Right here!! Great video. Definitely agree, getting in with just a harness is great when it's possible. I learned in Key Largo and the conditions (current/waves) were not exactly conducive for this option, so it was giant stride on a cattle-car boat with two AL80s and two AL40s. No bueno. Getting out was just as shitty. At home in the Marshall Islands it's much easier. When on a boat my buddies and I normally lower our tanks into the water clipped to a line that's looped onto one of the cleats. The left/short hose tank is higher on the line, close to the surface so we can just kick over to it, unclip it, and set it up. The long hose is lower and we pick it up on our descent and set it up on the way down. The bulk of my sidemount dives have been from the shore with a scooter. Piranha DPV clipped to harness and carrying two tanks into the water. It's a handful but worth the effort to be able to enjoy the extra time.
@@pathfinderLXXIV Key Largo sounds gnarly. Those are great enter/exit solutions though! I still haven't tried a scooter... definitely on my wish list 🤘🏻Thanks for watching and I'm so happy to connect to a fellow sidemount-er!
Hello Sarah! Claudio here, from Canada. I have been sidemounting for the past few years in Brazil, but moved to Canada 2.5 years ago. An interesting thing about diving in Canada is that my Razor was initially totally configured for tropical waters. I used to wear not more than the bottom of a two pieces 5mm neoprene wetsuit plus a neoprene t-shirt. All of a sudden, I found myself diving the Canada rivers' cold waters wearing a dry suit, 7mm hood, 5mm gloves, and nothing in my equipment was in the same place they used to be. I had to replace the bolt snaps on my tanks for ones with larger rings, invert the position of the inflator of my wing to make the dry suit connect to the main tank, replace the bungee for a longer one and everything else which made the whole experience very rich. But one thing that didn't change was the comfort of diving the sidemount configuration instead of backmount one. Your channel is amazing, thanks for sharing so much information with us divers! Cheers!
Make me sad that you have to even say that, because is the reality of scuba diving, I been on the industry for over 13 years as a professional and still don't know at witch point the EGO took control of this sport. When for recreational diving looks more important to look flat and in perfect Trim position like after having a 1meter ninja blade stuck on your mouth than have fun and enjoy the aquatic life and the company.... you realise that something is wrong. One thing, for your sanity stay away from Facebook groups hahaha, thanks for your comment and glad to help. Sarah and Aitor.
Love this video! I too love to dive sidemount recreationally and we do giant stride entry from our catamaran - so about a 3foot drop into the water. For entry, I tend to attach the left tank as you describe and enter the water holding my right hand tank. Enter slightly negatively buoyant and hold a position just under the water whilst I attach the right hand tank.... then start the dive. At the end, I tend to remove both tanks from me, and clip them together. I'll leave the LPI connected and breathe from the left tank. Usually on the safety stop. When I get to the surface, I can then pop the LPI and have the tanks handed up really quickly before I leap (salmon like) out of the water...... Keep up the great work guys!
Me encantan tus vídeos !! Y pienso que el sidemount es una muy buena opción para bucear con mayor seguridad aunque sea tan dispendioso lidiar con los 2 tanques. Chauuuu happy bubbles
Hi there!! Thanks for watching, where are you located?? I have seen your videos diving in the US Virgin Islands! Glad you can dive guys and thanks for sharing with your students.
Diver from Germany here: I always take a rope with carabiners when diving. I attach the tanks to the leash and throw them into the water, a safety knot on the boat beforehand. When I go into the water, I take the tanks from the carabiners individually.
Chris, I really like to know if I can get a picture of what you described. I think it will be really helpful. Please let me know if you have a picture of it. Thank you!
@@AzulUnlimited just hopping for more videos on sidemount tank configurations and regulator configuration step by step vids in the near future🌷 thanks again for your effort
Nice video please keep them coming. I am at the very start regarding sidemount I have the PADI sidemount manual which I have read and completed the online RAID sidemount course they provide just need to sort out a local RAID instructor pay them for the in class and In water parts and pay RAID for the final online sections. I have already decided that the ring system best suits me, so just looking at the components to later make my own ring bungee’s. Will probably have to start with my wing rather than a sidemount specific unit but have seen a few videos of people using the same make of wing successfully for sidemount. So yes those already using sidemount and those of us looking to start are finding your channel and subscribing, it just takes time.
Thank you so much for watching! Sounds like you're on the right track. Where are you doing your in water training? Somewhere cold? We have definitely seen people adapt other components of equipment for sidemount. The main thing is just to make sure all the safety aspects are there and you should be good to go!
Yeay - Razor :) Just got my set a couple of weeks ago and am getting started... You should have a dedicated Razor Playlist :) i.e drills as in rigging, clipping removing tanks under water, our of air... This is sooo much fun - yet soooooo different to backmount.... Especially in a dry suit .) I really love your channel - you two rock... greetings from Munich Stephan
Thanks so much! I definitely want to do that. I currently am a one woman show with filming so it's been hard to get that kind of footage, but it's on my list of things to shoot. I want to get a dry suit and see how it is! You'll have to let me know how it goes.
Thanks for watching Patrik! for sidemount configuration as you said is better with some diving experience... you will learn faster, see the value earlier and all will be more in control so less frustration in the beginning with all the new equipment, 2 tanks etc!! Please keep diving safe and hopefully see you underwater with your sidemount gear one day!!
Nice!! is a lot of fun and a learning process, don't get stress out with all the gear etc, everything will come along on time! Let us know how things go!!
Nice video! Very informative for me on the setup part! I'm learning sidemount by myself right now, and I've been doing some things wrong... I've been using a boltsnap connecting my tank valves to the shoulder D-rings, in addition to the bungees. I'll take them off... For entry and exit, I've been jumping with both tanks from diving boats and climbing the ladder with them on too. Brute force, not very nice! On my boat, I put the tanks on a line and jump in with just fins, mask and harness.
Thanks for watching! Sidemount is so fun and that's great you are learning. We know other people who use boltsnaps too. Remember, these are just my opinions. I just prefer having as few things around my neck and chest area so that I don't get caught on anything. About brute force... we usually say, work smarter, not harder! hehe keep it up!
