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Totally agree with TSandM. I like to be overweighted by 2-4 lbs. to make myself more effective at slowing a panicked ascent or compensating for a diver who lost a weight pouch. In addition to students, this also holds true for all but my most trusted dive buddies! theskull

Good tips above. I will add to be aware of your breathing at all times, especially when exerting effort or feeling anxious, such as kicking against the current. Be aware of every breath, keep control of it, and try not to work so hard that you end up panting. theskull

One site-specific recommendation. From where you experienced your problem, if you wanted a visual or tactical reference for your safety stop you could have made a short swim directly East to the rock wall and made your safety stop there rather than trying to find a platform descent line...

DiveRite fins are the answer! Hollis F2s fit your specs, too, but will not give you as much power as the DiveRites. theskull

I have solved this in the past by seeking out the divemaster, giving a generous tip, and asking for his/her help in pairing me up with a buddy who had commensurate experience. Always paid off. theskull

Redundant + Wreck + Drysuit = Sidemount! Just skip the whole Backplate to Doubles to Sidemount route. theskull

Relax. Breathe. Dive. Remember that this is a hobby that you want to have fun with. Reading too much interwebs chat without any relevant experience will just make you anxious. Find some local divers, perhaps through your local dive shop or even on here, and go do some easy diving with them...

Strictly personal preference. I dive the SMS-100 with the standard bungees, my wife dives her SMS-100 with the ring bungees and chokered bolt snaps on her tanks. We have each dived both systems successfully, but I have a preference for the original method, and she likes the ring bungees...

Two tips: 1. Practice. 2. Get into a position where the tank will be hanging loose at the connection rather than straining against the bolt snap. theskull

Will pay $175 for Hollis deco reg shipped to St. Louis, MO. Check or money order mailed on receipt of reg. I have references. theskull ---------- Post added March 25th, 2014 at 12:50 AM ---------- Deal not made. Deco reg is still available for sale. Great piece of gear, but my offer was...

Standing on the bottom??! Abhorrent! Even if the bottom is not sensitive. There is a PADI Disvover SCUBA experience that has training standards. Quick & easy, and would, unfortunately, allow standing on the bottom. :-( theskull

The Standard is not to Superman, but to disconnect 1 tank at the rear connection. The logic is that you will want to be fluent at this so you can disconnect 1 tank as you approach the boat so you can hand it up before climbing the ladder. Diver and tank trim are not specifically addressed in...

The only configuration difference regularly covered in my class is the difference between the ring bungee system, the standard bungees, and the old school bungee loops. I have only been teaching students in Hollis and Dive Rite rigs, because those are the ones that we sell and/or rent for the...

Hi Bob, Here is a synopsis of the skills required in the PADI OW Sidemount class (after a classroom session covering fit, configuration, hose routing, procedures, etc.): Confined Water Shallow Entry, Don Cylinders while standing Buoyancy Check, Descent, Read SPGS Make Reg Switches, Swim w/...

PADI does not require a TecSidemount cert, or even a Sidemount cert, before undertaking TecDeep or Trimix in Sidemount config. Requirement is that you are proficient in the rig! The certs can be an accelerated method of becoming proficient over figuring it out for yourself, but are in no way...

Totally agree with all points here. If recreational diving with a trusted buddy and good skills and habits, a pony bottle is completely unnecessary. If diving deep with an unreliable or untested buddy, it is essential! theskull

I dive SM on nealy all recreational dives (for fun or while teaching), on all tech dives (for fun or while teaching), and have for a few years now. My initial info was obtained by diving with and querying a number of SM tech divers, most of whom had been diving SM for many years with homemade...

Just ask any local skilled doubles diver to go do some easy dives with you. You will need a little coaching on hose routing and valve drills, and some help getting the weight and trim right. Then do the same again once you switch to Sidemount! ;-) theskull

NWGrateful nailed it, as usual, before I even read the post. Hi, Bob! A couple additional tips: If diving single tank, mount it higher so the valve hits you in the back of the head (really). Diving dry, get a little air into your feet to help them get up higher. Do what you must to get the...

As all things tech, this is not a PADI/IANTD issue, but an instructor choice issue. I was taught both methods (run time vs. stop time) and I teach both methods, but I absolutely prefer diving by stop times. I calculate the expected run time and report it to the surface support, but like the...