Do you use sidemount?

[mikemega]

I usually throw on the back plate and single tank for OW, but this weekend I side mounted on a boat for the first time. Except for a shallow gearing up / down learning curve, it went pretty well. Smooth sea conditions certainly helped during reboarding, and the tank chokers worked well securing the tanks in my bungees.

[RN]

I've experienced the same issue. If the instructor is not a sidemount instructor, some agencies won't let the student take a particular class (normoxic trimix, etc) in sidemount. Basically the idea is that the instructor must be qualified to teach whatever configuration the student is diving.

I can understand to a degree. For example, for atrimix class the students needs to know how to carry a stage, deco bottle, etc in that configuration and if the instrcutor does not know how to do it, and can't tell whether what the student is doing is workable or safe, it could be a problem.

On the other hand, an agency (that shall remain nameless) only requires a back mount instructor to make a couple dives with an instructor trainer to be signed off as a sidemount instructor. Consequently, the odds are still good that a recently converted "sidemount instructor" who has limited experience in the configuration and does not dive it often if at all outside of class, will still know a lot less than his or her student who dives the configuration on a regular basis.

In that case, take the class with an instructor who sidemounts. I don't see the point in going to BM just to do a class. That can only lead to issues. Now there's a diver who learned how to do dertain skills in BM that will never dive BM outside of class.

AndI know the agency. Learn how to SM and teach it in the same weekend!

[jj1987]

don't see the point in going to BM just to do a class

Agreed

[CaveBuddy95]

I backmount when I teach students who are also backmount. Otherwise, it's all sidemount, even when I'm doing a single cylinder dive.

Same for me here! I like the possibilities offered to me. And when I spend a week guiding or teaching in backmount, I really look forward to Go SIdemount!

[Rich]

A tad off topic here, but IMHO a good cave diver is able to seamlessly transition between different configurations. I teach sidemount and backmount and switch back and forth with the two configurations as needed. For example, I sidemount if I'm solo, replacing fixing/lines, surveying, diving with a sidemounted buddy or student's want to do a cave class in sidemount. I backmount when replacing/fixing lines, surveying, when diving with a backmounted buddy or students want to do a class in backmount. Seems simple to me....

One of the instructors I admire the most is Jill, 'cause she switches seamlessly between sidemount, backmount and rebreather and dives whatever configuration is needed for the dive plan that day. If all you ever do is only sidemount, only backmount or only dive a rebreather for that matter, IMO it makes you a very one dimensional diver. I mean after all, shouldn't you really be using the most appropriate tool for the job? I don't take a scooter to dive the Mud Tunnel at Devil's, okay maybe I did once when replacing the line in there.....

As always YMMV....

Safe diving,

Rich

P.S. I can't wait to get at that Meg box that's currently sitting by my bed, that's the next step for me on the never ending cave journey......

[DA Aquamaster]

A tad off topic here, but IMHO a good cave diver is able to seamlessly transition between different configurations.

I agree and as a result was not too bent out of hsape having to do trimix in back mount - and at the end of the class we did some back mount cave dives anyway because we were there.

The reality is that I still prefer backmount for off shore wreck dives and as such it makes sense to maintain both configurations.

Of course the same arguement serves to highlight the lack of reasoning in an agency dictating that you can't dive a certain configuration unless your instructor is authorized to teach that configuration. What matters are the unique skills in the class, not what configuration you adapt them to.

[Rich]

...reasoning in an agency...

LOL Larry, you do realize you had those words in the same sentence right.....

Safe diving,

Rich

[Neptuno]

only doing SM for logistics and is easier...