sidemount in Mexico?

[whodunit68]

I'm going to Mexico. I'm going with a group of what seem to be awesome people. I'm diving caves. How much better does it get?
So I started sidemounting...would love to sidemount there. I'll be in Puerto Aventuras. I don't know where/what/how we're doing but do ops down there have sidemount setups? Do they have single cylinders with L/R valves (I'd bring cam bands and bungees of my own)? To whom should I speak?

Thanks in advance.
Steve

[FW]

Most cave oriented shops have either doubles, or singles. Some have singles with DIN valves, but last time I was down, nobody had left/right valves. Your own cambands migtht be a good idea, the ones I have seen for rent are pretty ratty.

[whodunit68]

thanks once again, FW....would it bother you in any way to dive 2 singles with 2 right valves?

[sskasser]

I've dived with various mixes of valve orientation with no problem. One big difference (based on hearsay only!) is that most shops are only going to have aluminum tanks for you to rent for SM. You'll need more weight to compensate. Something to think about ...

Have fun!!!!

[deanme]

I’ve been to Mexico twice. The first time I brought both backmount gear and sidemount gear. I never used the backmount gear. Sidemount with opposing valves is supported by a few shops. If you call ahead, they can reconfigure a few tanks if necessary. And like Forest mentioned, bring your own cam bands. You can always purchase new gear at Chris’s shop if you forget something:

http://www.zerogravity.com.mx/zghome.htm?source=hans@quietdiver.com

although GUE doesn’t support sidemount, I think cam bands are a standard Halcyon item. I think Chris will provide opposing valves if you call ahead.

[Squirrel Girl]

Even with L & R valves, I still like having a little bungie and clip to use to hold my bottles in place in addition to the NOMAD straps. Without them, the bottles occasionally slip off, with them it can't happen. I know some people would say it's not as clean, but it works for me!!

On my trip to AR, we dove with AL bottles. I had no knowledge off my head to calculate the weight, but my buddy gave it a shot. It was *way* too much and I hung in the water completely vertical. We went to about 4 lbs on each tank, and that seemed decent. I think I 5 lbs might have been a tad better, but it was good enough.

[deanme]

I have dove two right values using sidemount when traveling with no problems. Like sskasser mentioned, think about weights. I like to attached a 2 lb weight on the cam bands configured on the outer bottom part of the tank when diving. You want the weight on the bottom to reduce rotation, and on the outside rather than the inside, to get the tank to roll into you.

I tried attaching the tank to my crotch strap with some goldline to keep the tank from floating up, but found this cumbersome. I didn’t make this idea up. My guide in Mexico introduced this idea to me.

[whodunit68]

If I sidemount, there's almost no doubt I'd bring my own cam bands anyhow so I'm glad to have this feedback - thanks.
I forgot to ask that question, Shirley, as I don't even know about what they'll have for dubs in the AL versus Steel question. I'm sure they will all provide led if needed, right? AL 80s though...what's the standard for dubs? I feel like I'm asking such newbie questions. Maybe because I'm a newbie :) ....first time to dive caves in Mexico to boot. thanks all.

[alias]

You'll need more weight to compensate. Something to think about ...



From another new sidemounter - if you only have ever sidemounted steels it might be worth trying Als before you go. I thought it would be somewhat straightforward figuring the weights out but it surprised me how light the Als were, and of course how different they act. I actually liked them, and you won't be wearing northern undergarments in Mex like I did when I tried but it can be bit of a eye opener the first time - even if one likes the difference. I sure would not have liked being in cave on my first go. It was not 1+1=2 for me. I am still configuring the weights.

[deanme]

I have found adding more then 2 lbs to the tanks is too much. The 2 lbs is plenty to keep the tanks from raising if you dive thirds. If you need additional weight, tie some hard weights to your arm straps above the shoulders. This is what works for me, and I dive a 9 mil wetsuit, which is very buoyant.

[Tegg]

Ela and Adam with CaveHeaven met all my needs as a sidemounter when I dove with them recently.

I brought my rig (lights, etc) and cam bands, they provided everything else (tanks, weight, water).

Ela dives the razor, which was good to see in action. I think it is a great rig for use in mexico's shallow caves.

[whodunit68]

wow a NINE mil wetsuit?!?! Holy cow I'd love to find one of those (one piece)?
I'm diving a wetsuit most likely so the weight compensation for undergarments won't be an issue for the u/gs but it may be since...well, I guess I'll still be diving my 7mm FJ w/s. right?
I will not be diving dry for sure and my cold tolerance is pretty good. I dove 7mm FJ all winter long in FL caves and the only day I had trouble was the 41 degree day with howling winds during my intro class on the Mill Pond. That sucked. I have pictures of my instructor dressed like he's in a Chicago winter storm. Quite amusing. See FB for photos :) ...