I just completed my TDI sidemount this weekend. We added some cavern skills to the fun dives after the course was complete, so it really added a ton of fun challenges and gave me a good idea of what I’ll be up against in the future and where to improve. The boat entries will be a slight challenge for my Christmas trip to Bonaire since the place we dive with used the fiberglass pangas, but I think a larger tip in advance and being proficient and efficient before I get there should make it less of an issue for the crew and backmount divers. Keep up the great films.
Yes, getting some time in the water and practicing helps a lot. However, sometimes sidemount just isn't the right configuration for the type of diving, so it's best to choose what will make you the most comfortable and safe. For example, I rarely went in sidemount doubles when guiding divers in strong currents. I found that it was too cumbersome for the kind of movement I needed. Hope you have fun in Bonaire! I'm sure it'll be lovely.
@@AzulUnlimited most of it is shore diving, and the west side of the island has very minimal current. The couple of boat dives may be a slight challenge, but I feel I’m down for the challenge. I’ve got extra cash in the save a dive kit for tipping the crew extra if I wind up being “that diver.”
Good instructional sharing. In choppier waters, i mount LP and carry my right for a giant stride entry. Inwater mount RP as descend.:) good works! See u in komodo...
Nice video and some well thought out exit/entry advice. May I give you a little tip - if you attach a choker to the neck of your tank and clip that in as the very first, then everthing else gets much easier. Also when you are ready to exit or typically during your safety stop, you can unclip the right tank and attach the choker to either a back or side d-ring, this way you have both of your hands available to handle your smb/spool.
Thanks for watching! Great tip. I've used the choker method and it's great for a lot of reasons, but just don't use it anymore on sidemount. I appreciate the suggestions though so thank you!
Great video!! I just finished learning backmount doubles, next step is sidemount. I want to learn that for mine and cave (I burn too much air on the mine dives already) Please continue to make videos for it. I am learning alot from your channel, got about 50 dives in so far mostly quarries will be diving the Great Lakes one day. Thanks again
Wow 50 dives is a good number to jump from twins to Sidemount. And in Azul most of us did that progression from twins to side and you will find it very easy (twins are tough tho). Let me know if you have any doubt on your training or configuration ok!! Saludos and enjoy your course!!
As someone who has been diving sidemount from both shore and boats for over ten years now, and backmount twinsets for 10 years before that, I can tell you that sidemount is definitely easier in most situations. Most of the boat diving I do is not in the "ideal" situations you describe here, so I believe the most preferred method should be to kit up completely (including all tanks) before entering the water. I have found the key to making this really easy and really comfortable is to use ring bungees instead of loop bungees and clipping the bottom clip to the waist, not a butt plate. this puts the weight of the tank on your hips and the weight of the valves on your shoulders, but still keeps the tanks low and in plane with your body while walking, but they still pull right up into trim in the water once you get horizontal. It also allows you to easily climb up the ladder without feeling like you're going to fall backwards. The tanks are then just as easily removed on the boat, as they were to put on on the boat. Because you are not having someone else hand down or pull up tanks, there is now zero chance of the crew dropping your tanks (on your head). An important advantage to diving sidemount this way from a boat is that no matter what the conditions (current, wind, waves, high or low platform, ladder or gunwale entry, big or little ladder, crew or no crew) you can always follow the same procedures and successfully and comfortably enter and exit from a dive. Additionally, you follow this same procedure when diving from the tailgate of your truck, a picnic table, a park bench, a dock, a pier, or pretty much anywhere else (I've been lowered into a quarry by a crane, but did have to add a climbing harness for safety). So, what do I mean by "all your tanks" then? Yes, I am advocating that if you are taking more than 2 tanks on the dive that you put the stages on, too, before getting off the boat and into the water. I have done this with 2 steel 85s and 2 AL80 stages, and find it to be easier and more comfortable than the same entry in backmount doubles with the same 2 stages. The total weight is the same, but feels less (just as it does with 2 tanks), because the center of gravity is inline with your core (not all out back). I have not tried this with more than 4 total tanks, but in general I find that pure sidemount very suddenly goes from simple to unbearably difficult when you add that 5th bottle. This is the point at which I go to backmount for my main gas with 3 or 4 stage / deco bottles sidemounted (such as when doing deep dives on trimix, requiring bottom stages and 2 deco gasses). OK, back to more basic configurations. If the diver is really uncomfortable with the "best practice" of being fully ready to begin the dive before stepping off the boat, or if the diver really is unable to stand or walk with tanks in place and ready to go (and if conditions are appropriate - no current, no waves, no wind) and wants to put their tanks on in the water, I recommend the use of a personal gear line. That is, bring along a 15 or 20 foot piece of mooring line to which you have attached rings and/or clips every few feet. Tie or clip this to the boat somewhere near where your gear is on the boat (but not where you and other divers are going over the rail or out a gate to splash in, and not right next to the ladder or propellers). Then you can clip your right tank, camera, scooter, and anything else you can't bear to carry off the boat to the rings on the rope and lower it over the side to make it available for you to pick up at 5 to 15 feet depth. I recommend putting a 2 or 3 lb weight on the very end to keep it in place for use in removing the same items at the end of the dive and clipping them off so you can pull them back onboard after you exit the water.
Thank you for this thorough explanation!! I really love all your suggestions. I agree about it being better to have all the tanks on from the beginning, but I've seen that for new sidemount divers, it's really a struggle. I personally didn't feel super comfortable with that practice until a couple of months into diving the configuration. I am a fan of the gear line too and I don't know why I didn't include it here. Maybe part 2 will have to come out when we finally have our dive boat to work with!
Thank you so much! We hope that can happen very soon. Indonesia will be opening to international travel in September it seems! Feel free to email us for more details: azulunlimited@gmail.com
Are you using double-enders to connect the loop around a cylinder-neck to a shoulder d-ring? They 1) off-load the bungees while standing up with the cylinders and 2) make it safer while doing giant stride entry as the connection won't stretch as a bungee would
Hi @pb thanks for your comment! I personally use eye snap bolts, not the double-enders, in my opinion they are more compact/short plus only one opening point, but as you I use snap bolts for the reasons you mention above. Less stress on the connexions and make everything easier to gear up or to get ready to come back to the boat, shore etc.
