Helmet or no helmet

[nthewater]

Converting to side mount and looking for opinions. Helmet or no helmet and why?

The advantage to me is a place to put back up lights.

[rddvet]

Just because you?re in sm doesnt mean you need a helmet. If youbplan on squeezing through super tight stuff and want to protect you noggin go for it. But if you?re just diving sm in ginnie or peacock on the well travelled passages theres no need.

You can put backup lights on your harness, in a pouch, or in a pocket. I preferentially keep my lights in a pocket in sm and bm. Some people have argued being in a pocket takes way too get to your lights, but I disagree. I?ve even had to demonstrate for two instructors who disagreed but were pleasantly surprised when I could deploy quickly. In regular bm doubles, they go on harness. In sm and ccr they go in pockets due to crowding of my chest


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[MORGAN]

I wear a helmet only when scootering. My wife wears one on every dive, as she has one of her backup lights attached to it.

Mike

[Diverlee]

Convenient place to put my backup lights. Started when scootering so I would have instant access. Was comfortable so just continued. Plus it looks really cool.


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[sdalcher]

I like a helmet, for easy and accessible backup light mounting. I also have a GoPro mount on the front. I started wearing it just for the GoPro, but now I just consider it my normal kit.

[ARY]

You can put backup lights on your harness, in a pouch, or in a pocket. I preferentially keep my lights in a pocket in sm and bm. Some people have argued being in a pocket takes way too get to your lights, but I disagree. I?ve even had to demonstrate for two instructors who disagreed but were pleasantly surprised when I could deploy quickly

I would say it is not about how quickly you can deploy it. If I do solo I keep at least one helmet light on at all times. Hands might get busy grappling rock in a flow or working with reels. Light on a helmet helps. Mostly for solo anyway. I also had bad scalp infection once scraping ceiling in junky sinhkhole cave, neoprene hood did not suffice.

[rddvet]

I would say it is not about how quickly you can deploy it. If I do solo I keep at least one helmet light on at all times. Hands might get busy grappling rock in a flow or working with reels. Light on a helmet helps. Mostly for solo anyway. I also had bad scalp infection once scraping ceiling in junky sinhkhole cave, neoprene hood did not suffice.

I hadnt much thought about solo in my response but good point. Though I did have a primary failure while solo scootering. Really was a nonissue. I see how it could be more annoying if theres alot going on.


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[tbone1004]

lights are the big thing for me with the helmet. Storage options in sidemount are kind of annoying so having at least one of the backup lights on either your mask strap like Edd does or on a helmet is convenient. It's also nice when doing reel/survey work since you can go "hands free" and still be able to see.

[nthewater]

Yes diverlee…. Looking good is all that matters.

[nthewater]

Thanks for the feedback. I am curious how Ed puts a backup light on his mask strap.

I think for now, I will stay no helmet. But I agree with tbone, storage options are not ideal so far. I found getting to my pockets a pain and chest strap not ideal either. But I have a whopping 2 dives in SM so far ��