Which sidemount harness is best for the really low stuff?

[bent]

I'd like to see this special rig you guys are talking about.

It's a homemade rig I started woking on last year. I posted a few pictures here: http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showt...-Sidemount-Rig

This was a earlier version and I have made a couple more since. I will post some more pics once I'm done with the lasted rig and I can get some semi decent in-water pictures of it.

[apitkin]

I know a variation of this has probably been asked a million times. However, I couldn't find a good answer in the search bar. Which sidemount harness do you think is best for the smaller stuff? I'm currently diving back mount exclusively, but I'm looking to ease into some sidemount. I won't be doing the low stuff for a (long) while, but I'd like to start out with a rig suitable for it, so I don't have to learn a second rig for it down the road. What would you all recommend that I look into?

Thanks

It's not the harness that determines how small the restriction you can fit through. It's the diver inside it. Specifically the size of his/her cojones.

[FW]

It's not the harness that determines how small the restriction you can fit through. It's the diver inside it. Specifically the size of his/her cojones.

I am sure glad I already finished my soda

[patpicos]

the really small stuff...its just a harness, no bladder

[Curt Bowen]

Mine is

[JohnnyC]

You know, if you just bring a 4lb sledge and a chisel, you don't have to worry about how big your harness is, you can dive what you like. Just sayin'...

[TaylorP]

Xdeep tec or rec wing, razor, or the diverite ltz, they all set in the small of your back and I've gotten into some oh hell no spots with all 3. I pretty much dive Mexican style with 2 80s and a 5 mil suit with 0 lead

[bent]

Xdeep tec or rec wing, razor, or the diverite ltz, they all set in the small of your back and I've gotten into some oh hell no spots with all 3. I pretty much dive Mexican style with 2 80s and a 5 mil suit with 0 lead

Yeah, but with 2 80s you have hardly any gas in the wing. Look at those wings when need 10 lbs of lift. If you need the lift, the Armadillo, the sms75 and other rigs of that style actually have a better profile. To me, the Stealth looks pretty bulky when he wing is half or even quarter full, especially when you need weights.
I'd just try a few rigs before buying.

[bamafan]

I agree with Bent on this. The minimalist rigs such as the Razor, Stealth etc. Work great when little lift is needed but they do balloon like crazy. I have a Razor and I was diving it in Cozumel in January. With a wetsuit and several al 80's it would balloon up pretty bad. Now the good thing is when you do go to squeezing through tight stuff you just dump all the gas and the profile is smaller than the Florida style rigs. As Bent said the Armadillo, SMS's etc. are generally a smaller profile when inflated or at least don't look like you have a beachball on your back.

I have no idea how someone can dive a 5 mil wetsuit with al 80's and not need any weight. You must not have any body fat. I would be stuck to the ceiling especially if something went wrong. I wish I could do that.

[TaylorP]

Even in 85s the wing sits in the small of your back so it doesn't really create drag or change your profile