Teaching The Sidemount Course {[Commentary]}

[@SummersideDiver]

Awesome narration video. Great way to reinforce their training and help others understand and learn as well. Absolutely love your comment at the end about instructors getting practice and familiarity with the new skill before teaching it. I wish all instructor trainers would have this philosophy.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @SummersideDiver. We encourage all of our Instructors here at Lake Hickory Scuba to continue to learn and grow as a diver. Each of our Instructors, myself included, takes a new course every year to further our understanding and education as a diver.

[@bornaluckyman1]

This video was awesome, I loved the narration over the performed skills... Love watching your colleague and your dad..(proud moment ) perform the skills .. Just excellent you should be proud of yourself ..

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks David Taylor for the kind words.

[@jeremiahperez8071]

Great video! I've been considering sidemount. Thanks!!!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Jeremiah Perez, glad you liked the video.

[@bornaluckyman1]

Jeremiah... You won't regret it... It's Truely a wonderful experience..

[@ctclimberguy34]

Great video. I definitely want to get into sidemount. I really like the redundancy & flexibility.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

There is no better time than now ctclimberguy34

[@Mrveescuba]

side mount is the best mount configuration even made everydiver must try ones to appreciate how comfy it is how safe it is how easy it is etc etc...well xplaned vid just give them time and dives and they will be spot on

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Mr. Vee, we most definitely love to sidemount dive around here.

[@timgosling6189]

I'm also about to start side-mount after a few years on twins. I'd have thought when swapping regs you would want to check the pressure on the tank you're switching to, and check it's delivering gas, before you put it in your mouth.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Tim Gosling, this is definitely a consideration while tech diving. But it's pretty easy to do an air test before you start your dive, eliminating the need to check it each time you switch. I've never been in a situation underwater where my gas has changed while using it. On the recreational side, its an un-needed extra step. Hope this makes sense.

[@timgosling6189]

@@LakeHickoryScuba Just habit. It got ingrained from going through the drills you'll be very familiar with to deal with wing, drysuit or reg problems, which involve shutting down your valves. Nowadays it's just second nature to check the gauge and blip the purge so I know I haven't forgotten to re-open something and what I'm about to put in my mouth is actually going to deliver gas. And I do know a diver who once did a routine tank swap and got a mouth full of cave grot! Keep up the great videos, and safe diving!

[@JoshuaDircks]

Great video. You are correct, video is a great learning tool here. SM is good fun and I really enjoy.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

We love Sidemount as well Joshua Dircks.

[@la5150hi-lophoto]

Thanks for doing this video...just getting into side mount and wanted an idea of what's entailed for training. Damn fish photobombing:)

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video @la5150hi-lophoto.

[@HumbledExplorer]

Great video!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @HumbledExplorer, glad you liked the video.

[@donr3407]

Well done. You keep videos like this coming and we'll be friends a long time.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks don r, glad you liked the video.

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Been to Gray Quarry very nice place water was a bit cold in April.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Ivory Johnson, glad to here you enjoyed Gray Quarry. We travel up that way about once a week with divers. It does take it a while to warm up, but we enjoy the fact there is no thermocline.

[@DirtyRiverDiver]

i haven't tried side mount yet nice video

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video Dirty River Diver. Sidemount is definitely a must try.

[@jezuscristo489]

I want to learn how to sidemount, I believe it would boost a lot my diving, unfortunately in my country can't find that many centers that teach it.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @jezuscristo489, I would reach out to other areas and see if their is an Instructor who would be willing to travel to you for the training. This option may be expensive though.

[@pinnacledivingco]

Move the tank bands lower down on the tanks. Many problems sidemount divers get into with tanks flailing around or raising up is caused by a lack of tension on the tank and bungee holding the tank in place. It is the bolt snap on the bottom that is responsible for all of this, and placement should be lower to produce the right amount of tension to keep the tanks in place.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

This is definitely one option Pinnacle Diving Company PDC.

[@johndavid7783]

Nice job guys . My question is would it be better in your dad's configuration to have switched tanks since he was on double 36 inch hoses. Or is that more a technical sidemount skill ?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @johndavid7783, not sure what you are asking. Assuming you are asking between aluminum cylinders and steel cylinders, we dive both.

[@MysticalDragon73]

Do you feel that sidemount setup has benefits for a recreational diver? What about for new divers? I am watching and learning some tech stuff, though I dont plan on doing much of it if any. I dive gilboa in ohio and will likely be staying in the 40-50 foot areas mostly. Are the confined entry part of getting sidemount qualified? I got anxiety just watching that.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello MysticalDragon73, we prefer Sidemount over Backmount for many reasons. The comfort level, the ease of use, the streamlining of both you and your gear, the redundancy, and I can go on and on. This being said, there are con's to it as well. I will be heading down to Florida first thing in the morning with a group of Sidemount students, and two specifically are in there late 50's. They chose Sidemount to get the weight off their backs. I would suggest finding a local Sidemount Instructor close to you and see if they will let you try it in a pool. You may find that its not to your liking, or you may find that you really enjoy it.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

I’m looking to do side mount maybe next year? Would be cool to get certified with you guys.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Come on by robert harrison, we would be happy to train you.

[@arsenzhdanov1907]

What the pros and cons of vertical regulators?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hose Routing and Comfort are the two biggest pros. As far as cons, the availibilty of them.

[@niceguydmm]

Wow is that lake Hickory? Its clear.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello David Martin, this is actually Gray Quarry in Tennessee. I wished Lake Hickory had this type of clarity.

[@niceguydmm]

@@LakeHickoryScuba I thought it was clear for Hickory. Ever see big bluegills like that in Hickory?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

@@niceguydmm Typically, we see many different types of pan fish, including up to 2lb Shell Crackers, 10-40lb Catfish, and 4-5lb Large Mouth.

[@diveinstructordaniel1095]

I really want to try out Sidemount but I don’t want to split my D8,5 😅

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

I'm sure your local scuba shop can oblige you Dive instructor Daniel.

[@diveinstructordaniel1095]

@@LakeHickoryScuba that would be my shop :D but we don’t have sidemount gear or sidemount tanks for rent 😅 I’m gonna wait until next year, season is almost over.