I think the only real problem I have had with SM divers has been in Mexico. Some cenote access isn't very large, and I've noticed on more than one occasion a team will take all of their tanks down for a double stage and leave them, then go stand in the parking lot chatting, eating lunch, etc. Now I think that's a personal type of douchebaggery, not specific to SM, however I think because they are SM divers it enables that type of behavior. I don't know any BM diver that goes and lays their twinsets down at the waters edge and then eff's off for half an hour.
That's an interesting...and quite location specific...example. I'd never thought of SM being a good 'enabler' for douchebaggery.
Again, I think SM just facilitates that sort of behavior, I don't think it's something endemic to SM'ers. I don't think that it's a lack of respect inherent to SM'ers, I just think that sort of disrespectful behavior happens less with BM divers simply because the opportunity doesn't present itself.
Here's a thought....
Sidemount diving is a new and emerging practice for the majority of those who participate in it. As such, it's
not only stuff like equipment configuration that is developing. Areas like
dive etiquette are also developing over time.
With BM... there has been sufficient time to develop formal and informal 'community standards' on etiquette. It's had time to sink in.
Expectations of behavior are known.
Once upon a time....I am sure there were douchebags who left their BM doubles in the way, cluttered cave entrances, boat decks, jetties etc...and generally acted inconsiderately towards their fellow divers. I think, over time, that behavior gets moderated by the community. People learn what is expected of them.
Sidemount is relatively new. There'll always be people who need to 'learn' etiquette... have specific expected behaviors spelled out to them... and cannot apply courtesy pro-actively.
It's the 'newness', not the 'sidemount' that might cause occasional issues with etiquette.
Dive Boat Captain Issues:
I think this also applies to the perceptions that we see from
a small number of boat captains. I think those comments would apply equally to BM
doubles. Too cluttered, too much space taken, not necessary for the dives done. It'd also apply to CCR divers - who take
way longer to kit up and require much more space.
Some boats just cater for single-tank divers. That's fine. There's no shame in that. So that's what should be communicated by the captains... not to single out sidemount diving as a problem.
The diving world is evolving. The evolution is causing angst on some boats is simply that
recreational divers are now using a more diverse range of equipment. Not only sidemount - but also
recreational CCR. I've even seen boat captains on Scubaboard complaining about BP&W single-tank BCDs.... as they don't fit the tank holders on their boats etc.
I am
sure we'd see the same complaints / blame focused on
recreational CCR divers - it's just that the captains concerned haven't
yet had recreational divers turn up for diving on their boats with that kit.
Frankly, if a boat or dive center can't cater for divers in anything other than basic single-tank jacket BCDs, then they should just be clear about that. It isn't a situation that requires '
blame' to be allocated either way, to any party.
Honestly, there is no longer such a thing as a 'recreational' or 'technical' dive boat... with regards to space allocation and equipment stowage etc. Recreational diving isn't... never had been... defined by
only using single-tank jacket BCDs. But people got used to that because...previously.... no other options were commonly available to recreational divers. Times change folks....
Recreational divers using sidemount and CCR will increase in the future... but are likely to remain a small minority of the recreational diving population.
If a recreational dive boat captain didn't want the cost of re-modelling their decks, or the effort of adapting their procedures, to cater for that minority it's
perfectly understandable.
At the same time, boat captains, charters and dive centers need to accept that diving habits are evolving and what we see now is
recreational divers using a more diverse range of approaches.....and
that's perfectly understandable also.
