Sidemount Equipment Advice

[Dives4Fun]

I know that testing gear would be the best option, but that is very limited.

We have 1 dive shop that teaches sidemount and they only have Hollis gear and they want a very high price for that gear, the training and rental of that gear. This is why I travel to other places to get training on specializations.

After looking at the benefits and drawbacks of sidemount, I feel that it would be beneficial for me to train it up next year.

I am considering the Hollis Katana (lightweight, travel friendly) but have some questions maybe someone can answer. It takes me 40 lbs lead with my neoprene drysuit and a single back mounted aluminum tank to sink in freshwater. It takes around 24 lbs lead to sink in salt with my 3mm shorty with the same gear. Given these figures, would it be possible to use the Katana with dual aluminum (80 cu ft each) given its extremely small amount of weight pocket capabilities?

 

[rick00001967]

pls remember the katana and other hollis sm systems were basically designed by florida cave divers. these fellas regularly dive with heavy steel tanks not allum. so the systems were not designed to carry significant amounts of extra lead.
without getting into a long debate about this, my suggestion would be, if you were set on using allum tanks to look at other options for your bc and harness.
something like the xdeep stealth (just for example) can carry a lot of extra lead quite easily.

 

[decompression]

Agree, if you’re only looking at al’s then there are far better rigs than the Katana for the money. When I’m diving cold water (drysuit, lots of lead) I use the xdeep stealth tec, lots of options for weight. Also, the T weight system from Subgravity can be fit to most systems and can hold up to 40 lbs. if you are doing both cold and warm water a simple harness system with different bladders might be the best choice. Devon Diver here on SB has a great comparison of just about every SM system out there.

 

[Dives4Fun]

Thank you for the additional information. I really wish I had the option of trying out various gear types - its so hard to determine whats right or not. I will do a search for Devon Diver posts as well.

 

[Patoux01]

I will do a search for Devon Diver posts as well.

This is basically what he referred to. A List of Modern Sidemount Diving Systems

I'd say a Stealth has the capability to carry a massive amount of weight, but well, I'm gonna get told it doesn't work anyway.

 

[Johanan]

Right now the best system could be Xdeep Stealth 2 Tech, especially for diving in a wetsuit when the bcd is more significant for maintaining a good trim.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

If you are are interested in the XDeep Stealth Sidemount gear - then book a trip to Tulum or Playa del Carmen Mexico. Go see Protec at either location. One of the owners of those shops is also one of the designers of the Stealth Sidemount system. And they are a first class shop. Enjoy.

 

[Dives4Fun]

Thanks Norwegian. I will actually be in Playa del Carmen early next year (taking a Cavern diving course) so I will add them to the list to visit.

 

[runsongas]

the xdeep and apeks have a spine weight pouch that holds up to 16 pounds or so iirc. dive rite offers a weight plate for the nomad. i would consider those options if you need that much weight.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Thanks Norwegian. I will actually be in Playa del Carmen early next year (taking a Cavern diving course) so I will add them to the list to visit.

Check them out for your cavern course. They are a excellant shop.