No-Harness Sidemount Rig - Just a bit of fun ;)

Had some time after finishing a tec sidemount/tec40 course this afternoon, so had a play around with a concept I've had in the back of my mind... no harness sidemount, using a M-shape bungee for both cylinder stowage and wing tensioning...

Ingredients:
1x DiveRite Trim Pillow (10lbs lift)
1x general purpose bungee (improvised - next development will be a 'proper' bungee with bolt-snaps for attachment.
1x weight belt
2x d-ring and retainer

I spent some time in the pool giving it a shake-out... inverted, rolls, upside-down, vertical etc. Used with 2x AL80s. I only mounted 2 d-rings on this occasion, so cylinder trim was dealt with by cam-band weights.

Following the pool work-up, I took the rig for a shore dive (27m/45 mins). I found it quite stable (enough so for some decent critter videography) and very clutter free - literally nothing on the torso. Video of the afternoon to follow...

Note: I am not suggesting/recommending that divers attempt to replicate this rig.


Bladder and bungee, without the weight belt attached.

Basic rig concept: small bladder is attached to a weight belt. D-rings on weight belt provide lower cylinder attachment points. Top of bladder connected to a long continuous bungee. Bungee routes under arm, up behind neck, down under the other arm - connected both sides to the wing.

in the pool and on the dive...

I'm not a sidemounter, yet, but pretty dog gome impressive.

Much tension/pressure on the back of the neck where the bungee routes?

scubamarketing:

Much tension/pressure on the back of the neck where the bungee routes?

Click to expand...

I expected there to be... but I didn't notice any in the water! I did a pool session to check control/stability... then decided to hop into the water for a quick dive. Enjoyed it so much the quick dive ended up at 45 mins (working on the video for upload as I write this).

Nice!
10lbs enough with full tanks (& weights on them)?

Plenty enough lift submerged. 2x AL80, each with a 2lb trim weight. That's all it took. Was a diver this week using the same pillow on a stealth harness. It manages 2x Al80 and a small stage just fine. Struggled a little with 2x AL80 and 2x AL40s. Surface support lacking though... agreement stages to be ditched and/or DSMB if substantial surface float was necessary.

I imagine you were using the standard rig setup, but for maximum minimalization(heh!), how short could one go with the hoses on that rig?

Okay...video uploaded (I love my life!)

[vimeo]61874968[/vimeo]

More details/pics and higher-res video here: M-Bungee Rig Sidemount Test Dives

Looks intereating....

beanojones:

I imagine you were using the standard rig setup, but for maximum minimalization(heh!), how short could one go with the hoses on that rig?

Click to expand...

Same as for any sidemount, I guess. Long hose & necklace bungee stays pretty dang streamlined though... steam-lining was an important criteria for me on the concept.