Last weekend I started sidemount training. I was highly resistant to the idea of sidemount for a long time, but have decided that it is at least a skill I want to learn. The first day was classroom stuff and gear configuration, then we did 2 days of diving in open water at Troy Springs. Due to scheduling issues, I have to do this training in spread out intervals, but it is off to a good start.
The first day of diving sidemount was 2022-07-02. I did not like it, even though apparently I was in trim.
The second day, James made a couple equipment adjustments and added 4 lbs. more weight and I felt better. He loosened the tank bungees slightly, lengthened the crotch strap a little and lengthened the wing bungee around the waist a little. The tank bungees made a huge difference and it was much easier to read my pressure gauges this way. I was significantly more comfortable. Trying to kick with a modified frog kick instead of a traditional frog kick felt weird and made it apparent how the injury I sustained from breaking my left ankle skydiving affects my kick. I’m not sure if this is fixable but I will have to be more aware of it and try. I went through a hole in the rocks a few times over and over until it felt better to me to do so. The first time I went through a duck under I had to remind myself that I was gonna fit. It was very odd. The weight was good this time but at the end of the dive, with about 1600 psi, I was slightly head down. Next time we will do 6-4-4-2 instead of 4-4-4-4 (16 lbs. total) for aluminum 80s with C4 insulation.
I guess I could say that I enjoyed it a little on the second day of diving.
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