Honestly, the more I dive with sidemount, the more I'm confused on whether or not there's the correct way of diving with them. One thing I struggle to find the guides for are because 99% of the sidemount divers do them with Al80s. In NZ, we use steel 99.9% of the time (the .1% reserved just in case for someone special). With 12L regular steels and with xDeep Stealth 2.0, I was trained to clip the bottom on on the back Square D Rings which normally meant for accessories since I don't use buttplates. The top clips on to my D ring in line with my armpits. I do get the DiveRite travel tank straps and it comes with the choker. This choker is in between my tank valve and regulator (Apeks MTX-RC). Trust that this is the hardest clip I've ever done as it doesn't have much room. I then strap the bungee around the valve. Btw, aside from all this, the rule is to clip the top one first, clip the bottom one, and then use the bungee. Aside from this, unfortunately my instructor never used an xDeep Stealth before and we kinda wing it when it comes to strapping all the bungee cords that come with the wing. The crazy part is that it doesn't come with instructions and we got a tonne of bungees in a whole bag (one bloody day to figure everything together and we got 10% correct). Long story short, I finished my course and learn everything from RUclips and I think I figure out on how to actually use the bungee cords with the Stealth 2.0) Sorry for the lengthy comment and I really hope that you do reply me (or anyone that can re-teach me here). With steel tanks: 1. Where do I meant to clip the bottom clip of the tank? 2. I noticed that either you don't clip the top clip (boltsnap) or in other video, when you're ready to dive, you de-attached the top clip and leave the bungee strapping the tank. 3. What is then the purpose of the top tank's boltsnap? 4. What is the purpose of the DiveRite Choker. From my RUclips research, I think this needs to be used with a DiveRite ring which acted like the bungee? With this, it means that really you shouldn't be clamping this to your D-Ring parallel to your armpit as this is a very close fit. 5. Would you be able to make a video of how you wear your gear and tank, until you actually dive? I think it would be helpful as there's so many ways with sidemount and I do find myself pausing your videos just to zoom in on whether or not you clamp certain things? 6. Would it be okay for me to ask you more things via e-mail? If so, could i have your email? Thank you so much and can't wait till' you go to Indonesia and release more videos about that.
Hey, thanks for watching and commenting. There are definitely many ways of setting yourself up to side effectively and safely in sidemount. That's kind of the cool thing about the configuration. Feel free to reach out to me via email for everything else: info@azulunlimited.com
It seems like a great benefit for side mount is you can enter the water with bcd only. Then you could have the tanks handed to you while in the water and connect? Is there a reason this isn’t an option? Thanks.
Absolutely but if you're dealing with big waves or current it may be impossible or unsafe to be near the boat at the surface after you jump in. It's good to practice all kinds of entries because sidemount is cumbersome at the surface and knowing the most comfortable option for the conditions will make or break the dive day
Thank you for this video!!! I had plans to get side mount cert... and then this virus happened. Still plan on doing it some day. Can you do a video about dive computer use when using side mount and which one do you like.
Yes! Definitely make plans to do it once everything calms down. It really is an interesting course. Sounds like a nice idea for a video. Stay tuned for that one! Thank you for watching 🙏🏻
Excellent review; thank you. Two questions: prior to entry do you always clip the base of the tank(s) to the rear d-ring and reposition to the front waist strap d rings once in the water? Also, when having to enter from a high point (giant stride) with both tanks, do you always recommend attaching the tank(s) to the bungee cord or would it be preferable initially to clip the tank(s) to the d rings on the harness straps? The same to also apply (i.e not using the bungee) when exiting, for example, up a ladder? Thank you, Mark
I always clip to the waist d-ring that's closest to my bum (the same one you use when you are diving with full tanks). If I'm jumping with lighter tanks (like on the second or third dive) then I still start there and then adjust to the d-rings closer to the pubic bone once I'm on the descent. As for entry from a high place (as well as exiting up a ladder), I've seen people do what you describe (clipping instead of bungee) but I don't like to have the extra clips on my tanks. Just personal preference 🤘🏻
@@AzulUnlimited If you have a small piece of cord tied around the base of the tank valve, you can attach the bungee in the normal way then clip a double ender to the cord and the d-ring. The harness takes the weight of the tanks while out of the water and as soon as you're in the water you can take the double enders off and stow them.
after watched your video,i have a question:in the video,when you entry and exit there's no any camera with you,and my question is how to entry end exit with full gear of camera like housing,lighting,that's a big thing ,In particular ,the housing clashed with the cylinders.thx a lot
Hello Johnny. Ok sooo, while diving with my sidemount and the camera, if conditions are good at the surface and is no need to do like a quick descent or I can stay close to the boat, I prefer if some one from the crew can give me the camera. Then for backroll and if yes or yes I need to jump with the camera, I place it on the centre of my chest and I block the tanks on the side with my elbows. And for giant step with the camera I lift ir over my head, BDC full inflated and kicking as sooner I touch the water to avoid the camera entering the water. I hope that helps you my friend.
In rough seas, which can occur even in the Caribbean, Getting back on the boat is key. Dive ladders in rough seas are challenging as hell. Timing to avoid getting knocked out by the rungs is a talent. Guess you could unclip onto a line, but why bother.
Hello there!! I´m glad the info was helpful, for sidemount any small tip make a big difference.... We are located in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia and only 1H away from Komodo National Park 😊👌
why not clipping the valves using a Boltsnap or Double ender on your D-Ring for the Entry ? after that you can remove it and attache the bungee . I have no Idea but have seen it in another tutorial. HELLO from Germany :D
Yeah, that's a challenge. If you can, I'd avoid standing or walking with more than two tanks. Falling over like that can lead to serious injury. Deco tanks should probably be attached to a line and dropped by the crew. Get in the water, drop to 5m and take the tanks from the line. That's also a very nice way to remove the tanks when you exit, without juggling two heavy tanks on a ladder.
@@Yggdrasil42 Thats a good idea, but it wasn't possible on that dive. The other divers were on CCR or back mount doubles, was really wishing i had some form of back mount then.
Sometimes it is just better to go backmount depending on conditions and dive goals. If we need to go with more than 4 tanks, we usually make the switch to backmount.
