Side mount(SM) it's not for everyone!
Some people say its uncomfortable! well if a BCD dont fit properly it can be uncomfortable same as fins & mask! So let start, where did it come from? Yorkshire England, searching partially flooded caves, then crossed the Atlantic to the USA Florida to explore flooded cave's. till it evolved into mainstream diving! so what is the best system on the market?
Well there are many different company's making the units on the market! and it also depends on where you want to go! i am not here to run down company's, i have tried lots of units on the market and the top two i love the most in my opinion is the Dare to Dive unit 'Diamond' & the new Hollis 'Katana', why well they are very easy to adjust for any person! in fact the Hollis Katana took only 20 min to adjust out of the box!
I have dived with Diamond for nearly 4 years & over 1000 dives in it, and tried few other units and not even close to the Diamond, and then Hollis came out with the KATANA, and they got it right wow, i have had about 10 dives in it now, from 20 meters to 38 meters on double 11's and its fantastic.
So what do i look for in a sm unit, well it has to be comfortable, adjustable, good lift and everything once in the water is stream lined!
Its important to get the right side mount training, so you know you are adjusting your harness properly, that way you have the perfect fitting harness with cylinders tucked in under your arm pits,
keeping you stream lined, and making your dive that much more fun!
Along with learning about the many benefits of diving with a sidemount configuration, during one confined water and three open water scuba dives you’ll learn how to:
- Properly assemble and configure sidemount scuba diving equipment.
- Trim your weight system and sidemount gear so you’re perfectly balanced in the water.
- Manage gas by switching second stages as planned, if wearing two cylinders.
- Respond correctly to potential problems when sidemount diving.
For more information on hollis katana or side mount training e-mail us for more information. techdivingmalta@gmail.com
