I was involved with the rebuilt step project and don't really so how anyone could see the new P1 steps as a downgrade. The lowest 2 steps are now one larger, safer platform that you can actually turn around on. There are now two ladders, .one on both sides. Granted, the spring-side "hand-holds" make it a narrower passage, but I have watched several sm divers get in/out just fine.
The divers I have witnessed blocking passage, were having trouble clipping in while standing on the ladder, and moving stuff around, like they were not really all that squared away in the first place. (Just my opinion).
I'm really not trying to stir the pot here, but if SM is really such as great system, how can you let the new P1 steps defeat you ?
With regard to the bolded text, it would have been more side mount friendly to use the available space at the bottom to go two steps lower toward the water than to make those steps twice as wide. When the water is at its present level, it's a bit of a heave to get a tank up there the way the steps were completed. Two steps lower would have made a big difference, even if it was only 2 steps lower for 6-8 ft in the middle (leaving the steps, higher, wider and easier to turn around on by the ladders).
Side mount is a great system, but what is ideal for back mount entry and exit isn't quite the same as what is ideal for side mount entry and exit. Not better or worse one way or the other - just different.
It's not that they steps will defeat many SM divers, as it's obviously do-able, it's just less efficient as constructed, and with the current low water level. Consequently, until the water comes up near the top of that bottom step, you'll see more divers trying to clip tanks on at the ladder, and you'll see more divers taking tanks off while standing on the ladder. Given the steep pitch, it's also difficult to balance on then ladder while clipping a tank on or off. A little shallower angle would have allowed for a little better balance, so it'll take longer than it could have otherwise.
There are other options for getting in, such as clipping every thing on up above at the benches and then walking down the stairs and giant striding in. However, getting out will still be the chokepoint - and that's an issue when the estimates are that half or slight more than half of all cave divers are now side mount. It'll only get worse with time as more divers switch to side mount.
To be fair, SM divers can still come up the ladder with both tanks on, with a little minor twisting to get through the posts - I've done it and it's not all that hard for physically fit male. On the other hand, eliminating the need to climb in full gear is one reason some divers have opted for side mount, and those diver are not likely to use that option, and some just won't be ABLE to use that option.
At Cow, where you can rack up some fairly significant deco, my preference is to avoid climbing the stairs in full gear anyway. I prefer to take them off, then haul them back to the truck individually when I've just finished a dive with significant deco. With the old pre-steps Cow, the sink and shoreline were very accommodating to SM divers putting tanks on and taking tanks off regardless of water level. To their credit, the folks designing the stairs at Cow did a great job in that respect by adding the platforms on either side of the stairs, which make it very side mount friendly at both high and low water levels.
In that regard, one suggestion that's been made is to follow the lead of what was done at Cow and add a platform to one side of the P1 steps that would allow a place for SM divers to stand or kneel in the water and gear up and/or offer a lower platform to remove tanks when getting out, without blocking the stairs. The area to the right of the P1 stairs (looking toward the sink) would work well. There is in fact a large flat rock there that works fine for that purpose (if you ignore the mud, algae and general ick recently). However it's not a perfect solution as a diver there will be competing for space with anyone using the ladder.
Adding a platform along the edge in that area that would be high enough to be able to still stand on when the water is high average and still under a foot or two of water, or at least be close to the water when the water level is lower than average would solve the major challenges and reduce congestion on the ladders on busy weekends.
Just a suggestion.
..At a minimum..