Hmmm, you can “do it all of that staff on your own”. To attach both cylinders you just have to squat and attach cylinder in the double ender - I am always doing it on my own like that
Great video thank you Sarah (1st time I clearly understand the process to equip it on youtube ^^), I was wondering if with some practice and time sidemount could be equiped as fast or maybe faster/easier than a backmount rig, and if we could be able to easily walk for a while with both tanks on? it is the only point that scared me. Thank you very much
Hi there!! For me at this point is easier and faster to get ready to jump on my sidemount configuration, but took a while, not gonna lie. About walking, that's different, usually I dive by boat, but back in Mexico and now in California, I´m doing mostly shore dives. I need to walk back and forth a couple of times to carry the tanks but also that way I don't break my back lifting tanks or walking with them on my back with the BCD. So is a way to avoid hurting myself. Thanks tho for the comment, happy to know my video help you to understand the process!!
huh ... that's why after intensive research and after finishing the lessons I never really use it ...it's just not useful for 90% of the dive site. for luxury liveaboard it might be ok... I use ocean reaf FFM with UTD system. it's much easier ..but still ...NO for side mount. thanks for sharing what you said is very true.
Totally, you can dive sidemount on a single tank but a couple of things to consider, one is the regulator configuration, remember to keep one alternate air source to share and second, the balance, you may need an extra weight on the oposite side to balance your body. Anyway what we normally do is dive with two tanks and just follow the same bottom time as the group, and between dives if is possible, top uptake same tanks.
Could you give me some advise ,i found xdeep sidemount, there has 3 model, classic tec and rec,i don't know what's diffrernt between this 3 models. i always dive in SOUTHASIA,WET SUIT,iam 173CMTALL,220BLS. as sidemount beginner,is that classic enough for me?and if me wart dry suit,is it fit anymore?
Hello Jonny. Thanks for watching our video, let me answer your question. I been diving Sidemount configuration for te past 8 years, for recreational, cave diving and technical diving. Base on your level of experience and if you are not planning to do extreme technical diving on the near future I will discard directly the Tec model. Now, if you want to do recreational but also some technical diving on the near future, with just one extra cylinder or 2, I think the classic is the perfect option for you. Easy to adjust, with the harness and bladder in two parts is easy to modify the position, the trim weight pockets are excellent and for sure you can use it with a drysuit on the future.... bust be careful and don't cut too much webbing from your harness. Have a look to this video: ruclips.net/video/Syjk94Ywb5o/видео.html As you may know, we are base in Komodo, so if you visit the area let us know and we can jump in the water for some awesome sidemount dives! Let me know please if you have any other question, also here on this website you can find a comparative for the 3 different Xdeep option: www.xdeep.eu/compare-stealth-2-0-sidemount-nsc-15.html?product=16&1=16&2=20&3=18 Have a nice day and talk to you soon. Aitor
It really depends on the person, their strength and foot stability, where the waves are breaking, etc. As with any entry, you should always have a regulator in your mouth and mask on your face, that means the left tank should be in place with the inflator hose connected and air in the bladder. you can have the other take in your hand and/or clipped to the waist belt. I find that as long as the wave break isn't too aggressive where i can easily put on my fins and swim past it, then it's fine. As always staying close to your buddy can help with stability too. Safety is always number 1 so if it feels risky, probably not a good idea to do it.
@@AzulUnlimited yeah I've been wanting to get into sidemounts to increase my down time but wanted to make sure I could use it for shore dives too I'm pretty strong and have dove in 5ft waves before so I'll probably dive in 2ft waves to play it safe with the sidemount.
@@allwrightadventures6675 start small and see what it feels like. that'll give you the best indication for your personal comfort level. let us know how it goes!
If it's a long walk from the car to the water, i would take one tank at a time down to the waters edge. then, you can clip your fins onto your harness and gently drag your tanks into the waist deep water if the bottom is just soft sand. If it's a rocky bottom, you could take one tank on your shoulder and the other in a hand and just take your time walking out
I got use to do Tech and Trimix on Side up to 5 tanks, also with my Rebreather SF2 in sidemount configuration but learn with Doubles first I think is the best way, then you can always move back and forth as you need!
Conclutions...So many desadvantages far sidemount in revreational diving..like.....what's the piont...?? Except for more air capacity...it kinda sucks...Sorry sidemonders , No offense. 😂😂
Noted!! next time will be slower... We get excited about what we talk and yep sometimes we talk to fast!! Our next video will be about Sidemount harness set up, is a great one with a lot of tips.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Roc Steady (feat. Flo Milli) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HozPPyqW0dY/mqdefault.jpg)
Where are our sidemount divers? 🙋🏻♀️🙋🏻♂️
Here... here not, but maybe soon
Right here!!
Great video.
Definitely agree, getting in with just a harness is great when it's possible.
I learned in Key Largo and the conditions (current/waves) were not exactly conducive for this option, so it was giant stride on a cattle-car boat with two AL80s and two AL40s. No bueno. Getting out was just as shitty.
At home in the Marshall Islands it's much easier. When on a boat my buddies and I normally lower our tanks into the water clipped to a line that's looped onto one of the cleats. The left/short hose tank is higher on the line, close to the surface so we can just kick over to it, unclip it, and set it up. The long hose is lower and we pick it up on our descent and set it up on the way down.
The bulk of my sidemount dives have been from the shore with a scooter. Piranha DPV clipped to harness and carrying two tanks into the water. It's a handful but worth the effort to be able to enjoy the extra time.
@@pathfinderLXXIV Key Largo sounds gnarly. Those are great enter/exit solutions though! I still haven't tried a scooter... definitely on my wish list 🤘🏻Thanks for watching and I'm so happy to connect to a fellow sidemount-er!
@@AzulUnlimited Largo has some great dive sites and when the conditions are favorable it's awesome. Definitely worth checking out.
Here! :) Certified July 2019
Hello Sarah! Claudio here, from Canada.
I have been sidemounting for the past few years in Brazil, but moved to Canada 2.5 years ago.
An interesting thing about diving in Canada is that my Razor was initially totally configured for tropical waters. I used to wear not more than the bottom of a two pieces 5mm neoprene wetsuit plus a neoprene t-shirt. All of a sudden, I found myself diving the Canada rivers' cold waters wearing a dry suit, 7mm hood, 5mm gloves, and nothing in my equipment was in the same place they used to be.
I had to replace the bolt snaps on my tanks for ones with larger rings, invert the position of the inflator of my wing to make the dry suit connect to the main tank, replace the bungee for a longer one and everything else which made the whole experience very rich. But one thing that didn't change was the comfort of diving the sidemount configuration instead of backmount one.
Your channel is amazing, thanks for sharing so much information with us divers!
