Whether using independent, continuous, or loop bungees, the tension must be "verified" by the diver's ability to keep the tank valves tucked neatly into the armpits, protected and accessible. 3. Gas Management and Ambidexterity
Attachment Points: Ensure you can clip and unclip your tanks blindly. In restricted spaces or high-current environments, you may need to swing a tank forward to pass through an opening. The Mindset of a Sidemount Diver sidemount principles for success verified
: Successful sidemounting requires active management of independent cylinders. Balanced Usage Whether using independent, continuous, or loop bungees, the
Sidemount diving is a technique that involves wearing your scuba cylinders on your sides, rather than on your back. This configuration allows for a more streamlined profile, reduced drag, and increased mobility. Sidemount diving is particularly useful for technical diving, where divers need to navigate complex underwater environments, and for wreck diving, where divers need to swim through tight spaces. In restricted spaces or high-current environments, you may
Sidemount is inherently a redundant system. Managing two independent gas sources requires a disciplined mental approach.
: The primary goal of sidemount is to keep the cylinders tight against the torso, within the "shadow" of the body. This reduces drag and allows the diver to pass through restrictions that back-mounted doubles cannot. Balance and Trim
: He spent hours on land adjusting his harness and bungees so the cylinders sat tight against his body, streamlined and parallel.
