Rescue course -- in sidemount?

[James Sims]

As a reasonably new Instructor I was certainly apprehensive about teaching a course in a rig whilst familiar with not been taught myself how to handle some of the attributes of the course. I uphold my opening statement after your expressed interest of completing Rescue in sidemount, it is likely that I would cut you out of your harness. Your perseverance paid off, your doggedness to perform the skills to the mastery level required inspired me. It was a great learning curve for all.

I truly am very proud of your commitment to the course, all four of us involved learned a lot and we were working together as a team. And didn't we have fun!!!

Well down...We tip our fins to you!

 

[Marie13]

This thread is useless without pics!

 

[BeijaFlor]

As a reasonably new Instructor I was certainly apprehensive about teaching a course in a rig whilst familiar with not been taught myself how to handle some of the attributes of the course. I uphold my opening statement after your expressed interest of completing Rescue in sidemount, it is likely that I would cut you out of your harness. Your perseverance paid off, your doggedness to perform the skills to the mastery level required inspired me. It was a great learning curve for all.

I truly am very proud of your commitment to the course, all four of us involved learned a lot and we were working together as a team. And didn't we have fun!!!

Well down...We tip our fins to you!

Thanks, James - whether or not we broke new ground with that course, I think we certainly broke a new trail.

And if I drowned for real, in that rig -- if I survived, that would matter far more than my cut-away gear; and if I didn't, then cutting off my gear REALLY wouldn't matter!

 

[BeijaFlor]

This thread is useless without pics!

James had the shop's office-manager take some photos of the pool session, where I proved I could get out of the rig while keeping up the rhythm of 'mouth-to-cheek resuscitation.' Maybe he'll post a few here....

I'm diving a Katana, which has more in common with a Hogarthian harness than with a jacket BC; it doesn't have quick-release buckles on the shoulder straps, and of course it's back-buoyancy. I struggled a few times to get clear of the straps, bungees, and regulators, but ... perseverance won out.