Why Sidemount?

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Sidemount Divers are more balanced, more streamlined, and have a redundant gas system. For me, I started Sidemount diving because I wanted more gas and more bottom time. The full answer of what I have realized is a little more complicated.

Like most new divers, I started diving with an Aluminum 80 (11 litre). I never wanted to be the one running out of air first, so I upgraded to Steel HP117 (15 litre). Then I started diving with divers using a twinset (two tanks on their back). Once again, I was in the position that I would be the one running out of air first. I started looking at a twinset and a suggestion was made that I may want to look at sidemount.

So, I went to a local dive shop, spoke to them about sidemount, and although they teach it, they did not have any sidemount BCD’s to use for the training, I would have to buy one first. So, I went home, did some research, and then ran back the next day and bought the "Hybrid" system that they stocked. By "Hybrid", I mean that the manufacturers indicated that it could be used for a single cylinder back mount or could be used for sidemount.  At the time, I thought that this was really neat feature.

Then, I really went off the deep end. Not only did I buy the hybrid BCD, I also went on to purchase their changing mat, reg bag, weight pockets, expandable pouch, mask pouch, weight plate etc. If this manufacturer had sold underwear, I probably would have bought it too. When I got home, I watched as many videos as I could regarding this hybrid BCD, completed my sidemount course paperwork and anxiously awaiting the in-water training.

After completing my in-water sidemount training, I continued to do research online, that is when I came across Steve Martin’s Sidemounting videos.  I started to have more questions than I had answers, so I signed up for the instructional videos on Sidemounting.com. This was a BIG eye-opener.

Only then did I really start to understand what mistakes I was making.  I started reading more information, reaching out to top sidemount instructors around the world for their feedback, even sending them pictures of myself in the water for their comments. 

Here are a few items that I have learned:

• Hybrid BCD are not for everyone. Although I still see them being sold by many dive shops in my area, the buoyancy characteristics are not ideal for sidemount.
• You should not be putting weights on your aluminum tanks to prevent them from rising up as they become more buoyant.
• Your tanks (or cylinders) should be in-line with your body. Your tanks should be connected to a sliding d-ring on your waist that you move as the tanks become lighter, ensuring that they are in alignment with your body.
• Sidemount divers are more balanced in the water due to a streamlined center of gravity. 

Although my primary goal was more bottom time, what I realized is that redundancy was far more important to me. Every time I jump in the water, I have a complete back-up system with me. If I have a malfunction from the tank that I am breathing from, I have another tank right in front of me ready to go. As a general rule, you are switching regs every 300 – 500 psi (20 to 35 bar), which means that you just finished testing your back-up. Then in another 300-500 psi (20 to 35 bar), you are switching again. 

It has been suggested that sidemount is also really good for people with bad backs or bad knees. The tanks can be carried to the water edge and quite easily donned in the water. If you dive backmount, try rotating in the water, how long is it until you flip over like a turtle stuck on his shell?

If you are interested in sidemount diving, based on my experiences, I would suggest the following:

1. Watch videos from Sidemounting.com, become an educated consumer.
2. Find a dive shop that offers a sidemount workshop, a chance to get in the pool to try sidemount. 
3. If you want to proceed to the next step, find a dive shop that has gear you can rent during your sidemount training. You shouldn’t have to buy before you try.
4. Next, ask the instructor how much sidemount diving they do personally. Do they only dive sidemount when they are teaching the course or do they dive sidemount all year?
5. What kind of sidemount diving do you want to do? Do you want to go into tech, cave or wreck? A hybrid system may not work. Many training centers will only permit you to use certain harnesses, which usually does not include a hybrid.
6. If you really like information, listen to the Speaking Sidemount podcast where many top sidemount divers are interviewed.

At the end of the day, I still very much enjoy side mount and I did achieve my initial goal of more air and more bottom time.  I cannot wait to dive and train with the same top sidemount divers from around the world that responded to my questions after I started sidemount diving. They have much to offer and I have only scratched the surface.