Sidemount Intro - What do you think??

[Bobby]

Tell that to the Ginnie folks. One of my students who recently completed Intro in doubles went to Ginnie and was not given a "doubles" wrist band because they didn't recognize the card he showed them. It was an NSS-CDS temporary card! We wouldn't even have this issue of singles vs. doubles if it wasn't for Ginnie. They are the only ones who care.

It is interesting how perception changes. About 10 years ago I was diving with an Intro diver working on preparing for their Apprentice class at Peacock. We were just about to get in the water when a new park ranger asked us about the doubles with an Intro card in the wind shield. I had to dump my rig and walk back up to the car so the ranger could see my instructor card. There was a time when this was watched fairly close at a lot of sites.

Today I think the line has gotten so blurred between the training levels that most have given up trying to figure it out. Self policing and keeping an eye out was a good thing in the past. Today it seems to be more about mind your own business and let whoever do whatever they want to do. Possibly being stuck in the past is not such a bad thing.

[Webmaster]

If you have someone experienced in sidemount that can help you get setup, and get some experience in it before the class then I say do it. Even if you're going to dive doubles you should get some experience in it before the class in open water. Not to mention if you plan to go from wetsuit to drysuit.

Going from a single AL 80 to two large steel tanks is a big shift in any configuration. Best to get as many of the basic details of balance, rigging and buoyancy out of the way so that you can concentrate on the cave specific skills during the class.

I think it's MOST appropriate to train in the configuration that you plan to dive. But not to go into a class totally cold with a new setup.

[FW]

If you have someone experienced in sidemount that can help you get setup, and get some experience in it before the class then I say do it. Even if you're going to dive doubles you should get some experience in it before the class in open water. Not to mention if you plan to go from wetsuit to drysuit.

Going from a single AL 80 to two large steel tanks is a big shift in any configuration. Best to get as many of the basic details of balance, rigging and buoyancy out of the way so that you can concentrate on the cave specific skills during the class.

I think it's MOST appropriate to train in the configuration that you plan to dive. But not to go into a class totally cold with a new setup.

Best answer yet!

[b1gcountry]

Don't take this as encouragement for taking intro in single tanks, but here is a post from today from someone in High Springs renting singles with H-Valves.

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showt...5-Tank-Rentals