Cheers!
I just went through these same changes for my drysuit! It's a learning curve but so much fun 🤙 thanks for watching 🙏
I like how you talk to me as if I know nothing (which is correct) yet without making me feel like I'm stupid for knowing nothing.
Make me sad that you have to even say that, because is the reality of scuba diving, I been on the industry for over 13 years as a professional and still don't know at witch point the EGO took control of this sport.
When for recreational diving looks more important to look flat and in perfect Trim position like after having a 1meter ninja blade stuck on your mouth than have fun and enjoy the aquatic life and the company.... you realise that something is wrong.
One thing, for your sanity stay away from Facebook groups hahaha, thanks for your comment and glad to help.
Sarah and Aitor.
I have found your instruction greatly helpful and would encourage any person to dive with your gentle nature and superior encouragement top girl 😎
Thank you so much! Maybe we can dive together on an expedition one day. Mexico 2022?
You look like a boss rockin' those side-mount doubles!
Thank you very much!!!
Love this video! I too love to dive sidemount recreationally and we do giant stride entry from our catamaran - so about a 3foot drop into the water. For entry, I tend to attach the left tank as you describe and enter the water holding my right hand tank. Enter slightly negatively buoyant and hold a position just under the water whilst I attach the right hand tank.... then start the dive. At the end, I tend to remove both tanks from me, and clip them together. I'll leave the LPI connected and breathe from the left tank. Usually on the safety stop. When I get to the surface, I can then pop the LPI and have the tanks handed up really quickly before I leap (salmon like) out of the water...... Keep up the great work guys!
hahaha love the salmon like reference. Great descriptor 😂Great to hear your passion for sidemount diving too!
Because of you, now i just get my sidemount sertification!!!
Woah!!! That's amazing!! I'm so happy for you 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙
Me encantan tus vídeos !! Y pienso que el sidemount es una muy buena opción para bucear con mayor seguridad aunque sea tan dispendioso lidiar con los 2 tanques.
Chauuuu happy bubbles
Happy happy bubbles!! Siiii es muy cómodo bajo el agua. Merece la pena :) gracias!!!
Great video explaining sidemount entry options, we will share with students, thanks
Hi there!!
Thanks for watching, where are you located?? I have seen your videos diving in the US Virgin Islands!
Glad you can dive guys and thanks for sharing with your students.
Diver from Germany here: I always take a rope with carabiners when diving. I attach the tanks to the leash and throw them into the water, a safety knot on the boat beforehand. When I go into the water, I take the tanks from the carabiners individually.
Nice tip! Thanks!
Chris, I really like to know if I can get a picture of what you described. I think it will be really helpful. Please let me know if you have a picture of it. Thank you!
Very informative 👌👌👌loved it
Thanks a lot 😊
@@AzulUnlimited just hopping for more videos on sidemount tank configurations and regulator configuration step by step vids in the near future🌷 thanks again for your effort
Nice video please keep them coming. I am at the very start regarding sidemount I have the PADI sidemount manual which I have read and completed the online RAID sidemount course they provide just need to sort out a local RAID instructor pay them for the in class and In water parts and pay RAID for the final online sections.
I have already decided that the ring system best suits me, so just looking at the components to later make my own ring bungee’s.
Will probably have to start with my wing rather than a sidemount specific unit but have seen a few videos of people using the same make of wing successfully for sidemount.
So yes those already using sidemount and those of us looking to start are finding your channel and subscribing, it just takes time.
Thank you so much for watching! Sounds like you're on the right track. Where are you doing your in water training? Somewhere cold? We have definitely seen people adapt other components of equipment for sidemount. The main thing is just to make sure all the safety aspects are there and you should be good to go!
Yeay - Razor :) Just got my set a couple of weeks ago and am getting started... You should have a dedicated Razor Playlist :) i.e drills as in rigging, clipping removing tanks under water, our of air... This is sooo much fun - yet soooooo different to backmount.... Especially in a dry suit .)
I really love your channel - you two rock...
greetings from Munich
Stephan
Thanks so much! I definitely want to do that. I currently am a one woman show with filming so it's been hard to get that kind of footage, but it's on my list of things to shoot. I want to get a dry suit and see how it is! You'll have to let me know how it goes.
Newbie diver here but I learn a lot on your videos. Hope someday when I get more experience in diving I will try this side mount configuration.
Thanks for watching Patrik! for sidemount configuration as you said is better with some diving experience... you will learn faster, see the value earlier and all will be more in control so less frustration in the beginning with all the new equipment, 2 tanks etc!! Please keep diving safe and hopefully see you underwater with your sidemount gear one day!!
@@AzulUnlimited looking forward on diving with you someday over there or maybe here. ;)
GJ Sarah .. I never try it before .. I will do soon at the red Sea Egypt.
Hey!! Awesome, you are gonna love it!!
Please let me know how the course goes, have a lot of fun!!
Getting excited to go on my FIRST sidemount dives. Training in early July!
Nice!! is a lot of fun and a learning process, don't get stress out with all the gear etc, everything will come along on time!
Let us know how things go!!
Great vid Sarah, informative and on point!!! Great to see some good sidemount instructional vids being made. Keep up the content :-)
Thanks for watching! Glad to be able to help :)
Nice video! Very informative for me on the setup part! I'm learning sidemount by myself right now, and I've been doing some things wrong... I've been using a boltsnap connecting my tank valves to the shoulder D-rings, in addition to the bungees. I'll take them off... For entry and exit, I've been jumping with both tanks from diving boats and climbing the ladder with them on too. Brute force, not very nice! On my boat, I put the tanks on a line and jump in with just fins, mask and harness.
Thanks for watching! Sidemount is so fun and that's great you are learning. We know other people who use boltsnaps too. Remember, these are just my opinions. I just prefer having as few things around my neck and chest area so that I don't get caught on anything. About brute force... we usually say, work smarter, not harder! hehe keep it up!
I just completed my TDI sidemount this weekend. We added some cavern skills to the fun dives after the course was complete, so it really added a ton of fun challenges and gave me a good idea of what I’ll be up against in the future and where to improve. The boat entries will be a slight challenge for my Christmas trip to Bonaire since the place we dive with used the fiberglass pangas, but I think a larger tip in advance and being proficient and efficient before I get there should make it less of an issue for the crew and backmount divers. Keep up the great films.
