Totally incorrect. Today's manifolded doubles have two completely independent first stages, each can access either or both tanks.So on a manifold you still have 1 reg, and if it fails, your 2nd tank won't help you.
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Totally incorrect. Today's manifolded doubles have two completely independent first stages, each can access either or both tanks.So on a manifold you still have 1 reg, and if it fails, your 2nd tank won't help you.
Sidemount giant stride off a boat gets interesting. Most gate openings are not wide enough. You end up with a new technique of the sideways giant stride.
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I always have to show the card, never had to show a logbook, which is lucky for me. I think it has a lot to do with how you present yourself.
I am interested in this discussion. Particularly the information on side mount diving.
I started on single, then single + pony.
When the dive durations and depths meant that a pony was no longer a viable redundancy, I switched to twins.
I dived independent twins for a prolonged period.
I always used independents the same way.
Enter on reg A, reach the bottom of the shot, switch to reg B. Breath cylinder B to 150 bar, switch to reg A, breath to 100 bar, switch to reg B, breath to around 100 switchback and look to ascend. (The ascend pressures are really dive dependent).
To be fair it worked great, until I damaged a damage a second stage (filled it with grit, shell, rust etc), it got under the diaphragm (an old cave diving problem), it didn't breath so good - only water. The problem could have as easily been a free flow.
I couldn't get at the remaining gas. Which in itself wouldn't have been an issue other than I had to retrace my steps to exit via the shot. Which was no longer practical with my available gas. So it compromised my safety, and more importantly that of my buddy.
I was well aware of the risks with independent twins, but had been happy to ignore them until this point.
After that I switched to manifolded twins. So all gas was available, even if I lost a regulator.
Since then I made the switch to CCR. (Which I find much more relaxing).
Most of my twinsets are out on loan. I seldom see the point in diving them. If I'm teaching, a single and pony are normally sufficient. although there are some courses that a twinset is a requirement.
I like the idea of side mount for the occasions when I do dive a twinset, or on holiday. Especially since I now have reduced shoulder mobility making shutdowns less comfortable.
My big issue with side mount is it is a return to the compromise of independent twins. Which, after I put my buddy (and myself) at risk, I swore I would never do again. I don't see a way around that problem.
How do those regularly diving side mount mitigate the issue.
I don't dive caves, so the benefits of side mount for access are not really a requirement.
It may sound silly but the only thing I really find scary so far is when a boat has a high platform. I have a bit of vertigo so it scares me to giant stride and even more so when the platform is high ...I am surprised you see that as an issue. I used to dive twinset and twin stages. I now dive CCR and stages. My 'width' must be similar, if not the same as a side mount diver, and I have never had an issue stepping off the boat.
The biggest issue I have is on the converted trawlers where you have a minimum of a 6 foot drop into the water.
Where are you based?
One of the benefits in the UK these days is we don't generally have to climb a ladder to exit. The majority of the dive boats have lifts. Which is significantly more comfortable than a ladder .
It may sound silly but the only thing I really find scary so far is when a boat has a high platform. I have a bit of vertigo so it scares me to giant stride and even more so when the platform is high ...
My first dive after my OW was in Plymouth from of these trawlers and I can remember the height of the platform and everybody shouting at me to hurry up as there was some current at the surface