Recreational Sidemount ...

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Perhaps a good topic for a recreational sidemount class would be a discussion of "one tank or two", and an exercise involving single-tank diving.

For cold water, single tanks are a bit of a pain because we tend to dive steel cylinders here ... my SM tanks of choice are HP100's. I've dived a single configuration before, and although it's doable, it's not exactly comfortable. I imagine an AL80 would be a much easier choice, but then I'd be adding eight more lbs of weight to my rig, and some of that would have to go on the tank itself to maintain trim as the cylinder were breathed down. It would also require reconfiguring my regulator to probably look more like the one I use for single-tank BM diving.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
That is what I am talking about. Why use two 30s or 45s when you can use one of your 98s?


  • Because one failure won't lose me all the gas in two tanks.
  • Because I can hand up 30s to someone on the boat, using only one hand and can be lighter on the ladder.
  • Because I enjoy not having a giant slug of steel on my back.
 
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That is what I am talking about. Why use two 30s or 45s when you can use one of your 98s?


  • Because one failure won't lose me all the gas in two tanks.
  • Because I can hand up a 30s to someone on the boat, using only one hand and can be lighter on the ladder.
  • Because I enjoy not having a giant slug of steel on my back.

One failure wont lose all your gas with a single cylinder if your diving with a buddy. Everyone always mentions handing up tanks. Do you have an injury or a reason why you cant put a tank on your back. I find it easier to have them on my back. To each his own I guess. It seems like many divers are just using SM because its "cool" and not because its needed, which is fine. I just have not seen anyone admit to it. Every SM diver I meet insist they need it even if their diving in some shallow puddle. I guess I just dont get it.
 
One failure wont lose all your gas with a single cylinder if your diving with a buddy.

I often dive solo, sometimes with an instabuddy, sometimes with terrible divers and sometimes with known excellent divers. The only time I can count on getting gas from my buddy is in the last case.

Everyone always mentions handing up tanks. Do you have an injury or a reason why you cant put a tank on your back.

I have arthritis in one ankle and some torn cartilage in one knee. They're generally fine but I do what I can to not abuse them.

Anything I can do to prevent a single failure from becoming a potential disaster is fine by me. Even on a shallow no-deco dive, having all the gas I need is much safer than bolting for the surface if something bad happens.

flots.
 
One failure wont lose all your gas with a single cylinder if your diving with a buddy.

I often dive solo, sometimes with an instabuddy, sometimes with terrible divers and sometimes with known excellent divers. The only time I can count on getting gas from my buddy is in the last case.

Everyone always mentions handing up tanks. Do you have an injury or a reason why you cant put a tank on your back.

I have arthritis in one ankle and some torn cartilage in one knee. They're generally fine but I do what I can to not abuse them.

flots.

Makes sense.
 
Every SM diver I meet insist they need it even if their diving in some shallow puddle. I guess I just dont get it.

It's okay if you don't. No one insists that you switch to sidemount. It's all good.
 
It seems like many divers are just using SM because its "cool" and not because its needed, which is fine.
... and why is that not a valid reason to dive SM?

Most divers got into scuba diving because it's "cool" and not because it's needed ... unless you're doing it for a living, no one ever "needs" to dive at all.

"Because I want to" is a perfectly valid reason for choosing a SM rig ... unless they're insisting that you use the same rig they use, it really isn't any of your business.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
Every SM diver I meet insist they need it even if their diving in some shallow puddle. I guess I just dont get it.

It's okay if you don't. No one insists that you switch to sidemount. It's all good.

Maybe that came out wrong. I have no issues with SM. I SM from time to time. I dont get why people dive two cylinders when one is clearly enough.



It seems like many divers are just using SM because its "cool" and not because its needed, which is fine.
... and why is that not a valid reason to dive SM?

Most divers got into scuba diving because it's "cool" and not because it's needed ... unless you're doing it for a living, no one ever "needs" to dive at all.

"Because I want to" is a perfectly valid reason for choosing a SM rig ... unless they're insisting that you use the same rig they use, it really isn't any of your business.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Mr. Sensitive,
I dont care what anyone dives. You can strap milk jugs on your sides and dive if thats what you prefer. All im asking is there a reason to use two tanks well within the rec limits? I think not but many people insist on using two whether its SM or BM.
 
Mr. Sensitive,
I dont care what anyone dives. You can strap milk jugs on your sides and dive if thats what you prefer. All im asking is there a reason to use two tanks well within the rec limits? I think not but many people insist on using two whether its SM or BM.
I know exactly what you're asking ... and I've told you several times already that it's an irrelevent question ... particularly in this thread.

If you want to continually question why someone would choose to dive sidemount, go start your own thread on that subject ... I'm sure there'll be plenty of opinions. This thread is asking what you'd like to see in a recreational sidemount class, which assumes that they've already made the decision to dive that way for their own reasons. So far there are almost 100 responses, and only a handful of people who have attempted to address the actual topic. Every time someone attempts to address the topic it gets hijacked before anyone can pursue the subject any further.

It's annoying as hell. I get ... I COMPLETELY GET ... your feelings on the topic of people only diving what they need. I think by now everyone does. So can we please allow this thread to discuss the intended topic ... which is training?

I frankly don't care whether you think it's "needed" or not. That's not your call to make, except for you. And it's completely off-topic.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
Mr. Sensitive,
I dont care what anyone dives. You can strap milk jugs on your sides and dive if thats what you prefer. All im asking is there a reason to use two tanks well within the rec limits? I think not but many people insist on using two whether its SM or BM.
I know exactly what you're asking ... and I've told you several times already that it's an irrelevent question ... particularly in this thread.

If you want to continually question why someone would choose to dive sidemount, go start your own thread on that subject ... I'm sure there'll be plenty of opinions. This thread is asking what you'd like to see in a recreational sidemount class, which assumes that they've already made the decision to dive that way for their own reasons. So far there are almost 100 responses, and only a handful of people who have attempted to address the actual topic. Every time someone attempts to address the topic it gets hijacked before anyone can pursue the subject any further.

It's annoying as hell. I get ... I COMPLETELY GET ... your feelings on the topic of people only diving what they need. I think by now everyone does. So can we please allow this thread to discuss the intended topic ... which is training?

I frankly don't care whether you think it's "needed" or not. That's not your call to make, except for you. And it's completely off-topic.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Im sorry if you dont think its on topic. The point I was making is maybe NAUIs thinking is the same as mine. Right tool for the job. If two tanks are not needed then why use two? Have you questioned whether or not rec SM course is needed? I felt this was exactly what this thread was about but I see that obviously you disagree so Ill keep my comments to myself. Have a wonderful day Bob.
 
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