Requirements for OW Sidemount Training

[TONY CHANEY]

I think that since we are on this site we tend to view everything as overhead enviroment. I currently BM but am putting together a SM kit. Why? For going to places where doubles are not readily available. Now, as far as taking a class on how to sidemount. I truly believe that you can learn so much more, faster mastery and saving money by taking a class. To make it a required cert.? No way.

[MORGAN]

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.

Freedom of choice, it's an awesome thing.

Yup! Well said.

Mike

[Slüdge]

it would have been a nice option compared to one tank BM and the other slung

I have experience with both, and if the low profile of SM isn't needed, I'd a thousand times rather have one cylinder backmounted and one stage.

But that's just me.

[adam0321]

so no one thinks that thee should be a building block process for the mounting techniques? S what if I want to start cave diving and want to start with no mount?

[adam0321]

I am not a die hard bm guy and am building a SM kit. I am also not a die hard "all should back mount first guy" but I think it is a bit more basic then sidemount.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Redundancy? Whats wrong with it?

SM OW is not an OW class, its just a class you take after OW, for a different configuration. Just like there are classes for doubles, drysuits, and all other such nonsense.



If I knew I'd be diving SM before cave classes, I would have been diving them in OW well before putting them in OH. I never intended to dive a single tank in OH, so I sures hell don't want to do my training that way, thats borderline retarted.



If someone wants to dive two tanks in OW, why NOT? I still contend that stupid people will be stupid despite how many, or where, the tanks are they wear.

[phillip1]

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.

I find walking around with doubles a real hassle especially on uneven rocks and stuff. Two lighter trips is far easier than one very heavy one, not to mention I also had ACL surgery so I would not even try to walk around in doubles ever again, I am assuming there are many people who have bad knees and stuff and that alone is good enough for me.
Also I find SM way more relaxing than BM diving and the medical world unanimously agrees that relaxing and reducing stress is good for your overall health. And SM puts me in a good mood and makes me much happy... and it's more fun.

As for the two tank thing and OW, I agree 100% more than two tanks is not OW level training at all.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I am not a die hard bm guy and am building a SM kit. I am also not a die hard "all should back mount first guy" but I think it is a bit more basic then sidemount.

If swapping a regulator a few times during a dive is "complex"(not basic), you probably shouldn't be in a cave in any configuration.

[cavediver256]

I find walking around with doubles a real hassle especially on uneven rocks and stuff. Two lighter trips is far easier than one very heavy one, not to mention I also had ACL surgery so I would not even try to walk around in doubles ever again, I am assuming there are many people who have bad knees and stuff and that alone is good enough for me.
Also I find SM way more relaxing than BM diving and the medical world unanimously agrees that relaxing and reducing stress is good for your overall health. And SM puts me in a good mood and makes me much happy... and it's more fun.

As for the two tank thing and OW, I agree 100% more than two tanks is not OW level training at all.

And at your level of the game Phillip, I understand you needing/wanting SM. We are not talking about cave/technical diving, we are talking about OW non-technical diving here.....how/where would SM be more beneficial that a single AL tank ??????

[adam0321]

I couldnt agree more. LIke I said I am on the fence. I guess the problem is when I first started cave dving i viewed SM as an ADVANSED skill. not so much the more I dive.