Greetings fellow dive enthusiasts,
I have been a long time lurker on these boards and I really appreciate the advice and knowledge many of you have imparted. I was hoping I might solicite some of it for myself - and perhaps others who are thinking of similar questions...
Please allow me to apologize if these questions have been answered in a previous thread, if so please point it out to me.
Some backround: I am a new diver, open water back in March and in the middle of Advanced OW with only 14 dives to my name. I dive both cold water (puget sound) and warm, and I travel extensively. I do not use a drysuite. I am looking to buy my own gear, regs first then BC setup.
My questions involve the BC, as I will be looking into Tek diving later - after I gain some experience - but: I would prefer as much as possible to make one purchase that is flexible for many uses, and I would prefer to learn one set of gear to minimze confusion and having to 'unlearn' habits...
As such, I am trying to decide whether I should go with a Backplate and wing, or a dedicated SM - likely the Hollis SMS100 - as it seems to be able to handle standard back mounting as well as side.
1) First - is a sidemount system appropriate for someone with my low experience level or something I should move to only after I gain a few years of experience?
2) Is it possible / difficult to dive a single AL80 mounted on the side? Do I offset weight to compensate for the tank? Is trim and boyancy difficult to control for someone with my (lack of) experience? I am envisioning both cold and warm water, shore and boat dives...
3) Is it possible to attach dumpable weight pockets to the SMS 100? Is there even a need? Typically in cold water (vest BC) I need 26 lbs and warm I need 16 or so, but I absolutely hate weight belts...
4) I know there are possibile ways to adapt a BP/W to sidemount, are these as effective as the dedicated BC? Have any manufacturers come out with a conversion kit? Will I need a SM specific wing for the backplate?
Thank you very much for your time, advice and teachings.
Cheers!
N.M.
I have been a long time lurker on these boards and I really appreciate the advice and knowledge many of you have imparted. I was hoping I might solicite some of it for myself - and perhaps others who are thinking of similar questions...
Please allow me to apologize if these questions have been answered in a previous thread, if so please point it out to me.
Some backround: I am a new diver, open water back in March and in the middle of Advanced OW with only 14 dives to my name. I dive both cold water (puget sound) and warm, and I travel extensively. I do not use a drysuite. I am looking to buy my own gear, regs first then BC setup.
My questions involve the BC, as I will be looking into Tek diving later - after I gain some experience - but: I would prefer as much as possible to make one purchase that is flexible for many uses, and I would prefer to learn one set of gear to minimze confusion and having to 'unlearn' habits...
As such, I am trying to decide whether I should go with a Backplate and wing, or a dedicated SM - likely the Hollis SMS100 - as it seems to be able to handle standard back mounting as well as side.
1) First - is a sidemount system appropriate for someone with my low experience level or something I should move to only after I gain a few years of experience?
2) Is it possible / difficult to dive a single AL80 mounted on the side? Do I offset weight to compensate for the tank? Is trim and boyancy difficult to control for someone with my (lack of) experience? I am envisioning both cold and warm water, shore and boat dives...
3) Is it possible to attach dumpable weight pockets to the SMS 100? Is there even a need? Typically in cold water (vest BC) I need 26 lbs and warm I need 16 or so, but I absolutely hate weight belts...
4) I know there are possibile ways to adapt a BP/W to sidemount, are these as effective as the dedicated BC? Have any manufacturers come out with a conversion kit? Will I need a SM specific wing for the backplate?
Thank you very much for your time, advice and teachings.
Cheers!
N.M.