My Personal Sidemount System

My Personal Sidemount System

Well you guys have been asking for more sidemount videos, and personal gear videos. So here you go. This is my personal sidemount system, both single and double tank setup.

Subgravity Sidemount BCD

Mares XR 25X DR Full Tec Set

Mares SPG-52

XS Scuba Cam Straps

Mares Loop 15X

Mares MV

XS Scuba 6 Inch Gauge

Lake Hickory Scuba Center & Marina
Instagram – Lake Hickory Scuba

420 Taylorsville Beach Ct. Taylorsville, NC 28681
828-632-7649

[mddolson]

Great video & helpful. I'm 64 diving for 35 years & moving to sidemount.

[totallyscuba]

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your videos. I am an SSI Assistant Instructor starting on my ITC and find your videos and experience very informative and helpful. Thank you and keep up the good work.

[elejaces]

I really like your open minded approach to the gear setup. I often find a 'fanboy' mentality when it comes to any given setup, in which a given user just bashes whatever you or someone else uses that is different to theirs. One thing I learned about sidemount is that there are a gadzillion ways of rigging it. My mentor told me 'always have a reason' for rigging something in any particular way. I dive single tank on training dives and the tropics, sidemount, and sometimes independent doubles on tech dives. It all depends what the objective of the dive is and what the environment demands. I think of it as additional tools available to me ad opposed of one size fits all.

[djhull]

wow diving for 30 years!! this guy knows his stuff

[christopheraltic]

How do you dive side mount with two standard yoke valves. Positioning? Please make a video of you mounting your tanks to your side mount BC where are the first stages positioned how are you wrapping your bungees and how does that affect valve control?

[johnb]

Nice video. You mentioned your SAC rate was pretty low. How low? Perhaps you can share some thoughts on how to lower our SAC?

[chrishiggins]

I love your videos. I’m starting side mount and love it better than doubles.

Can you talk about hose routing for LP inflator hose? My rig also allows for bottom or top and I’m undecided on what I like.

Top is what I’m used to but hose routing seams more complicated.

Bottom is harder to dump but hose routing seams more intuitive.

However when doing drills and shotgunning tanks the LP hose gets all tangled. Thoughts?

[jamesinengland]

Hi Bryan,
Just wondered if you have had the opportunity to dive the Mares XR Pure light sidemount bcd and what your thoughts of it are?


I am looking at buying my first sidemount bcd; there are so many sidemount bcd's out there, I feel like it's a bit of a mine field. XDeep, Hollis, Apeks, Finnsub (Suunto), Halcyon, Scubapro, Tecline, Razor, Dive Rite. and probably some more that I am not aware of...


How well does the Subgravity Diamond bcd cope with three cylinders, say 2 Ali 80's and a deco cylinder for example? How comfortable is the back weighting on the Diamond?



Have you an opinion on the XDeep Stealth Tec or Hollis Katana / SMS 75 sidemount bcd's?



What bungee material around the cylinder do you tend to favour to stow the second stage with?

Cheers

James

[diverspoint]

Interesting, sidemount is definetely something I would like to do ! :)

[chrishiggins]

I recently purchased the sms100. I will be diving it with 2 steel tanks and a AL pony with a dry suit.

I took my new unit in the pool with the 2 steel tanks and no exposure protection to tune tank straps and hose routing.

I have two questions. First is about weight. When I removed one tank underwater even with wing deflated I was very buoyant with exposure protection I will be more buoyant. Should I add weigh so if I lost a tank or had to donate it I could maintain buoyancy? Second question is the inflator. The SMS75 shows inflator coming from the lower left side and the 100 from the top. I flipped the inflator and dump. This seamed to be more out of the way, however it was much harder to dump air. Thoughts ?

[ctclimberguy]

Brian, are there any issues w\ running 2 similar valves vs 1 left \Rt?

[djhull]

I will buddy..Let me know if you try it

[aliasincognito]

What is the point of having a long hose and another on a necklace when you're just going to donate the one you're breathing off of? Wouldn't it be better to have two intermediary length hoses (e.g. 40 inches) on a bolt snap for open water, recreational diving?