I'm mad at Dive-aholic

[Dive-aholic]

Judging by how I saw Carrie handle it, entries would take a lot of practice to get it right. The thing I noticed is that the tanks are hanging low, and thus they can hamper the movement of your legs and arms to help stabilize yourself versus backmount where you do have a lot more range of motion above the water. Once in the water, however, it was just fine.

Carrie did voice an opinion that floating on your back while surface swimming wasn't much of an option, since her rig (a Nomad) didn't handle that very well. But I'm sure more experienced divers would chime in with much more helpful advice.

Peace,
Greg

Surf entry would be easier with cylinders only partially in place. Once submerged, finish hooking things up. Floating on your back is pretty simple. I do it in my modified Nomad.

 

[Dive-aholic]

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The owner of the shop I work with told me last week his new sidemount setup is coming in shortly. He and I are the same size. I've never dove a sidemount set up and know of no one around here that does. I'm still going to take it in the pool with lp72's and see if I can figure it out. Kinda hoping not as I don't need to spend more money on another rig. Even though it would save me from doubling my 95's for back mount. I have the regs so that's not an issue. Any tips on setting this thing up. Not even sure which one he's getting. He has a Hollis rig in ( but it's the wrong size) and is also a dealer for Dive Rite and Zeagle. It looks like he wants me to figure it out so I can help him with it? He is not an instructor.

 

[Scott L]

It seems everyone is learning how. "Come on and SM with me" Dive-aholic says. Reminds me of another era a while back...

I do have to say that, in my typical fashion, I'm heading home with the intention of reading and studying everything I can get my hands on about various sidemount setups and the pros and cons of each -- when a small voice in the back of my head is saying, "If you liked what you dove so much, why not just copy it?"

It was really astonishing to feel so free in the water. I remember watching Steve Bogaerts "Wreck Diving" video with deep envy, and the immediate feeling that Steve belonged to the special class of divers who can make it look easy . . . Well, I still think he probably does, but I know some of his secret now!

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

The owner of the shop I work with told me last week his new sidemount setup is coming in shortly. He and I are the same size. I've never dove a sidemount set up and know of no one around here that does. I'm still going to take it in the pool with lp72's and see if I can figure it out. Kinda hoping not as I don't need to spend more money on another rig. Even though it would save me from doubling my 95's for back mount. I have the regs so that's not an issue. Any tips on setting this thing up. Not even sure which one he's getting. He has a Hollis rig in ( but it's the wrong size) and is also a dealer for Dive Rite and Zeagle. It looks like he wants me to figure it out so I can help him with it? He is not an instructor.

You need to hook up with someone that does it like Rob or like most on here they get little things tweaked wrong and its a bad experience. If you havent dove a spring its well worth the trip anyway but when you see how easy everything is you will wonder why did I wear those heavy damn things on my back!!

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

It seems everyone is learning how. "Come on and SM with me" Dive-aholic says. Reminds me of another era a while back...

Scott you know I dive quite a bit, since going Sm I have yet to have a 2 day backache like I did after a weekend of diving with BM doubles. That is worth ts weight in gold to me.

 

[Scott L]

Scott you know I dive quite a bit, since going Sm I have yet to have a 2 day backache like I did after a weekend of diving with BM doubles. That is worth ts weight in gold to me.

If my tec diving ever went beyond AL80's, it would be obligatory. The movement is really gaining steam. The 9 failures thread on TDS is further illustration...

 

[Kevin Carlisle]

If my tec diving ever went beyond AL80's, it would be obligatory. The movement is really gaining steam. The 9 failures thread on TDS is further illustration...

I dont go on TDS anymore. Care to enlighten me on that thread by PM please?

 

[Doppler]

Hope Ben Martinez does not mind me posting this here... but this is a pretty graphic illustration of why sidemount is such a blast once you get the streamlining things sorted. The diver in this picture is Jim Clark.

 

[Scott L]

I dont go on TDS anymore. Care to enlighten me on that thread by PM please?

Done.