So, now to get back on topic perhaps.
Myself, I use and like the 'bogarthian' config.
Left side shorthose and right side long-hose, left one necklaced right one clipped off.
When I started I necklaced two 'medium' hoses 'octopus-length'. Thought that to be great for regulator switches (it is) and also for practicing OOA-drills with rec backmount teams (it is).
So I got myself smacked in the mouth a few times for that (even knocked a tooth lose once - good bungee, bad teeth).
Good technique for solo divers only.
Here in Germany another variant is often used originating in the Sardinian Toddy style in similar way to the 'break-away' double-ended-boltsnap shown in a thread here a few weeks ago. In that config, both are clipped off in a way they can be reached with the mouth and breathed without using the hands ideally.
I use the bogarthian way (I did not call it that, others did and Steve himself is perhaps a lot more flexible and uses several) because it is much more intuitive than any other way.
It makes the regulator to donate easy to identify and remove and works perfectly with backmount instant teammates (without additional communication).
At the same time the other regulator can be reached 'hands-free'.
It also integrates well with most training schemes developed for backmount diving.
---------- Post added October 21st, 2014 at 09:09 PM ----------
Ok I'll take these one at a time....wish I knew how to quote sentences....
copy and paste the quote tags (I do not know a better way at least)
Primary attractions to SM....no, not primary although that might have been for you. There are many benefits to SM, redundancy is one of them.
And one of the most mentioned, at least I get that impression.
When you've had a catastrophic gas failure do you take care of it yourself and then abort?
But you abort on your own power and in a pitch separated from the team.
Not much different to the z system, attempt to fix, as a last resort, Donate and go. I hope you understand that.
Yes, but that 'last resort' comes one step earlier in the z-system.
I once did a few dives with someone who wanted to also do more challenging ones. His config was backmount with a shorthose and an Air2 integrated regulator/inflator.
Get him as an instant teammate on vacation and you're screwed.
Last one looses.....no, during basic open water situational awareness is stressed and part of it is formation. If it were that way, a simple light communication works (also taught).
Yes and ideally that will save you anytime, it does not, since this is a less than ideal world.
A tech background would help you here.
I do not think so anymore.
Padi , I once had the goal to get one certification from each available agency at least, but found that goal to be counter productive with more experience and as a sidemount diver whose requirements are not covered adequately by any agency.
Against muscle memory? Seriously?
Yes, seriously.
I am myself prone to just 'spool off' a previously learned action to the point it could conceivably kill me in a non standard situation.
I often concentrate on practicing 'clear thinking' and flexibility instead of routines that come naturally to me and do not help in many situations when diving, only in training.
Solve most problems consciously.....yes, now when you go dive BM doubles (and I wish you would) wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to learn a new way to solve problems. How about s drills with SM singles, BM doubles and rebreather? Consistency can reduce the stress and potential for bad things. Can you see the benefit here?
Yes, I can. I am happy to have missed out on that.
Backmount is so 'previous millennium' ;-)
In my case I could not lift the wing I tried without knowing this would destroy my health and thought about giving up on diving completly, but then the Razor left customs and a new life started for me.
Back mount "workarounds", also know as drills, yes, as stressed above its important to be consistant.
It is, but most are a joke in a sidemount config.
Have to be learned, but are always shockingly easy to do (compared to the backmounters struggling with them).
Different hose routings work well enough, unless you dive in a team. Unfamiliarity can kill. Gas switches, OOA , deco, OHP nav are advance skills but can all benefit from standardization right from the beginning.
As long as everyone in the team is absolutely independent and self-reliant it does not matter at all.
Situation that are able to develop dangerously then are so unique that it would be impossible to practice them anyway.
A good team has to get everything sorted out first, but I do not see many hazards when that has been done.
SM since day one has been trial and error and that continues......although.....so does BM but I believe that the philosophies of GUE/DIR/UTD can make things safer (even many mainstream agencies are starting to adopt practices). Is there a GUE/UTD instructor near you? I would sincerely consider setting up a fundies/essentials course for you. It couldn't hurt.
UTD is rare hereabouts, and GUE has not visibly accepted sidemount at all.
I could find one, but other instructors would offer superior training.
I'm unsure if I have answered your questions successfully but if you are sincere in your questions, please let me know.
I am absolutely sincere.
UTD philosophy has not much chance of impressing me personally, but I like to hear about it and respect every part of it.
It was! Thank you. But we are off-topic and neither of us is the threadopener.
---------- Post added October 22nd, 2014 at 03:08 PM ----------
Summary: Two long hoses, unnecessary.
To take that up again from the beginning of the discussion there is actually a very good reason for using longhoses only:
hose-routing and hose bending
With a short-hose on the left tank I use up several in a year because they get bent at the fitting at the first-stage very often.
With a longhose (150cm, right side 210cm) and a turreted first-stage the turret does not move at all during the dive. The hose is just routed down the tank and up again.
This has the advantage of the hose hugging the neck very tightly if you want it, but able to extend in a comfortable loop, too.
In an OOA situation it does not matter much if the OOA diver simply takes the wrong second stage surprisingly.
Your lower lip will likely be hurting after the bungee hit you snapping back, but you will have to take that.
You just pull on the hose, slip your neck out of the loop and extend as much hose as you need from the point the two (now entangled) long-hoses cross at your chest. Then swap regulators, of course, but you can take as much time as you need for that (for me this actually is the moment I first start to grope for my own second stage to breathe, since it's clipped off and 'break-away'-able I always can be sure it will be there and in my mouth in an eye-blink).
You even get a huge amount of control over that particular situation you do not have otherwise:
With the hose close to my neck I found it absolutely impossible during drills for anyone to take the second stage from my mouth or even while dangling free without my cooperation.
If I resisted the mouthpiece stayed in reach of my teeth, if I twisted my neck just a miniscule bit the hose slipped free and I can offer about the same amount of 'distance' a backmount octopus is supposed to.
Ideally you can react yourself and offer the correct regulator, of course.
Main advantage is the adjustable hose length at the neck during the dive. With a 90 degree elbow it lies so flat it cannot get entangled in restrictions even if you cut skin while squeezing through.
Hose length is always at the control of a thump slipped down the left or right tank as needed.
You pay for that advantage with more hose on the left tank than strictly necessary, but for me the benefits far outweighed the negative aspects while ('low-level') wreck diving in Egypt.
