UTD Side Mount configuration and setup 2022, DIR compatible Side Mount

[@Agranell]

In my oppinion this is the least DIR approach one can perform. DIR states some insight that are far more important (at least for me) than the "donate what you're breathing" rule. Those statements are: "do not create solutions for problems that do not exist", "do not try to solve training problems with gear solutions" and "KISS". IMHO, independent SM is perfectly fine adding just a step prior to gas sharing (which is an absolutelly impossible scenario in a SM only group): identify the regulator you're breathing from. This "solution" creates new problems and, ironically, does not solve SM main problem: the added workload due to gas supply management. Anyway, thanks for the video, I appreciate your work and I'm a big fan. Just not sharing UTD's approach on SM configuration. Keep up the good job.

[@DavidMcLean1]

As a "Senior Diver" with about 50 years of diving behind me, and having been on a long hose since 1991 (yes I was at Tek too) I find that this system answers the need I have to get the doubles off my back and to also provide me with a standard configuration I can dive with my younger friends diving twins and my buddy with the rebreather. We all follow very very similar procedures. I found that I could easily adapt to this system and drill differentials required minimal changes. I dive light "ski gloves" under dry gloves in the PNW, and I find the shutoff at the shoulder exceptionally convenient. I grab the entire group of hoses and slide my hand, rather than try a two finger approach, then visually check. Having everything in a visual position is helpful. I also want to express my appreciation to Jeff and team for their care and professionalism in bringing thoughtful innoviation around the DIR philosophy and sidemount The leadership within this space is appreciated. Sidemount has been around for some time, and there are clearly camps of thought out there. I like what is occurring in this camp. Bravo!

[@pinnacledivingco]

Sidemount is meant to be simple, customizable, adaptable, streamlined, independent, and easy to use. What is presented here entirely defeats the whole purpose of sidemount. 🤦🏼‍♂️ If you want the tanks to be connected, stick with back mounting doubles on a manifold. If your goal is the allow for donation of a long hose regardless of tank, just keep it stupid simple and put the same size long hose on both tanks. Done. Adding a manifold, and isolators, and the like isn’t even redundant for safety’s-sake, but instead, repetitive for no good reason, and worse, it not only increases the number of possible failure points, but it overcomplicates what would have otherwise been simple, safe, and redundant by itself.

[@Danwalters3]

What Ben presents here is an opportunity for DIR style inclined divers to dive in a mixed platform environment to accomplish a given goal. A team can consist of a back mount diver, a side mount diver and a rebreather diver, together as one unified team. UTD standardizes their response to equipment/air procedures so that there is no difference where you choose to carry your tanks, or for that matter dive open circuit or closed circuit. We all breathe off the single long hose, we all switch to the necklace backup in an emergency, we can all isolate system failures, donate back gas and donate deco gas. It has been said before that the greatest failure point of any dive system is human error. Human error can quickly compound equipment issues. Through standardized, cross platform response procedures and DIR stylized team diving approach, it's an opportunity to reduce the likelihood of human error when Mr. Murphy arrives. There is no need to learn different response procedures for each diving discipline as a team member. No need to un-learn a procedure you had dialed before. It is not intended to replace any style or any of the numerous variations of sidemount diving which have been developed, but simply an opportunity for sidemount divers who choose to unite under a “DIR style team equipment approach”, with the opportunity for mixed teams, be they open circuit support divers supporting a team of closed circuit systems, or any combination of goal oriented equipment. In that way it keeps things simple, adaptable, streamlined, standardized and easy to use.

[@sciencediver]

For me, this is overthinking. Complicating things beyond what should be a simple and reliable system. The valves adds more risk than benefits in this case. Anyhow, it's good that people still experiment with things as the old generation did and some still do. Although I'm not a DIR diver, I'm a proponent of Hogarthian's approach to diving.

[@VladAdamenko]

Correct me, if I'm wrong, but there will be always inequalities in IP coming from first stages. Even in ideally tweaked case, one stage will be a bit deeper then other. That mean only one stage will actually work. This will create imbalance in tank pressure and you will be forced to close one of valves at some point if you don't want one tank to be completely empty. Which doesn't sound like safe thing to do. Also, for cold water diving, this will put all of the load on one regulator rising probability of free flow. Which mean, for any cold water dive you want regulators to be isolated all the times, so in case of unfortunate case of gas-sharing you can guarantee that load will be spread across two first stages. The last thing you want is to cause another emergency, while dealing with emergency. But that essentially defeat whole point of this setup and bring us to classical sidemount without extra fail-points.

