Side mount setup and configuration for UK sump (cave) diving

A short video sharing my side-mount configuration for UK sump (cave diving) diving. Please note that this video covers my configuration for UK sump diving which is a very special environment. My configuration may not match the setup being taught by conventional agencies who operate in different environments. A key difference is a lack of a long second stage hose as in UK sump diving we are generally considered to be diving solo and the disadvantages of a long hose outweigh the benefits in my opinion.

[@ahmadalghamdi6145]

That's the beauty of SM configuration, capabilities to adapt "personal mods". Loved it

[@chriswhitlaw2251]

Great video Chris, not too many videos out there on sump diving kit so this is quite helpful. Perhaps you could do more of these styles of videos while everyone is at home with not much to do.

[@adammarston1891]

I really like your set up. It's helped me to overcome a few issues, I have had. Hose lengths And mounted carabiner makes life so much easier

[@klotehater]

Great video! Made my first sidemount dive yesterday. But I see that everything is a personal thing and my friend from far away was also very clear that I needed to test things what could be working for me.

[@REC-TEC-CCR]

Fantastic video, looks like a very comfortable set up.

[@sidemountpros]

Nice Chris... thanks for sharing and yes so many questions... I'll ping you and see if we can set up a chat.

[@dxtrsinned2455]

will be stealing some of your lines for my sidemount curriculum

[@ronniek.5553]

Dude carabiner clips why not bolt snaps? Cave diver

[@ELAMINHamid]

Man .. i have learned something new from you .. thank you very much .. can't wait to try it next weekend

[@neilhay2155]

Good video, You won't get me in a sump. But I side mount in open water, as I have lower back problems. Thanks for sharing.

[@cloudy187]

Can you do a video of your kit break down of what your are using for uk cave diving

[@Nemo-nm1ef]

Hi chris, been down on a bit of a rabbit hole with your content today. It’s awesome stuff and really interesting. I was wondering what the reasoning behind the full length hoses on the SPG is? I’ve noticed a lot of UK cave divers use that method. Forgive my ignorance as I don’t dive sidemount myself :) Thanks.

[@matthewwyjad]

I notice you wrap bungees around the tap rather than the post. Tell me about your experience with that.

[@johndavid7783]

Ok I kinda understand the how and why . My question is in case of put of are you just give them a complet tank . Rather than going with a longhose? Looks neat and functional.

[@olivierdelahaye3842]

Hi Chris, nice video. May I ask why you choose to have such long dry suit/ wing inflator hoses versus having short 20 cm directly from the regs?

[@ChrisJewellCaveDiver]

I like the flexibiliy the longer hoses give me. You can always make a long hose shorter by tucking it in but you cannot extend a short hose.

[@AndreiSCUBA]

Hello! Great video! I would second a question regarding length of SPG and inflator hoses - why so long? Our caves are also UK style and we start our journey to sump world. I really like your video, keep on doing educational stuff - there are no informational videos about sump diving at all.

[@ChrisJewellCaveDiver]

I like the flexibility the longer inflator hoses give me. You can always tuck a longer hose in but cannot extend a short hose. For the SPGs this way I can have the face of the gauge right at the top of my cylinder - not tucked away. Useful when carrying things which can make it hard to reach anything tucked away.

[@AndreiSCUBA]

@@ChrisJewellCaveDiver Thank you for reply! Your attitude makes sense.

[@jp5481]

@@ChrisJewellCaveDiver I just listened to the podcast you did with Steve Davis @speakingsidemountpodcast and then came here specifically to see your setup, and in particular the long SPG hoses. The setup I currently use, with 6"/15cm SPG hoses, the left side SPG in particular can be fiddly to see. I really like this idea, I may give it a go.

[@georg9967]

Hi @Chris Jewell , I was wondering if you run the standard Intermediate pressure on the DS4's or do you bump them up to 11 bars to suit the cyklons better?

[@ChrisJewellCaveDiver]

I run the standard IP on the DS4s

[@TheAMGReviewers]

how would you donate air to a buddy with regs clipped off with carabiners, i assume primary donate, but im interested to hear how you worked around the awkward faff i find carabiners to be

[@garikgarikovich2306]

Hi! Do you use this config only solo dive, because this config not intend for gas sharing!?

[@ChrisJewellCaveDiver]

Garik Garikovich almost all the diving I do is solo or at least independent where gas sharing would not be practical

[@nickbaldus]

What size bottles are those?

[@DirtWaterDivers]

Honestly I use stage bottle kits lol

[@lukeevans4693]

Don’t understand why divers use CLIMMBING carabeaners in kit, they are a failure point and not useful in anyway for diving, they snag, use a traditional boltsnap much more safe !

[@ChrisJewellCaveDiver]

Carabiners are ideal for the sort of cave diving (sump diving) I do. They are used extensively above water when underground so they are multi-purpose. Underwater carabiners are easy to open and manipulate with thick gloves and lighter than oversized cold water bolt snaps. Having used both bolt snaps and carabiners I feel well placed to judge both. Most people advocating bolt snaps have not tried carabiners and are often simply repeating what they've been told.

[@AndreiSCUBA]

@@ChrisJewellCaveDiver The only potential entanglement hazard I see (what is usually said by people, lets say) is mainly with the cave line. Do you address this issue in any way when using carabiners? Or usage of thin (~2mm) line is not practical in your environment which means there is no entanglement hazard? If not, what do you use then to navigate? I know - horses for courses, but whats the general idea/strategy? We occasionally used 12 mil thick climbing rope, cave line and other intermediate thickness ropes in our sumps (many do look like UK ones) but each line thickness had it's own downside. We lack experience to say anything for sure. I did use ideas from your video to assemble my own sump recon kit and so far am very happy with it. And I do find that carabiners are really much better in this role than boltsnaps.

[@logistictime7846]

is it cave diving in 2020, really?