Sidemount Cave Diving Training

     I have the Dive Rite Expedition Nomad harness and BCD system along with the improved Armadillo harness and BCD side mount system available for side mount cave diving training.  These harness/BCD systems are two most popular pieces of equipment used for side mount cave diving.  The advantage is the student has the opportunity to try and use both pieces of equipment to determine what can work best for you and compare the differences.

     The purpose for the side mount specialty course is to introduce the available equipment used for side mount cave diving. The course also helps you determine and experiment with the best locations for weighting and placement of all your equipment.  To further expand the skills wearing single tanks under your arms along your side.

     Side mount cave diving allows you the convenience of accessing to difficult cave locations and challenging entrances.  There are a growing number of cave divers switching to side mount harness and BCD’s because of physical limitations such as back problems and the tremendous weight of double tanks.  In addition, the smaller profile of side mount allows more access to smaller areas of cave that gives better opportunity to see and enjoy more of the underwater cave.

     There are several advantages with the side mount approach to cave diving.

     The most obvious is the convenience to the water without carrying the weight of double tanks on your back.  For safety, it allows two totally independent gas sources and for solo cave diving is really the best and only approach.  With a lower dive profile, this equipment configuration potentially creates less contact with the cave thus protecting the cave.  It allows the ability to gain access to smaller passages of any given cave.  

     For managing gas/air quantities the monitoring of independent gas supplies requires you to maintain an acceptable gas quantity balance in each cylinder.  The less difference in gas quantities between cylinders the better, however minimal regulator switching is also preferred.

     Breathing ½ of a third (if dive is planned on thirds) of the first cylinder, switch, breath ½ of that third, (or sixths) switch back to the starting cylinder and breathe the final third. Make the last switch to the second bottle; breathe that final third, turn and exit.

     The best selection of type of valves is DIN outlets, opposing valves. This allows access to each knob.  Sometimes, these options are not available in parts of the world.

     There are problems encountered with diving aluminum 80 cubic feet cylinders.

     The tanks will exhibit positive buoyancy characteristics, especially towards the end of the dive as the pressure drops.  The bottoms of aluminum 80’s float, and can create stress when backing up in a small cave passage. However, aluminum 80 cubic foot cylinders are by far the most popular to use for side mount cave diving.

     The ideal length of the regulator hose can be of any length if stowed properly, however, 28” – 32” is the most acceptable for the side mount cave diver.  In regards with the positioning of the BCD inflator, the oral hose should be short enough to insure the cave diver can successfully exhaust (dump) gas from the BCD cell, while in a completely horizontal position, such as a tight passage.  Vertical relief is not always available for the side mount cave diver.  Dump valves need to operate with the cave diver being horizontal.  The hose should be long enough to insure the cave diver can access the inflator orally.  The elbow attached directly to the BCD should not come into contact with the ceiling or be on the back of the air cell.  On both my Armadillo and the Dive Rite Nomad Expedition BCD’s, the positioning of the inflator hose begins from the bottom of the BCD instead of the top on the left side and threads its way along the side under the left arm protecting the equipment from being damage from the cave.  The dump valve is located on the top left shoulder.

     The methods of progression with negotiating small silty passages are low limb movement and slow progression.  The fingers or hands can be placed on the ceiling above the head.  Pushing with the feet on the ceiling is a choice of technique.  Finger walking is another option.  Hands can be placed on the wall to pull and glide.

     There are several tasks added to the side mount cave diver.  They include gas management, balancing cylinder quantities, minimizing regulator switching and the potential manipulation of cylinders, in small restrictions (taking off a cylinder).

     If one tank becomes unusable during the dive into the cave the first step is to evaluate the useable gas in the working cylinder.  Verify gas (if any) in failed cylinder, for future consideration.  Switch to working cylinder, exit small passage, exit cave.

     When a cave passage is small and without projections to place the guideline there are methods of line placement.   ½” PVC stakes help to keep the guideline in place.  In small passages this may NOT be where the divers can swim, but may need to be in an area that is only accessible to the diver’s hands.

     There are problems encountered with side mount vs. back mount with gas sharing. Side mounted divers don’t usually possess long hoses, so the back mounted diver would be at a great disadvantage.  When diving with back mounted cave divers, a long hose is necessary on one of the single cylinders.

     If stuck and cannot move forward or backward the best thing is to relax and breathe.  Breathing control is the benchmark for everything else. Keep the breathing under control and you can get yourself out of most any incident.  Evaluate where you are, and how long it will take you to get out. Insure the BCD is completely empty of all air.  There is always room; you just have to find it sometimes.

     When a restriction is too narrow for both of your tanks remove the tank you are not breathing off of, leaving it attached at the top attachment, and push it ahead of you.

     When passing a restriction too narrow for either of your tanks remove both tanks, leaving them attached at the top attachment, and pushes them ahead of you.

     When passing an area too narrow but with a vertical profile simply convert your profile and swim sideways through the vertical restriction.

     A potential tank trap is an area in a small passage where the diver can pass, but not with both cylinders. Once the cylinder continues to be trap under a projection or low area the tank must then be removed.

     If an emergency situation evolves where sharing gas/air from another side mount cave diver while exiting on short hoses the donor lies on top of the back of the recipient, donating gas from the cylinder that is not in use by the donor.

     It is an important factor to configure with the diving cylinders in the placement of the second stage regulators.  It should be on the top or front of shoulders. It must be easy to access in low areas.  It cannot drag in the sediment.  Neck loops should not be used in side mount cave diving.

     An important factor is being able to remove and replace the primary light with ease during the dive.  Today most cave divers prefer using the very small canisters attached to the back of the BCD directly in the middle.  The new and improved LED light heads are becoming very popular to handle the rugged use.

     Carrying a spare mask is a critical factor as small side mount passages yield more contact, there is more of a chance of pulling off a mask, or being kicked in the face in small passages.

     The best attribute for good side mount cave diver is to have a healthy motivation for side mounting and technique.

     Is side mount cave diving simply a means to reach small areas of the cave?

     No, it is a style of diving.  It is a configuration that can be enjoyed and perfected, while never entering into small spaces.

SIDE MOUNT SPECIALTY COURSE DURATION:      3 DAYS.

COURSE FEE is:    $695.00

It includes side mount harness with BCD using both the Dive Rite Nomad Expedition or the Armadillo Side Mount Harness and BCD.  Transportation to the dive sites, dive site fees, all cylinders with the proper hardware rigging, weight and with EANx 32% gas to be used during the course, certification fee (NACD, PSAI, TDI or NAUI) and cooler with ice & water.  Any additional equipment needed is available.

If the student completes the course satisfactorily, they can continue diving with me on a guided dive rate as many days as preferred.