Yes, getting some time in the water and practicing helps a lot. However, sometimes sidemount just isn't the right configuration for the type of diving, so it's best to choose what will make you the most comfortable and safe. For example, I rarely went in sidemount doubles when guiding divers in strong currents. I found that it was too cumbersome for the kind of movement I needed. Hope you have fun in Bonaire! I'm sure it'll be lovely.
@@AzulUnlimited most of it is shore diving, and the west side of the island has very minimal current. The couple of boat dives may be a slight challenge, but I feel I’m down for the challenge. I’ve got extra cash in the save a dive kit for tipping the crew extra if I wind up being “that diver.”
Lovely video and helpful! and lovely smile! :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sarah.
Good instructional sharing. In choppier waters, i mount LP and carry my right for a giant stride entry. Inwater mount RP as descend.:) good works! See u in komodo...
Tha´s a great way to do it, normally I do the same while jumping from a small boat, easier to mount the RP as descending... See you soon!!
Nice video and some well thought out exit/entry advice.
May I give you a little tip - if you attach a choker to the neck of your tank and clip that in as the very first, then everthing else gets much easier. Also when you are ready to exit or typically during your safety stop, you can unclip the right tank and attach the choker to either a back or side d-ring, this way you have both of your hands available to handle your smb/spool.
Thanks for watching! Great tip. I've used the choker method and it's great for a lot of reasons, but just don't use it anymore on sidemount. I appreciate the suggestions though so thank you!
Thanks you for your advices and your skill !!!
And thank YOU so much for watching. Really appreciate it!
Great video!! I just finished learning backmount doubles, next step is sidemount. I want to learn that for mine and cave (I burn too much air on the mine dives already) Please continue to make videos for it. I am learning alot from your channel, got about 50 dives in so far mostly quarries will be diving the Great Lakes one day. Thanks again
Wow 50 dives is a good number to jump from twins to Sidemount. And in Azul most of us did that progression from twins to side and you will find it very easy (twins are tough tho). Let me know if you have any doubt on your training or configuration ok!!
Saludos and enjoy your course!!
As someone who has been diving sidemount from both shore and boats for over ten years now, and backmount twinsets for 10 years before that, I can tell you that sidemount is definitely easier in most situations. Most of the boat diving I do is not in the "ideal" situations you describe here, so I believe the most preferred method should be to kit up completely (including all tanks) before entering the water. I have found the key to making this really easy and really comfortable is to use ring bungees instead of loop bungees and clipping the bottom clip to the waist, not a butt plate. this puts the weight of the tank on your hips and the weight of the valves on your shoulders, but still keeps the tanks low and in plane with your body while walking, but they still pull right up into trim in the water once you get horizontal. It also allows you to easily climb up the ladder without feeling like you're going to fall backwards. The tanks are then just as easily removed on the boat, as they were to put on on the boat. Because you are not having someone else hand down or pull up tanks, there is now zero chance of the crew dropping your tanks (on your head).
An important advantage to diving sidemount this way from a boat is that no matter what the conditions (current, wind, waves, high or low platform, ladder or gunwale entry, big or little ladder, crew or no crew) you can always follow the same procedures and successfully and comfortably enter and exit from a dive. Additionally, you follow this same procedure when diving from the tailgate of your truck, a picnic table, a park bench, a dock, a pier, or pretty much anywhere else (I've been lowered into a quarry by a crane, but did have to add a climbing harness for safety).
So, what do I mean by "all your tanks" then? Yes, I am advocating that if you are taking more than 2 tanks on the dive that you put the stages on, too, before getting off the boat and into the water. I have done this with 2 steel 85s and 2 AL80 stages, and find it to be easier and more comfortable than the same entry in backmount doubles with the same 2 stages. The total weight is the same, but feels less (just as it does with 2 tanks), because the center of gravity is inline with your core (not all out back). I have not tried this with more than 4 total tanks, but in general I find that pure sidemount very suddenly goes from simple to unbearably difficult when you add that 5th bottle. This is the point at which I go to backmount for my main gas with 3 or 4 stage / deco bottles sidemounted (such as when doing deep dives on trimix, requiring bottom stages and 2 deco gasses).
OK, back to more basic configurations. If the diver is really uncomfortable with the "best practice" of being fully ready to begin the dive before stepping off the boat, or if the diver really is unable to stand or walk with tanks in place and ready to go (and if conditions are appropriate - no current, no waves, no wind) and wants to put their tanks on in the water, I recommend the use of a personal gear line. That is, bring along a 15 or 20 foot piece of mooring line to which you have attached rings and/or clips every few feet. Tie or clip this to the boat somewhere near where your gear is on the boat (but not where you and other divers are going over the rail or out a gate to splash in, and not right next to the ladder or propellers). Then you can clip your right tank, camera, scooter, and anything else you can't bear to carry off the boat to the rings on the rope and lower it over the side to make it available for you to pick up at 5 to 15 feet depth. I recommend putting a 2 or 3 lb weight on the very end to keep it in place for use in removing the same items at the end of the dive and clipping them off so you can pull them back onboard after you exit the water.
Thank you for this thorough explanation!! I really love all your suggestions. I agree about it being better to have all the tanks on from the beginning, but I've seen that for new sidemount divers, it's really a struggle. I personally didn't feel super comfortable with that practice until a couple of months into diving the configuration.
I am a fan of the gear line too and I don't know why I didn't include it here. Maybe part 2 will have to come out when we finally have our dive boat to work with!
Nice and amazing content keep the good work cant wait to dive with you
Thank you so much! We hope that can happen very soon. Indonesia will be opening to international travel in September it seems! Feel free to email us for more details: azulunlimited@gmail.com
la jefa wacho!! lindo video
Gracias por ver el video! Espero que todo bien por alli 🙏🏻
Greets from Germany.....nice Video.....
Thank you very much! I hope you're able to dive soon 🤘
Are you using double-enders to connect the loop around a cylinder-neck to a shoulder d-ring?
They 1) off-load the bungees while standing up with the cylinders and 2) make it safer while doing giant stride entry as the connection won't stretch as a bungee would
Hi @pb thanks for your comment!
I personally use eye snap bolts, not the double-enders, in my opinion they are more compact/short plus only one opening point, but as you I use snap bolts for the reasons you mention above. Less stress on the connexions and make everything easier to gear up or to get ready to come back to the boat, shore etc.
