sidemount configuration

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Permalink Reply by George K. Watson on October 26, 2010 at 12:46pm

This is currently being heavily considered in the halls of UTD given the configuration's popularity.

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Permalink Reply by Don Chennavasin on October 26, 2010 at 3:48pm

Michael,

Let's have a discussion.

Why would or wouldn't a specific sidemount configuration be acceptable for diving with a UTD team?

-Don

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Permalink Reply by Michael Shell on October 26, 2010 at 5:00pm

Don,

I have no experience or training diving a sidemount configeration. I am interested in the configeration as a means to decrease the amount of weight carried on the back. My initial concerns when diving this configeration is gas management if one or more bottles become inoperational for any reason and for providing gas in an air sharing situation.

Michael

Don Chennavasin said:

Michael,

Let's have a discussion.

Why would or wouldn't a specific sidemount configuration be acceptable for diving with a UTD team?

-Don

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Ross on October 27, 2010 at 7:38am

The most recent UTD Standards and Procedures (http://www.unifiedteamdiving.com/page/standards-and-procedures) include an "Essentials of SIde Mount Diving" section. Reading this implies that UTD accepts the configuration and will teach it, but doesn't really address any details.

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Permalink Reply by Don Chennavasin on October 27, 2010 at 2:13pm

In previous S&P's, this was called Side Mount Protocols. What detail are you looking for? The S&P is to detail the courses offered.



Matthew Ross said:

The most recent UTD Standards and Procedures (http://www.unifiedteamdiving.com/page/standards-and-procedures) include an "Essentials of SIde Mount Diving" section. Reading this implies that UTD accepts the configuration and will teach it, but doesn't really address any details.

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Permalink Reply by Unified Team Diving on October 27, 2010 at 2:42pm

Members

It is truly difficult for UTD, and others for that matter, to fully navigate “Side Mount Configuration” and/or mindset. If one is truly rooted in the Hogarthian/DIR configuration, as we are, then one would understand some of the complications “Side Mount Configuration” poses when diving in a Mixed” team. As well as if you read and understand our “UTD Covenants”, which I have listed below, then of course one would also understand the departure of side mount diving mindset from our “Unified Team” concept. Keep in mind we hold a strong belief in the principle of a “Unified Team” which would then relate to many things, including gas management, equipment configuration, skill consistency, dealing with emergencies and so on, just to mention a few. So to answer the original question in this thread, which is does UTD support a Mixed Team of side mount and back mount diving? The answer would be “YES” as long as “the conditions” are met. These conditions would include, a reason to be Side Mounting over traditional Back Mounting, maintaining consistency within the team towards gas management, decompression and other planning issues, ensuring your side mount configuration allows for consistent emergency management within the team such as deploying the 7ft/2m long hose from your mouth, placement of the emergency necklace regulator that we are so familiar with from back mounting, and so on. I think you get the picture. So, the issue with many current “Side Mount Configurations” and philosophies is that is is “SOLO” and therefore the equipment configuration does not have to be consistent within a team or within previous training or experience. They consider it side mounting and not compatible. However in UTD we do see the possibility, of taking the advantages of side mounting configuration and combining them with the advantages of UTD/DIR/Hogatharian configuration and philosophy, ESPECIALLY if you have a reason to. In other words, if you have a need to do sidemounting diving, such as in a cave application or even recreational openwater diving application, then why not build a configuration that gives you the benefits of both worlds while maintaining the overall UTD Covenants.

10 Covenants of UTD


1. Unified Team Diving – The team is your backup – gas, equipment and brain.
2. The Thinking Team – No team member relies on another person or piece of equipment to make the “sole” decisions. No “trust me” dives.
3. Rock Bottom Gas Management – Every diver carries enough gas to bring two divers to the next available gas source, either the surface, a deco bottle, or stage bottle.
4. Standard Gas – Dive the desired PPO2 at the target average depth and keep the equivalent narcosis depth to 100’/30m or less. NO DEEP AIR.
5. Consistent Modular Equipment Configuration – An equipment configuration that is consistent, modular and scalable within the team for all types of diving and diving environments.
6. Minimalist Approach – Only take what you need for the dive.
7. Holistic – All components of the system are thought out, work together and have a solid reason behind their use and placement.
8. Streamlined and Accessible Equipment Configuration – All components can be stowed, yet are convenient to access.
9. Situational Awareness – Manage the environment, equipment and team, giving equal attention to each, never becoming fixated or inflexible. Head up, eyes open, and brain on.
10. The Proper Training and Experience for the Dive – Have the appropriate training to ensure consistent protocols and skills for the dive and understand the potential hazards. This will ensure the correct starting point to build experience.



I truly hope this helps explain our view and hopefully we will see some answers in the future.

Dive safe
Andrew

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