Sidemount Single Cylinder Diver Course
Many people are asking: What is the advantage of Single Cylinder Sidemount?
My answer is that first of all it is a way to make recreational scuba diving slightly easier but also a little safer.
The single cylinder configuration in sidemount diving means, easy access to the cylinder valve and regulator s first stage, and it helps so not to get entangled with lines and nets.
All these years that i am diving by using both recreational & technical diving equipment, i have never witness a catastrophic failure of tank valves or first stages. More common are the annoying small leaks that occur behind your head that if left unchecked can cause anxiety and stress and even out of air situations.
The big advantage with the cylinder on the side of the diver, especially the less experienced, is the ability to see the problem or even remedy the situation increasing peace of mind.
Another thing, using sidemount cylinders gives the diver better weight distribution because the bulk of the weight is carried on the divers sides rather than traditionally on the back. This helps a lot to maintain balance and trim and of course helps buoyancy. This is especially true when using a dry suit.
Sidemount offers an easier way to get in and out of the water because now the diver can remove and replace the cylinders in the water. This is safer because now he is getting in the water from the boat by wearing not only his mask, fins and weights but also his BCD as well. This is useful in cases of BCD failure and subsequent uncontrolled descent. The other reason that makes single cylinder sidemount diving safer is that now there is no need for the diver to strain tired back muscles. Sidemount is especially helpful for those with recurrent back problems.
Single cylinder sidemount system is the perfect way to introduce divers to multiple cylinders. Focusing on the importance of the weight distribution and distinguishing between sidemount and no mount OR 'monkey' diving.
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| MOKEN Sidemount Harness |
Below are some general benefits of sidemount diving. Completing the class will explain many other topics in detail. Feel free to contact me for more information.
· Improved Buoyancy Control
· Better Balance and Trim
· Efficient Propulsion Techniques
This is the base that we will build on during the course so you are able to work on avoiding stressful situations during your future dives.
An example is the proper reaction and steps on an air depletion using a 2m long hose and not a common ‘’octopus’’. Statistics have sown that when a diver is out of gas, is grabbing the second stage from the mouth of the other diver and NOT the octopus. This has to do with the safety of both divers in a team. It is not just one more skill that you have to perform in the training.
Talking for skills let’s take a look of the skills you will learn in your sidemount single cylinder diver course with me.
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| Sidemount diver Panagiotis Argyrakis |
· Trim & Buoyancy (several body positions)
· Basic 6
o Regulator remove
o Regulator exchange
o Regulator recovery
o Modified S-Drill
o Mask flood
o Mask remove & replace
· Propulsion (fining) techniques
· S-Drill (air depletion exercise)
· Free flow regulator
· Bungee failure
· UW Swimming in all 5 body positions using the proper propulsion techniques
· SMB deployment
· Band failure
· Partial cylinder removal (static to all 5 body positions)
· Partial cylinder removal while swimming to all 5 body positions
· 360 degree head to toe turns
IMPORTANT NOTE: I have seen many divers doing excellent skills but to be dangerous in the water for themselves and their buddy or even for their all team. During your training with me you will learn how to become a thinking team diver. NOT just a ‘’good skills’’ diver!!!!!
Before going in the water to do the skills listed above, we will first do the theory that is a very important part of the all program and the practical application.
In the practical application we will discuss everything about the equipment in general and the differences between BCDs, regulators, sidemount rigs etc.
The most funny part is the dry runs that we will do with the 2m long hose, gas shearing, propulsion techniques and communications.
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| Anna |
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| Thomas |
NOTE: This schedule is followed also to my Open Water courses. I mostly do all the levels of training on sidemount configuration. So if you want to start diving by participating to an Open Water diver course then you know that with me, you will do it on Sidemount and you will receive both certification cards (PADI Open Water diver & PADI Sidemount SINGLE Cylinder Diver –Distinctive Specialty).
I currently teach many technical courses and I am on request visiting your country or your dive center for courses or seminar lectures about sidemount in each different environment.
If you are interesting for any of these above please drop me an email at: spyrosXis-expl.com
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