Honestly, the more I dive with sidemount, the more I'm confused on whether or not there's the correct way of diving with them.
One thing I struggle to find the guides for are because 99% of the sidemount divers do them with Al80s. In NZ, we use steel 99.9% of the time (the .1% reserved just in case for someone special).
With 12L regular steels and with xDeep Stealth 2.0, I was trained to clip the bottom on on the back Square D Rings which normally meant for accessories since I don't use buttplates. The top clips on to my D ring in line with my armpits. I do get the DiveRite travel tank straps and it comes with the choker. This choker is in between my tank valve and regulator (Apeks MTX-RC). Trust that this is the hardest clip I've ever done as it doesn't have much room. I then strap the bungee around the valve. Btw, aside from all this, the rule is to clip the top one first, clip the bottom one, and then use the bungee.
Aside from this, unfortunately my instructor never used an xDeep Stealth before and we kinda wing it when it comes to strapping all the bungee cords that come with the wing. The crazy part is that it doesn't come with instructions and we got a tonne of bungees in a whole bag (one bloody day to figure everything together and we got 10% correct). Long story short, I finished my course and learn everything from RUclips and I think I figure out on how to actually use the bungee cords with the Stealth 2.0)
Sorry for the lengthy comment and I really hope that you do reply me (or anyone that can re-teach me here). With steel tanks:
1. Where do I meant to clip the bottom clip of the tank?
2. I noticed that either you don't clip the top clip (boltsnap) or in other video, when you're ready to dive, you de-attached the top clip and leave the bungee strapping the tank.
3. What is then the purpose of the top tank's boltsnap?
4. What is the purpose of the DiveRite Choker. From my RUclips research, I think this needs to be used with a DiveRite ring which acted like the bungee? With this, it means that really you shouldn't be clamping this to your D-Ring parallel to your armpit as this is a very close fit.
5. Would you be able to make a video of how you wear your gear and tank, until you actually dive? I think it would be helpful as there's so many ways with sidemount and I do find myself pausing your videos just to zoom in on whether or not you clamp certain things?
6. Would it be okay for me to ask you more things via e-mail? If so, could i have your email?
Thank you so much and can't wait till' you go to Indonesia and release more videos about that.
Hey, thanks for watching and commenting. There are definitely many ways of setting yourself up to side effectively and safely in sidemount. That's kind of the cool thing about the configuration. Feel free to reach out to me via email for everything else: info@azulunlimited.com
It seems like a great benefit for side mount is you can enter the water with bcd only. Then you could have the tanks handed to you while in the water and connect? Is there a reason this isn’t an option? Thanks.
Absolutely but if you're dealing with big waves or current it may be impossible or unsafe to be near the boat at the surface after you jump in. It's good to practice all kinds of entries because sidemount is cumbersome at the surface and knowing the most comfortable option for the conditions will make or break the dive day
Thank you for this video!!! I had plans to get side mount cert... and then this virus happened. Still plan on doing it some day. Can you do a video about dive computer use when using side mount and which one do you like.
Yes! Definitely make plans to do it once everything calms down. It really is an interesting course. Sounds like a nice idea for a video. Stay tuned for that one! Thank you for watching 🙏🏻
Excellent review; thank you. Two questions: prior to entry do you always clip the base of the tank(s) to the rear d-ring and reposition to the front waist strap d rings once in the water? Also, when having to enter from a high point (giant stride) with both tanks, do you always recommend attaching the tank(s) to the bungee cord or would it be preferable initially to clip the tank(s) to the d rings on the harness straps? The same to also apply (i.e not using the bungee) when exiting, for example, up a ladder? Thank you, Mark
I always clip to the waist d-ring that's closest to my bum (the same one you use when you are diving with full tanks). If I'm jumping with lighter tanks (like on the second or third dive) then I still start there and then adjust to the d-rings closer to the pubic bone once I'm on the descent. As for entry from a high place (as well as exiting up a ladder), I've seen people do what you describe (clipping instead of bungee) but I don't like to have the extra clips on my tanks. Just personal preference 🤘🏻
@@AzulUnlimited If you have a small piece of cord tied around the base of the tank valve, you can attach the bungee in the normal way then clip a double ender to the cord and the d-ring. The harness takes the weight of the tanks while out of the water and as soon as you're in the water you can take the double enders off and stow them.
after watched your video,i have a question:in the video,when you entry and exit there's no any camera with you,and my question is how to entry end exit with full gear of camera like housing,lighting,that's a big thing ,In particular ,the housing clashed with the cylinders.thx a lot
Hello Johnny.
Ok sooo, while diving with my sidemount and the camera, if conditions are good at the surface and is no need to do like a quick descent or I can stay close to the boat, I prefer if some one from the crew can give me the camera.
Then for backroll and if yes or yes I need to jump with the camera, I place it on the centre of my chest and I block the tanks on the side with my elbows.
And for giant step with the camera I lift ir over my head, BDC full inflated and kicking as sooner I touch the water to avoid the camera entering the water.
I hope that helps you my friend.
Do you put your bottom clip lined up with the extension post or off to one side?
I used to have it in line, but now I place it slightly off to help with tank twisting.
In rough seas, which can occur even in the Caribbean, Getting back on the boat is key. Dive ladders in rough seas are challenging as hell. Timing to avoid getting knocked out by the rungs is a talent. Guess you could unclip onto a line, but why bother.
You choose the tools that are appropriate for conditions and your needs. Everyone is different
This‘s the info I’m look for. Thx. Can I know where’s the dive centre"
Hello there!! I´m glad the info was helpful, for sidemount any small tip make a big difference.... We are located in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia and only 1H away from Komodo National Park 😊👌
why not clipping the valves using a Boltsnap or Double ender on your D-Ring for the Entry ? after that you can remove it and attache the bungee . I have no Idea but have seen it in another tutorial. HELLO from Germany :D
Nothing wrong with it! I just don't do it :D hello Germany :D
I made a sidemount dive once off the back of a boat, in choppy water, with 2 12ltr deco mixes on the front... Absolute back breaker, never again!
Yeah, that's a challenge. If you can, I'd avoid standing or walking with more than two tanks. Falling over like that can lead to serious injury. Deco tanks should probably be attached to a line and dropped by the crew. Get in the water, drop to 5m and take the tanks from the line. That's also a very nice way to remove the tanks when you exit, without juggling two heavy tanks on a ladder.
