How did you learn SideMount?

[billyf]

Just wondering how many people took a sidemount class and received a SM Card and there instructor was in BM.

[RN]

You've got to be kidding! How is this allowed? And better yet, who would take such a class?

[Line Squirrel]

I am curious to hear if this has ever really happened, sounds like a cave diving urban legend to me.

How does an instructor in BM demonstrate the SM skills?

Now if your talking about an instructor allowing his students to do cavern, intro, app or full in SM gear while he's in BM that is a COMPLETELY different question. It's not a SM class.

Just to clarify, is this the question?

[billyf]

I am curious to hear if this has ever really happened, sounds like a cave diving urban legend to me.

How does an instructor in BM demonstrate the SM skills?

Now if your talking about an instructor allowing his students to do cavern, intro, app or full in SM gear while he's in BM that is a COMPLETELY different question. It's not a SM class.

Just to clarify, is this the question?

Mike,

Well I know it’s not an urban legend, I have personally witnessed three sidemount classes where the student/s was in SM and the Instructor was in BM. I also have heard (second hand, so I take it with a grain of salt) of a few other Instructors that are SM instructors and they teach SM and they don’t have a SM rig and they never dive SM.

I don’t think I can change the answers to the poll now that it’s running.

I guess I should have put the question a different way, I am really interested in IF you are a certified SM Diver, if so what config were you and the instructor in.

[Line Squirrel]

Mike,

Well I know it’s not an urban legend, I have personally witnessed three sidemount classes where the student/s was in SM and the Instructor was in BM. I also have heard (second hand, so I take it with a grain of salt) of a few other Instructors that are SM instructors and they teach SM and they don’t have a SM rig and they never dive SM.


WOW - If you witnessed it, I believe you...wow.

I wonder how they get away with it. That's just plain wrong.

If I were a sm student [taking a sm class] and my instructor showed up in a bm rig I would demand an immediate refund...and gas money for waisting my time.

FWIW - my sm instructor demonstrated EVERY skill before asking me to perform the skill myself.

[billyf]

i closed the other poll and added some more options

[AMW]

How did you learn SideMount
CDG.

Andrew

[Luxrok]

Excellent poll! The instructor I am working with, Steve Bogearts, has broken the side mount class up into three segments: basic side mount, advanced side mount and exploration side mount. Basic Side Mount focuses primarily on gear configuration and side mounting in back mount passages. We spent 2 days getting the rig setup correctly and working through some new water skills I will need to effectively side mount. We spent a lot of time on bottle exchanges and emergency skills while in SM. We also had to go over some of my line laying skills as they were not up to snuff for laying line into fresh side mount passage. He sent me away for a month to practice my new skills and to become familiar with my new rig. I am supposed to get a SM card for that class, I haven't gone looking for it.

The advanced side mount is going to be side mounting in sm sized passage. I am scheduled for the advanced and stage classes in April. I am not sure what the exploration class includes. I don't think these two classes have cards and I can't imagine someone asking for my exploration side mount card. :) I think that I need to take survey, sm stage and dpv before I can take the exploration class. The total training day count for this is about 14 days. I am planning on spreading that over 1-2 years. My progress will depended solely on my commitment to practicing the skills and the amount of time I spend in the water applying them.

In addition to training, I am diving (mentoring) with experienced side mount divers whenever possible.

To answer the question, Steve was in sidemount. It was a very sleek no mount/side mount harness. Essentially it is just webbing with a tiny bladder in the small of his back. He did demonstrate all of the skills.

Hans

[sskasser]

Excellent Hans! This sounds like a great way to truly master the skills. Best wishes in your classes and SM diving!

[Line Squirrel]

Billy - I merged some of the posts from your original poll over to this one. I thought they were relevant and important.

If you want me to delete them PM me.

[JDostal]

I had a kinda class. I was mentored and took the class. The first time I went down to FL with my usual group, they loaned me a sidemount harness. My instructor was along on the trip and she ran me through the class but everyone helped give me tips and tricks throughout the week. I absolutely loved it - sidemount is the only way to go. I was in Cozumel for a week just a few weeks ago and dove sidemount the whole week, open water and cave. I only use my doubles around here when I absolutely have to.

[MDS]

Sidemounts all the way from "Intro" with Martyn Farr

[scubadam67]

i learned from a mentor in a modified jacket BC. I just got a new nomad last week and there is no comparison this is so much nicer I don't know if I'll ever put a tank on my back again. I have seen pics on here of FW in his SM rig might be cool to see how many different configuration pictures we could get I know of the five of us that dive together regularly we are all a little different. the only pic i have right now is in the water and in my old rig but here it is.

[JDostal]

This was in borrowed gear, on my first sidemounting trip when I learned how to do it. It's a converted Zeagle ranger - the wing has been flipped over (to protect the inflator elbow). Tabs are sewn onto the wing to hold it closer to the body. An aluminum butt plate is attached to the bottom. A bicycle inner tube is used to hold the tank necks.

I now have almost the exact same setup, but the Ranger is a little bigger to fit me better and I use E8-130's instead of the 95's pictured.

[Caver95]

Just wondering how many people took a sidemount class and received a SM Card and there instructor was in BM.

I Learned by watching Joe Tegg

[sskasser]

I Learned by watching Joe Tegg

You too? Cool!

[Diverlee]

I started out trying by myself but it didn"t go well and was very frustrating. I then took a Cave SM class, instructor was in SM , and it was great! Made things so much easier esp having someone to observe and help. Would and do recomend taking a class.

[Kaneo]

sidemount class with bill rennaker. sm all the way.

[standingbear56]

To answer the question, Steve was in sidemount. It was a very sleek no mount/side mount harness. Essentially it is just webbing with a tiny bladder in the small of his back. He did demonstrate all of the skills.

Was this a home made or commercial harness. Are there any photos of it? It sounds pretty interesting.
NB addicted sidemounter,
George

[Luxrok]

Was this a home made or commercial harness. Are there any photos of it?

It is being made by Steve on a custom basis. There are machined pieces which are currently being tested and refined. There are no photos of the harness right now.

I am going to spend the next four days with him. I will ask about photos and if the pieces are available for sale.

Hans