Principles For Success [repack] — Sidemount-

“Your principles are fear-based, Elias,” Daria said, showing him the Artery’s control room. A single, beautiful crystal tube pulsed with light. “If we build it perfectly, we don’t need a second.”

In cave or technical sidemount, you turn the dive at one-third of your gas. But for recreational success, use the . When your lowest tank pressure hits 2,000 PSI (starting from 3,000), you turn the dive. Why? Because you know you have a massive reserve. The diver who turns at 1,500 PSI on one tank and 2,500 on the other is inviting a stressful exit. Sidemount- Principles For Success

Access all valves and regulators within your direct line of sight. But for recreational success, use the

| Symptom | Probable Cause | Principle Violated | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | You roll onto your back | Tank bottoms are too far behind you | #3 (Leaning "L") or #2 (Harness too loose) | | Your feet sink | You are head-light; move weight to buttplate | #1 (Ghost Diver) or use heavier fins | | The tanks swing into your armpits | Chest D-rings too low or waist strap slipping | #2 (Harness Geometry) | | You can't find your valve | Tanks are mounted too horizontal | #3 (Leaning "L") | | You are exhausted after 30 min | Overweighted; fighting buoyancy | #1 (Poor weight check) | | You swap tanks and spin | Not managing asymmetric buoyancy | #6 (Breathing the shift) | Because you know you have a massive reserve

Sidemount diving has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Once the niche secret of cave explorers and technical wreck divers, it has now entered the mainstream recreational mainstream. Walk onto any dive boat from Florida to the Philippines, and you will likely see cylinders strapped to the sides of divers, not their backs.