@@Yggdrasil42 Thats a good idea, but it wasn't possible on that dive. The other divers were on CCR or back mount doubles, was really wishing i had some form of back mount then.
Yikes! Yeah that's rough. Not ideal
Sometimes it is just better to go backmount depending on conditions and dive goals. If we need to go with more than 4 tanks, we usually make the switch to backmount.
Yes yes yes, thanks for sharing! @Yggdrasil42
Hmmm, you can “do it all of that staff on your own”. To attach both cylinders you just have to squat and attach cylinder in the double ender - I am always doing it on my own like that
yeah, for some people is kind of complicated to do it on their own in the beginning, just take some practice.
Thanks for your comment.
Great video thank you Sarah (1st time I clearly understand the process to equip it on youtube ^^), I was wondering if with some practice and time sidemount could be equiped as fast or maybe faster/easier than a backmount rig, and if we could be able to easily walk for a while with both tanks on? it is the only point that scared me. Thank you very much
Hi there!!
For me at this point is easier and faster to get ready to jump on my sidemount configuration, but took a while, not gonna lie.
About walking, that's different, usually I dive by boat, but back in Mexico and now in California, I´m doing mostly shore dives. I need to walk back and forth a couple of times to carry the tanks but also that way I don't break my back lifting tanks or walking with them on my back with the BCD. So is a way to avoid hurting myself.
Thanks tho for the comment, happy to know my video help you to understand the process!!
@@AzulUnlimited Thank you very much!!
huh ... that's why after intensive research and after finishing the lessons I never really use it ...it's just not useful for 90% of the dive site. for luxury liveaboard it might be ok...
I use ocean reaf FFM with UTD system. it's much easier ..but still ...NO for side mount. thanks for sharing what you said is very true.
Thanks for sharing!
Can I dive sidemount in single tank? So I could have more or less the bottom time with the guide or instructor.
Totally, you can dive sidemount on a single tank but a couple of things to consider, one is the regulator configuration, remember to keep one alternate air source to share and second, the balance, you may need an extra weight on the oposite side to balance your body.
Anyway what we normally do is dive with two tanks and just follow the same bottom time as the group, and between dives if is possible, top uptake same tanks.
Gracias por el video.
Gracias a ti por seguir nuestro canal!
Could you give me some advise ,i found xdeep sidemount, there has 3 model, classic tec and rec,i don't know what's diffrernt between this 3 models. i always dive in SOUTHASIA,WET SUIT,iam 173CMTALL,220BLS. as sidemount beginner,is that classic enough for me?and if me wart dry suit,is it fit anymore?
Hello Jonny.
Thanks for watching our video, let me answer your question. I been diving Sidemount configuration for te past 8 years, for recreational, cave diving and technical diving. Base on your level of experience and if you are not planning to do extreme technical diving on the near future I will discard directly the Tec model.
Now, if you want to do recreational but also some technical diving on the near future, with just one extra cylinder or 2, I think the classic is the perfect option for you. Easy to adjust, with the harness and bladder in two parts is easy to modify the position, the trim weight pockets are excellent and for sure you can use it with a drysuit on the future.... bust be careful and don't cut too much webbing from your harness. Have a look to this video: ruclips.net/video/Syjk94Ywb5o/видео.html
As you may know, we are base in Komodo, so if you visit the area let us know and we can jump in the water for some awesome sidemount dives! Let me know please if you have any other question, also here on this website you can find a comparative for the 3 different Xdeep option: www.xdeep.eu/compare-stealth-2-0-sidemount-nsc-15.html?product=16&1=16&2=20&3=18
Have a nice day and talk to you soon.
Aitor
@@AzulUnlimited thank you very much，it is too late to know you，i have been komodoo 1 year before ，i love that ，that's a good place to dive。safe dive.
@@ProfessorC0755 that´s awesome, I hope you have great memories from Komodo!! Have fun with your Sidemount training my friend.
Would it be possible to break thro 3ft waves from shore with 2 steel 100s sidemounted?
It really depends on the person, their strength and foot stability, where the waves are breaking, etc. As with any entry, you should always have a regulator in your mouth and mask on your face, that means the left tank should be in place with the inflator hose connected and air in the bladder. you can have the other take in your hand and/or clipped to the waist belt. I find that as long as the wave break isn't too aggressive where i can easily put on my fins and swim past it, then it's fine. As always staying close to your buddy can help with stability too. Safety is always number 1 so if it feels risky, probably not a good idea to do it.
@@AzulUnlimited yeah I've been wanting to get into sidemounts to increase my down time but wanted to make sure I could use it for shore dives too I'm pretty strong and have dove in 5ft waves before so I'll probably dive in 2ft waves to play it safe with the sidemount.
@@allwrightadventures6675 start small and see what it feels like. that'll give you the best indication for your personal comfort level. let us know how it goes!
@@AzulUnlimited definitely probably won't be for a few months but when I do I'll let you know!
How do you handle a shore dive with a very long walk to where you are finally at waist level of water?
If it's a long walk from the car to the water, i would take one tank at a time down to the waters edge. then, you can clip your fins onto your harness and gently drag your tanks into the waist deep water if the bottom is just soft sand. If it's a rocky bottom, you could take one tank on your shoulder and the other in a hand and just take your time walking out
I was looking for that question and answer. Thanks a lot.
I'm learning by my self (I'm instructor) and I'm absolutely in love with sidemount 💓
Is that a razor you have on?
Yes Joe, we use Razor system and we love it!!
Side Mount for Rec - Doubles for Tech 🤿👍🏽
I got use to do Tech and Trimix on Side up to 5 tanks, also with my Rebreather SF2 in sidemount configuration but learn with Doubles first I think is the best way, then you can always move back and forth as you need!
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👌
👍🤙
Thanks!
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
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Conclutions...So many desadvantages far sidemount in revreational diving..like.....what's the piont...?? Except for more air capacity...it kinda sucks...Sorry sidemonders , No offense. 😂😂
To each their own
Next time slower!!
Not everyone does speak English 😊
But anyway You're the best!!
Noted!! next time will be slower... We get excited about what we talk and yep sometimes we talk to fast!! Our next video will be about Sidemount harness set up, is a great one with a lot of tips.