As an agency, we released a UTD broad-based side mount program in 2010. This was after years of "monkey diving," tech diving with stages, rebreather diving with bailout on the side, etc.
The most important thing was to make side mount consistent across the board: recreational, technical, and overhead. This led to two important innovations: the Z-System distribution block and the Z-Isolator manifold which, in turn, led to a side mount system that is completely scaleable. In other words, we can dive a single side mount tank, double side mount tanks, doubles with deco, etc., and nothing changes...just carry and plug in the appropriate bottles. For deco, it's no more complicated than any gas switch. For recreational, take one, or two bottle as the dive calls for. If I'm doing a shallow reef dive, I take one bottle. If I'm at 60-100'/18-30m, I can take two. Deeper, I can take any number of deco bottles, and all the while I continue to breathe from the donatable long hose and have the necklace for backup. No independent doubles, no time spent on the non-donatable neckace, and I'm in the exact same configuration as anyone diving back mount with a long hose and necklace.
So the system is scaleable (any number of bottles) and compatible (same hose configuration as back mount singles or doubles).
For training, we offer a variety of Essentials classes in side mount. These carry all the same personal skills as our back mount Essentials classes, but in side mount. The student can take Essentials of Rec, Tech, or Overhead, and all that changes is the number of bottles and training on drills and potential failures, same as back mount.
The other part of the training revolves around gear fitting. One of the issues with side mount, especially if using a harness system rather than a backplate, is that everything has to fit, or the bottles will not hang properly. So that's a big part of the class.
We also offer side mount mini's for students who want to add side mount at their current level...again this can be rec, tech, or overhead.
I think the training is more important than the gear. Any time anyone goes to a new system, it is just good diving practice to learn to use it properly.
Jeff
The most important thing was to make side mount consistent across the board: recreational, technical, and overhead. This led to two important innovations: the Z-System distribution block and the Z-Isolator manifold which, in turn, led to a side mount system that is completely scaleable. In other words, we can dive a single side mount tank, double side mount tanks, doubles with deco, etc., and nothing changes...just carry and plug in the appropriate bottles. For deco, it's no more complicated than any gas switch. For recreational, take one, or two bottle as the dive calls for. If I'm doing a shallow reef dive, I take one bottle. If I'm at 60-100'/18-30m, I can take two. Deeper, I can take any number of deco bottles, and all the while I continue to breathe from the donatable long hose and have the necklace for backup. No independent doubles, no time spent on the non-donatable neckace, and I'm in the exact same configuration as anyone diving back mount with a long hose and necklace.
So the system is scaleable (any number of bottles) and compatible (same hose configuration as back mount singles or doubles).
For training, we offer a variety of Essentials classes in side mount. These carry all the same personal skills as our back mount Essentials classes, but in side mount. The student can take Essentials of Rec, Tech, or Overhead, and all that changes is the number of bottles and training on drills and potential failures, same as back mount.
The other part of the training revolves around gear fitting. One of the issues with side mount, especially if using a harness system rather than a backplate, is that everything has to fit, or the bottles will not hang properly. So that's a big part of the class.
We also offer side mount mini's for students who want to add side mount at their current level...again this can be rec, tech, or overhead.
I think the training is more important than the gear. Any time anyone goes to a new system, it is just good diving practice to learn to use it properly.
Jeff