Requirements for OW Sidemount Training

[Tegg]

(Since I screwed up in the vortex thread and did not split the discussion properly, I am starting this thread.)

Should there be requirements for an OW diver that would like to take a full sidemount course, or should sidemount even be taught as an OW specialty?

[adam0321]

I can not speak inteligently on this not being a side mount diver(not yet) but I see no real benefit for a ow diver to dive sm.

[adam0321]

ok let the bullets fly. I also think you should have to start off cave diving in BM

[diveconjeff]

The instance comes to mind when diving from a small boat and not having doubles readily available, it would have been a nice option compared to one tank BM and the other slung

Some of the smaller boats can be very challenging to revised in doubles. Tag lining two tanks also seems like a nice option to hauling in doubles

[sskasser]

I think that an adult should be free to train in whatever subject he likes, be it sidemount SCUBA, bungee jumping, blackpowder shooting, or high speed auto racing. Banning a particular gear configuration from a diver's training starts down that slippery slope of the nanny state.

If not teaching someone sidemount keeps them safer because they won't be tempted to go where they're not ready, then not teaching them SCUBA at all keeps them even safer. Next, someone will tell me that teaching kids about condoms makes them more likely to have sex. I mean, if we didn't teach them, they SURELY wouldn't be hitting it in the back seat, right?

Right off the bat, during the paperwork stage, my OW students are required to watch a "Deceptively Easy Way to Die" with me followed by discussion of specific incidents. They are shown a grim reaper sign and told that if they look up and see anything but open water over their head, they are literally "in over their head."

I believe the SM instructor is in a unique position to drive that message home even harder to a student who may be thinking those things. Sadly, not all students listen. Not all that kack themselves in SM even took a SM class, either.

Just because a particular person doesn't see a need for SM in anything but narrowly defined situations, doesn't mean everybody else doesn't either. Freedom of choice, it's an awesome thing.

[caverkevin]

I think it's important that there is a certification course with standards. IANTD has a OW sidemount. This ways instructors can offer this type of training.

Should divers be restricted from diving sidemount if they don't have a card from XYZ agency stating they have been trained in OW sidemount. Personally don't see a good reason for that type of restriction.

[Jay]

ok let the bullets fly. I also think you should have to start off cave diving in BM

I agree with that with few exceptions, but that should and would make a nice seperate thread discussion. Pull the fresh scabs off the SM/BM wars.

On-topic: I haven't looked at the requirements lately (shame on me, need to do my updates!!) but I believe it is about single tank, which is another way to be cool and get another card.
I believe the actual requirements are a pulse, some cash and a picture.

[mstueven]

(Since I screwed up in the vortex thread and did not split the discussion properly, I am starting this thread.)

Should there be requirements for an OW diver that would like to take a full sidemount course, or should sidemount even be taught as an OW specialty?

Diving with more than one tank as your primary gas supply, whether sidemount or backmount, means added task loading and complexity. I see a difference between an OW diver interested in sidemount, which I would not personally support, as opposed to a technical diver choosing to sidemount in OW, which I completely support. Having the potentially large extra gas supply means longer / deeper dives with potential for penetration outside of recreational limits. Managing multiple tanks requires attention to detail that your 'typical' recreational diver isn't interested in.

That being said, I believe a good instructor will cover these issues during training, and that any decision to violate the rules still falls back on the individual diver - and often is a component of the diver's personality or motivation regardless of anything we might or might not suggest to them in the interests of safety. Back-mounted doubles are often introduced at the deep specialty level for open water divers and the same arguments can be made there as to whether or not that's a 'good idea.'

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Requirement for OW sidemount? A sensible attitude.


If a nonsensible diver is going to wedge him/herself into some small tight silty hole with sidemount gear; I'll argue they'd do the same thing in BM gear in some marginally larger silty hole.

The fact is, an OW diver in either configuration shouldn't be in overhead.

[cavediver256]

I am waiting to hear just one good reason for an OW Sidemount course........just one !!!! MSTUEVEN hit the nail on the head !!!!! Task loading, gas management, etc all add to the complexity diving SM. If a student isn't willing to do the dives and put in the required time to gain the appropriate skills, experience and prerequisite courses, then why the hell are they diving anyway??? Just so they can look cool in front of all their friends???? Why would anyone even consider teaching someone with that attitude?????

Now lets get the health issue topic on the table..... I am dying to hear just one good reason for OW SM from a health issue. Give me one example of where taking two tanks to the water is easier than making the trip once with AL tank.

OK now the traveling issue......dive a single tank....if you require more than a single tank, you should already have technical training, and the necessary skills to dive SM.

If you want to dive doubles, in ANY configuration, then get the training.....I would think at a minimum of a Deco Procedures Course and all the courses that precede it.