If you missed David’s Club Aquarius Social Club presentation on Sidemount diving you missed a fun topic about one of the latest trends in Open water scuba diving!
There is a lot of interest in diving because of the benefits this style of diving offers. As David explained, people have varied reasons for learning to sidemount dive. Some of these reasons are:
- Health – By moving the cylinders off of your back and putting them on the side, you can reduce back strain especially of you put the cylinders on in teh water.
- Duration – You have double the gas available on a dive so your duration can be increased significantly.
- Safety – By adding the second cylinder and the accompanying second air delivery system, you introduce an independent, redundant system which results in more safety for the diver.
- Buoyancy Control – Having two cylinders on the same plane as the diver, makes the entire platform more stable. In other words, it is easier for you to master buoyancy,
- Appearance – Ok, let’s face it, you look cool! And you have always heard that looks are important.
- Opens Up Extended Range and technical diving – By learning to sidemount as a recreational diver, you begin to get more comfortable with your diving and this platform is one that translates easily to extended range or technical diving.
Learning to dive sidemount is not difficult and our program is designed to get you started with your new equipment configuration and to help you begin to feel comfortable. Of course you will need to go diving to truly internalize what you have learned. You can look at the program applying the Diver’s Diamond:
- Knowledge
- Procedures and Configuration
- Classroom Sessions
- Skills
- Learn how to deal with equipment
- Swimming in a new configuration
- Equipment
- Need some new equipment to carry the bottles and to breath from them
- Experience
- Some diving needed
If you find this intriguing, come in and talk to Ann, David or me and we will be happy to fill in the blanks. You can find the upcoming classes here or email Dive Mom to get the schedule for the next program.
