Recomendation for sidemount operators

[Candiru]

I need to do some open water sidemount dives with my dive club. Does anybody know an operator that can accommodate uncommon sided valves?

 

[NDL_Diver]

Alot of dive ops can handle sidemount. But for technical diving https://deepexposuredivecenter.com/ is your best bet. Aldora has handled side mounts before (HP steel 100 or 120) but cantact them with specific questions.

 

[L13]

I think that most operators that accept side-mount divers still only provide common side valves. However, a proficient side-mount diver should be able to handle diving with 2 common side valves when renting.

 

[rick00001967]

no problem on the mainland thats for sure. it might take some doing to find then on coz. most shops dont know much if anything about sm there.

 

[grantmac]

For recreational open water sidemount it's really not an issue using un-mirrored valves.

 

[Candiru]

Training situation, trying to replicate actual gear if possible.

 

[rick00001967]

Training situation, trying to replicate actual gear if possible.

i agree.
i know for me, when i did my first trip using my own gear, i wanted to keep things as consistent as possible. it was not a matter of "could i make it work". i wanted to get as much practice as i could with the same configuration i used at home.
if i was doing a course of some type, i def would want to be using the same set up i normally use.
i am not sure if this is possible on coz, but i did bring my own valves on one trip to the caribbean and the dive shop allowed me to replace theirs with mine for the time i was diving with them.
i think most shops on coz get tanks from the local compressor station, but not all. perhaps you may be able to find a shop that will allow you to use your valves if they do not have what you need.

 

[L13]

no problem on the mainland thats for sure. it might take some doing to find then on coz. most shops dont know much if anything about sm there.

I routinely dive SM with Roberta's Dive Shack in Coz, but they don'e have mirrored valves. I suspect you are right that few if any will have mirrored valves. The times I have crossed to the mainland and dove cenotes, mirrored valves were available.