swapping to a dead reg definitely happens. but separation shouldn't be too big of a deal with a solid team

Still, it happens. There was a post recently where a little silt caused it on a team who dives together fairly often. Can't remember if there was entanglement and one member went to the other side of a restriction or not.

I'd rather take a little extra gas than to have to switch regs on the scoot.

 

[LiteHedded]

Sounds a bit like a dive of mine.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Stages in SM aren't a walk in the park, but double staging isn't a huge problem. Toland likes to keep one stage in front and keep others on a leash behind him. If you really need 18/45 down there, you might want to use support divers to place bottles for you I don't like to handle 4 stages in backmount either.

Dead regs? What is that? Sure, you turn off stages, but stage regs and backgas regs are stowed differently. Stage regs are stowed on the bottle, backgas regs are stowed clipped to D rings on the front chest. Backgas is never turned off. Why would you switch to a dead reg? And why did you put your live reg in a place where you can't reach it before verifying that the 2nd stage you are breathing works?

And is this really an issue? Are you scootering these sumps?

 

[rjack321]

No scootering, and no support except each other (4 as of right now I think). 4+ in BM not a problem.

Actually the cave probably goes into 15/55 territory but that a whole 'nother can of worms since lots of it is so shallow. Don't think I want to swim 1,000+ft at 6ffw on 15/55.

BTW interesting how this has devolved into caves. Just last night I had to buy a bunch of new RAM to find new wrecks with. That is a very computing intensive project

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Cause caves are awesome

 

[rjack321]

Cause caves are awesome

Not as challenging to actually find tho.

 

[ucfdiver]

No scootering, and no support except each other (4 as of right now I think). 4+ in BM not a problem.

Actually the cave probably goes into 15/55 territory but that a whole 'nother can of worms since lots of it is so shallow. Don't think I want to swim 1,000+ft at 6ffw on 15/55.

BTW interesting how this has devolved into caves. Just last night I had to buy a bunch of new RAM to find new wrecks with. That is a very computing intensive project

Swimming 1000ft in a project is just plain stupid unless it's too small to scooter. Just IMO, but when a dive is mission/destination oriented, I prefer to trim the travel time as much as possible.