Sidemount for SoCal shore dives?

I've been reading a lot on the 'Board about open water sidemount diving. It seems many folks are switching from back mount doubles to side mount doubles, yet I haven't seen any here in SoCal (except once maybe 3 or so years ago, and I didn't pay close attention then).

Based on the discussions I've seen, it seems a bit impractical a system for shore diving in active waters. I say this because I've read accounts of "...I carry one tank into shallow water, go back and retrieve the other and hook them both up in the water..."

I can imagine what would happen to my tank if I left it in shallow water.

Are there folks diving SoCal shores in a sidemount config? If so, what are your thoughts?

Curious.

Talk with Hal at Hollywood Divers. He's into sidemount and he does shore diving all the time.

The gang at UTD in San Diego are sidemounting all the time.

I've seen divers going sidemount on several occasions from some of the beaches around Malibu, but still onesies