Hi all,
I need a bit of advice regarding my sidemount configuration. I am using a dive rite transpac mounted over a dual bladder super wing. The wing is a bit modified, I tightened as much as possible the bungee which is routed through the wing, restricting it to fully inflate at its original full lift. I don't need that much anyway. By my guess, when I fully inflate it now, the lift is around half compared with original full lift. Normally I do not have issues with this configuration, I usually dive solo in our local quarries where entry/exit is very easy and I do not need to surface in the middle of the lake. Under water, trim looks fine to me and I do not have other problems. However, last dive in our local quarry was not solo and I was in a group of 3 divers. Me with sidemount, other 2 with standard rec. configuration. One of them did not paid too much attention to the bottom and soon enough they stirred up everything and 0 visibility was there in seconds. Because of this, we separated quite often and we needed to surface. And here started my problems. I was unable to keep a confortable position at the surface, regardless of how much the wing was inflated. I had to fin quite strong in order to be able to maintain a position in which I could take out my reg and say 2-3 words. The rig was strongly pushing me with head in the water. I was in dry suit with 200 undergarment, tanks were 2x8.5 liter steel (eurocylinder) and 6kg of weigth mounted on the back of my transpac, in the lombar area. Those 6kg were a bit too much, I could do it with 4kg as well.
So, please tell me what can I do to improve surface comfort? I must add that I do not have formal sidemount training, there is no instructor for that in a 500 km radius.
Thanks.
I need a bit of advice regarding my sidemount configuration. I am using a dive rite transpac mounted over a dual bladder super wing. The wing is a bit modified, I tightened as much as possible the bungee which is routed through the wing, restricting it to fully inflate at its original full lift. I don't need that much anyway. By my guess, when I fully inflate it now, the lift is around half compared with original full lift. Normally I do not have issues with this configuration, I usually dive solo in our local quarries where entry/exit is very easy and I do not need to surface in the middle of the lake. Under water, trim looks fine to me and I do not have other problems. However, last dive in our local quarry was not solo and I was in a group of 3 divers. Me with sidemount, other 2 with standard rec. configuration. One of them did not paid too much attention to the bottom and soon enough they stirred up everything and 0 visibility was there in seconds. Because of this, we separated quite often and we needed to surface. And here started my problems. I was unable to keep a confortable position at the surface, regardless of how much the wing was inflated. I had to fin quite strong in order to be able to maintain a position in which I could take out my reg and say 2-3 words. The rig was strongly pushing me with head in the water. I was in dry suit with 200 undergarment, tanks were 2x8.5 liter steel (eurocylinder) and 6kg of weigth mounted on the back of my transpac, in the lombar area. Those 6kg were a bit too much, I could do it with 4kg as well.
So, please tell me what can I do to improve surface comfort? I must add that I do not have formal sidemount training, there is no instructor for that in a 500 km radius.
Thanks.