Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
You are essentially diving non-back-mounted, independent doubles. If you have a back condition that doesn't allow you to comfortably carry back-mounted doubles, or you are diving in an environment where there may be narrow passageways that preclude back-mounting, this may be a reasonable approach. Dive Rite has the Nomad, and other manufacturers may come out with rigs to support side mount in the near future. Knowing one of the instructors who teaches it, I am quite interested in trying it.PADI Open Water Side Mount Diver Why? What Next?
I dunno, that'd be something to take up with the charter operator. I can say, most of the time I've asked to bring something... "non-standard" (doubles, scooter, deco bottle) I always get asked "You got a card for that?" At least now, someone who's taken this class can say yes.