What's the point

[Tassi Devil Diver]

Like the title says what's the point.
looks more like stomach mount than sidemount to me, may as well put a couple tanks on your back, or if you need to carry that much gas get a rebreather.
I think someone is more interested in Insta hits than practical diving solutions.

 

[Thrutch]

Caught this post, too. Looks too staged. I want to see some donning and doffing.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

where do you put your arms?

 

[crofrog]

if your dropping stages a long the way to a side mount only restriction, maybe.

 

[lostsheep]

Taking pictures in a pool tells me all I need to know.

 

[rhwestfall]

Another tool in the toolbox, and beneficial in situations of passageway restrictions. As said, that picture is likely a configuration to drop stages along the way. Some use it (sidemount configuration) for health issues where manifold doubles are too physically demanding (back/knee issues). Others use the valve location to facilitate reaching them due to injury limitations (shoulder injuries limit mobility).

Any diver attempting a dive needing that much gas and stages is going to be pretty cluttered despite being sidemount + stages or backmount + stages...

The kids wanting to be cool lead to discussions like this this...

 

[lostsheep]

The kids wanting to be cool lead to discussions like this this...

Actual cool kids take these pics doing something cool, not posing in a swimming pool.

It looks like some effort went into composing these shots so I feel justified in calling them posers.

 

[J-Vo]

This is exactly how I would carry four stages. Easy enough to don/doff on the go and still more streamlined than back mount. I would not do it in a wetsuit.

Training to be proficient with more than you plan to use reduces task loading on "real dives". I have used this many bottles on open water deco dives, and I could see putting this many on to setup stages in preparation for big cave dives.

 

[jadairiii]

Good luck getting to your backup lights or deploying a long hose....if a rig like that even has one. Guess you also dont keep your cutting tool on your waist band.....oh, and, ah, where's the light canister?

But, in a pool I guess it works.....

 

[grantctobin]

Good luck getting to your backup lights or deploying a long hose....if a rig like that even has one. Guess you also dont keep your cutting tool on your waist band.....oh, and, ah, where's the light canister?

But, in a pool I guess it works.....

I actually think the long hose is donatable in this, and light canister is mounted on the butt, with backup lights either on a helmet or butt pouch. That said…

Nobody really dives like this and it’s wildly uncomfortable. Six AL80s of nitrox in a wetsuit blows, and if you’re in the water for long enough to necessitate that many bottles, you’re in a drysuit. If you really need that many bottles from a penetration perspective, you’re on a CCR or a scooter and or there’s helium in them such that they’re not so negative. Pulling empty bottles from a long push dive, they’re buoyant enough to just leash them on your butt. It’s a fun show piece, but it’s a little ridic to publicize it and have people think there are actually people diving like that.