[whodunit68]

Ela and Adam with CaveHeaven met all my needs as a sidemounter when I dove with them recently.

I brought my rig (lights, etc) and cam bands, they provided everything else (tanks, weight, water).

Ela dives the razor, which was good to see in action. I think it is a great rig for use in mexico's shallow caves.

thanks. I need a guide for a couple days so maybe I'll call them if not too late.

[deanme]

I'm a wimp when it comes to being cold.

I learned how to dive in the Channel Islands of Southern California with water anywhere from 65 degrees to 50 degrees in the northern channel islands of San Miguel. Almost everyone used to dive custom wetsuits made by Mark Kettenhofen until he retired a few years ago. He was the best. I paid $650 for my last wetsuit made by Mark, which included a 7 mil vest.

A custom wetsuit will not only provide a better fit and thicker material, but you will also get higher quality material. More dense, longer lasting, etc. the two companies still in business that will make you a 9 mil (3/8 inch) wetsuit are:

http://www.jmjwetsuits.com/

http://www.blueh20.com/


both are in Southern California.

[Me]

I cave dive every December in Mexico and I layer as the week goes along. My dive buddy is fine in his 5mm JS with a cap hood; I on the other hand wear a 7mm JS and a 5/3mm hooded vest. As the week wears on I add a 3mm bolero (female item only) to ward off the core temp chill. My chill area seems to be my upper arms and shoulders, so the bolero works very well.

Our guide always wears a 7mm semi-dry Atlan.

[FW]

I was able to dive with no weights, but I am small. You only need enough to get you, and your exposure suit neutral. The advice to test it at home is good. I dive matching valves pretty often, but I do like L/R better.

[gearhound]

Dennis at Aquanauts is in Puerto Aventuras. His shop is pretty central, right next to the Omni. I just did 8 days of sidemount diving with AL80's with left/right DIN valves. Just tell them what you want to do, but I'm assuming your looking for restrictions if you're sidemounting. Tons of places, including Minatouro, Calimba, Grand Cenote (downstream) and countless others. Dennis or Martin can sidemount and guide you, or maybe Natalie. She's backmount, but 4'10' and maybe 90lbs. Not a lot of places she can't squeeze in (and she's pretty cute to boot). From their sticker on my tank, they have a toll free number 1-877-623-2491 and website www.aquanauts-online.com.

[whodunit68]

great thanks. I know Aquanuts is one of the places that at least 1 or 2 of the folks in the group are going to be using.
If all the singles are AL, what are the dubs? I don't want to dive AL80s if the rest of the crew is diving AL 108s....the gas matching just wouldn't work.
thanks for the wetsuit info - this could help avoid some of the drysuit issue I'm facing.

[Slüdge]

AL 108s

???

[whodunit68]

???

I meant steels.

[gearhound]

The majority of tanks are AL80s. Very rare to see steels, although Dennis has a couple of sets of 130s. Depending on where you go, you can get some pretty long bottom times with the 80s. I think our shortest dive was 98 minutes, and that was Pet Cemetary after dropping 157ft into the Blue Abyss. At Nahoch NaChich, you'll likely find yourself an hour into the cave before hitting thirds. If you're a fine connosieur of air, you can always stage. Our biggest problem was burntime on lights. One guy's 50w HID (overkill?) would always burnout on the second dive. Saw tons of cave on the way in, not so much on a back up on the way out. Plus 8 days of frog kicking for 4 hours left the calves quite tired. Bring tons of mosquito repellant. They appreciate it if you have the biodegradeable kind. The others may be leaving a sheen at the cenote entrances.

[LCF]

We'll be on double 80's, backmount, so no worries.

[huvr]

If you are more comfortable with opposing valves have you considered bringing along your own valves or maybe just a left hand one? They wouldn't weigh much in terms of extra gear. An added benefit would be a freshly viz'd tank as well.

[RN]

Dennis will set you up. He also sidemounts. Last time I was there I rented AL80s from him for my dives. They're all RH, but it works. Just point one valve know in toward your chest. You won't be doing anything small so getting to it isn't a problem. I use 3lb weights on my cam bands on my 80s to keep them negatively buoyant. It works nicely for me and I don't need any additional weight on me. It's only 6lbs and easy to pack in a carry on roller bag. I've seen and dived 104s and 98s down there, but I've never seen 108s, and I've never seen steels in large quantity, so most in your group will likely be diving 80s.

Have a great time!

[whodunit68]

my own valves is possible plan....interesting.
Thanks Rob....I've already heard from Aquanuts - they have LH valves as well. I think I'm going for it - bringing the Nomad, some weights, and the cam bands. I'm becoming increasingly concerned about weight but I figure with all these great people I don't need to bring all the accessory stuff I always bring to FL. Appreciate the help everyone.