Tried sidemount - good experience

[Neilwood]

Going to have to look at SM at some point. Seems like less hassle for a lot of dives than BM

 

[Marie13]

I think tank selection is super subjective. I've quite enjoyed my heavy worthington lp108's in sidemount. I borrowed some lighter lp95's once and they were much nicer to dive with. Although I wasn't thrilled with the idea of carrying less gas I think I could get used to it at some point. I personally don't think I'd ever be comfortable with something as small (gas wise) as an lp72 or al80. Yet I know others that love and swear by the smaller tanks.

My point? Different folks, different strokes, yadda yadda yadda.


Oh! I thought your comment about going to the dark side meant cave or wreck.

Eventually...but probably not for a few years, at least. Wreck, yes. Cave, no.

 

[Sam Miller III]

I turned on my computer this morning and discovered my friend Marie13 has discovered a new SCUBA play toy - Side Mount Diving !

I eagerly look forward to the numerous future posts as Marie13 masters a new diving challenge.

Once again life is worth living-

Maintain your enthusiasm- It is infectious !

Sam Miller, 111

 

[blac86]

I am infatuated with sidemount diving, I like it so much more than back mount. I'll do single tank al80 with a weight plate attached to my rig, or double lp85s or 95s, through on as many or few stages as I need.

Even single tank being able to wing and gun my tank allows me so many more wreck penetration options than my bpw or bcd peers. In caves there's no restriction I can't pass sidemount.

I primarily dive in cool fresh water with steel tanks, so I have a heavy duty rig, the diverite nomad xt. It's definitely bulkier than a katana or razor, but it can easily handle the multiple steels and stages I need for cave diving in florida.

I've been considering assembling a toddy style sm rig so that I can manipulate the overall rig weight by using carbon, aluminum or steel backplates as situations dictate.

 

[raftingtigger]

To all the SM divers that like the HP steels - great for you. Keep doing it. I tried them for OW rec beach diving and almost gave up on the project. When I went to LP steel 72s I fell in love with the configuration.

FWIW I am a very fit 59 yo female (will be 60 in a few days), weigh 140#, and use a Trilam drysuit with double layer 400 gram underwear. I manage my tanks and weights by generally walking both rigged tanks down close to the water carrying them with straps. When it is time, they get carried into the water with the same straps. I then don my harness and then put my final 5 to 10# of lead (depending on # of tanks) into my front trim pockets before grabbing my tanks and entering the water. Coming out I do the reverse, sometimes just carrying everything up at once with the tanks clipped at my hips and the carrying straps letting the valve end of the tanks hang level with the butt ends. This works extremely well for me and is easier on entry and exit than carrying a HP100 in BM with required ballast.

My HP100s have an empty weight of 38#
My LP72s have an empty weight of 26#
I carry 10 extra pounds with me when diving with 2 LP72s vs 2 HP100s
My dry weight (the load I carry across the sand) is 14 pounds MORE when diving the HP100s than with the LP72s AND it feels better underwater with less (read no) pressure on my hips.
Furthermore I have been getting 80-90 min dives both with single and double sidemounting (different depths). So more air isn't needed.
Lastly the less negatively buoyant tanks make my surface swim (on my back) much easier. I just clip them to the forward D-ring (I use 2 fixed ones each side) and they are in trim while I swim out. I never managed to accomplish that with the HP steels, and with them clipped to my butt d-rings they hang downward and add lots of drag on a face up surface swim.

This is what works for me, other divers have different needs and abilities and different configurations work well for them. This whole discussion has probably been helpful to the OP. It shows there are more than one way to set things up and she can explore different tanks and configurations to find what works best for her. The one last piece of advice I will share -- TRY (several different configurations) BEFORE YOU BUY!

 

[stretchthepenn]

This post wasn't directed at me, but I'll reply anyway.

@UWZen
- If the tanks stay by your side and you are not pivoting one or both tanks in front of you for training or to push through restrictions, use whatever you can make work and maybe enjoy heavy HPs and less weight on you.

Basically, yes.

