karstdvr, it's interesting that you said that sidemounted tanks have more drag. We dove the cavern at JB in backmount and sidemount, and I found I noticed the flow far less in sidemount.
If you look at the surface area that is exposed,you'll see more with sidemounting compared to backmount. Many of the "old timer" sidemounters have felt that way. I dove at JB last Saturday with a backmount friend I dive with a lot,and this trip I was in sidemount. He had to dial his scooter back,which something he normally doesn't have to do.
Sidemounting has become like patent medicine and traveling medicine shows of the early 1900's (and now if you look at TV infomercials),if you use this product it will cure................ Sidemounting is a tool available to a diver,and more specifically to cave divers,but just like you wouldn't fix your car with one tool,you would have several. There are instances where sidemounting is great for bedding planes etc,but there are instances where back mounted tanks are the ideal choice. I am sorry to see that cave diver's attitude has become myopic to feel that one configuration is the panacea for all situations,versus having a complete tool box of choices between sidemount and backmount,and in very advanced situations nomounting. Unfortunately sidemount has experienced a marketing explosion,so now it is a "cool" configuration or something unique,and the market forces drive this by selling gear and classes. This is not a problem as long as we don't lose site of the fact,that this is just a tool to do the job,and it is important to keep your options open to the whole spectrum.
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