[@benbos1925]

Hi Vlad, thanks for your interest. Yes you are correct. That is why during our SM classes you learn to manage the pressure in the cylinders if you dive with 2 cylinders. But in case of cold water in a traditional BM setup you only use the right post 90% of the time all the time. And in case of overuse its hardly ever the first stage that will freeze up but the second stage. All systems have pro's and con's in the end its just about what you choose to dive with is your choice of course. Many divers choose this way because of the many benefits, like always being able to share gas from the reg your are breathing from and with gas switching you also stay on the long hose. etc. But hey if its not for you, its not for you :-)

[@VladAdamenko]

@@benbos1925 Hi Ben, Thank you for your reply. We have a mixed team divers in a group, where it's not just different setups, but also different agencies. And as of today, different agencies has strong opinions on how to teach sidemount, which makes it hard to find common denominator. So far, there was three main styles: 1) 2 short hoses. ( non DIR ) 2) Long 2m hose and necklace. ( non DIR ) 3) 2 Long 1-1.5m hoses. ( DIR ) Then there was a Z-system, which was a variation of option 2 making it DIR complaint. While I'm totally agree that the system you've presented today is big step forward in many way and it IS a solution for option 2 and it's safer then option 1, I still don't understand why many instructors ( including UTD ), totally ignores existence of option 3? So, in your opinion, what's wrong with 2 long hoses?

[@benbos1925]

@@VladAdamenko It is an "OK" config, but adds a lot of complexity in getting in and out of the water with all these hoses having to be put in place. plus the inconsistency in air sharing scenarios. As well as you loose the flexibility for gas switches and stages that our system makes very easy by plugging in the gasses you need.

[@cadiveguy]

Which adapter should you order with the 3 way manifold block so that it connects with your QC-6 hose? I am assuming the SYM-ZF but the omiswivel site does not provide what this adapter will connect to. I believe you need an adapter that will have 9/16 -18 male end and a 3/8-24 female end but I'm not sure which of the adapters of the 3 will fit these specs.

[@benbos1925]

Its all explained in great detail in the course materials

[@Thrutch]

Would love to see it in the water!

[@Andrewtheexplorer]

Thank you for sharing! This setup looks very unique and I love the idea no need to keep switching 2nd stages every so often. Hope there's more info about this setup coming in the future!

[@benbos1925]

You can have a look at the online materials, see the link in the video description

[@ChillerFPV]

this is nuts, 50 failure points everywhere, to bulky, the purpose of completely isolated tanks left and right is gone, to much going on, this is absolutely not for caving. you don't want to switch regulator with sidemount?, stay with a double tank backmounted. IT's nice you try things out, but make things better, not worse.

[@evzl3589]

Hi Ben. Intersecting video. Do you have any instructors in Canada who can teach this system? Also, did you do any tests in near 0 C degrees conditions? How well do these new ports hold from free flowing and freezing? Thank you.

[@benbos1925]

Check out our complete instructor list here: utdscubadiving.com/instructor-search/ As for the cold. Yes the metal parts underwater are a great conductor to dicipate the cold and conduct it into the warmer water ( even though the water is cold )

[@brianlombardi710]

Which side mount harness do you dive with?

[@asecret900]

Great work guys, this just makes good sense. But its a real shame there is still no UTD presence here in Australia Ben :(

[@UTD_ScubaDiving]

well we are always looking :-)

[@Techt]

Too many points of failure IMAO. I'ts better to do a lot of s-drill training instead of overcomplicating the setup. Remember that in most cases you will not be donating the air but it will be brutally taken from you by a panicking buddy.

[@TheUlfhedinn]

Ben thanks for this video but could you post links or at least proper names of the items you are mentioning for searching purposes.

[@benbos1925]

Its all in the course materials :-)

[@michaelmesserschmidt6566]

is it possible to buy these “adapters”?

[@benbos1925]

Yes, in the materials you can find a complete list. and local dive centers will be able to get them for you. If you can't find them you can send me an email [e-mail] and I can help you out.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

This just defeats the purpose of sidemount…