- If you are going to pivot the tanks forward and they are heavy and you are light, because you were saving that weight on you by going with dense tanks, then how much is your trim going to get f'd up and how much fun ate you going to have with that.... <and other related questions>

It doesn't really matter that much. You're only going to pivot your tanks forward occasionally. Keeping in trim with the tanks in their normal positions is the important issue.

 

[RayfromTX]

To all the SM divers that like the HP steels - great for you. Keep doing it. I tried them for OW rec beach diving and almost gave up on the project. When I went to LP steel 72s I fell in love with the configuration.

FWIW I am a very fit 59 yo female (will be 60 in a few days), weigh 140#, and use a Trilam drysuit with double layer 400 gram underwear. I manage my tanks and weights by generally walking both rigged tanks down close to the water carrying them with straps. When it is time, they get carried into the water with the same straps. I then don my harness and then put my final 5 to 10# of lead (depending on # of tanks) into my front trim pockets before grabbing my tanks and entering the water. Coming out I do the reverse, sometimes just carrying everything up at once with the tanks clipped at my hips and the carrying straps letting the valve end of the tanks hang level with the butt ends. This works extremely well for me and is easier on entry and exit than carrying a HP100 in BM with required ballast.

My HP100s have an empty weight of 38#
My LP72s have an empty weight of 26#
I carry 10 extra pounds with me when diving with 2 LP72s vs 2 HP100s
My dry weight (the load I carry across the sand) is 14 pounds MORE when diving the HP100s than with the LP72s AND it feels better underwater with less (read no) pressure on my hips.
Furthermore I have been getting 80-90 min dives both with single and double sidemounting (different depths). So more air isn't needed.
Lastly the less negatively buoyant tanks make my surface swim (on my back) much easier. I just clip them to the forward D-ring (I use 2 fixed ones each side) and they are in trim while I swim out. I never managed to accomplish that with the HP steels, and with them clipped to my butt d-rings they hang downward and add lots of drag on a face up surface swim.

This is what works for me, other divers have different needs and abilities and different configurations work well for them. This whole discussion has probably been helpful to the OP. It shows there are more than one way to set things up and she can explore different tanks and configurations to find what works best for her. The one last piece of advice I will share -- TRY (several different configurations) BEFORE YOU BUY!

I think part of your problem with the hp100 is yours are 4 lbs heavier than mine. My Faber galvanized hp100s are 34#

 

[raftingtigger]

I think part of your problem with the hp100 is yours are 4 lbs heavier than mine. My Faber galvanized hp100s are 34#

38# vs 26# or 34# vs 26#. I still carry less weight across the sand with the LP72s. I found the same problem with my HP80s (yes I have a personal "dive shop" in my garage). One last thought - I often single sidemount (really left SM and Pony on right), not something I would try with anything other than a fairly neutral tank. But this is what works for ME.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'm glad to hear SM divers growing. I currently have a Halcyon Contour, but I plan to switch now to the Razor system. The only problem is, I've been advised to use tanks less than 13.5 kg, which is an issue for tanks in the US. LP85's are too heavy even at 14.1 kg, so even though I dive in cold water, I'll be using AL80's

 

[raftingtigger]

I'm glad to hear SM divers growing. I currently have a Halcyon Contour, but I plan to switch now to the Razor system. The only problem is, I've been advised to use tanks less than 13.5 kg, which is an issue for tanks in the US. LP85's are too heavy even at 14.1 kg, so even though I dive in cold water, I'll be using AL80's

I would try the old LP72s. You can still rent them. Compare them to AL80s and see what you like best. Not sure why the weight limit unless it is for carrying the tank above water. That is easy to remedy. Use a leash/strap like I do and carry the tank into the water in your hand. I'll try to remember to post a picture when I get home.

Leash is a short strap with a loop on one end and a snap clip on the other. Snap clip attaches to the base ring on the tank lower snap clip and the leash loop goes under-around-and over the stub opposite the valve (just like the loop bungees do). Very handy device and easily removable and storable in a pocket or butt pouch.