I knew that instructors could offer it if they wanted to/were qualified but didn't know it was an official course already. As I mentioned, it was only a Distinctive Specialty until a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what other instructors did, but a couple of us did SM instructor training with Jeff Loflin, who wrote the specialty for PADI, in order to be able to teach it. I presume that it will now be the same as other PADI specialties. You have to pledge that you have X number of SM dives, will follow PADI standards, etc.
I guess I've just had bad experiences with sidemounting with crews that aren't familiar with it. they get grouchy and it frustrates me, so I just dive doubles. Have a set of LP72's and can borrow a set of HP100's for boat dives.
It really is a hit or miss thing. And, you are right - it is frankly easier to just dive BM doubles at times. One example - JT Barker (Under Pressure) has a bit of a bias against SM divers on his boat, simply because he had somebody diving SM on his boat early this summer, and they lost their balance while getting ready to splash (had both tanks on, fins on, etc, and a roller hit the boat) and sat down on his GF's mask, smashing it. I dove SM off his boat late in the summer, and had no issues (but he let us know his understandable concerns). Plus, JT now has an electric lift on the back of his boat and diving BM or SM is INFINITELY easier than diving doubles on any other boat off the coast (with the possible exception of diving with Leroy, if he has you shed you gear in the water and then he lifts the doubles up over the side
) The experience of a number of people who have posted in this thread is good evidence - despite the growing enthusiasm for SM outside on caves and shore entries, it has not fully penetrated the comfort zone of staff at either the Caribbean resorts or on the coastal charters (at least the NC charters) yet. But, I suspect next season will be a turning point.