As you breathe down your gas, your cylinders become lighter and more buoyant. Steel tanks become less negative, while aluminum tanks can become positively buoyant, causing the bottoms to float upward. You must understand how to compensate for this shift using your buoyancy compensator device (BCD) and proper clip positioning. 2. Cylinder Rigging and Alignment
A "head-down" or vertical orientation is the enemy. Focus on maintaining a flat, horizontal position where your knees are slightly bent and your body is perfectly balanced.
Sidemount was invented to get through restrictions (squeezes) that backmount divers couldn’t pass. However, a significant number of divers negate the benefits of sidemount by rigging their gear like a Christmas tree. The second core principle for success is the Sidemount- Principles For Success
Managing your breathing gas changes when using two independent cylinders. You must balance your tanks throughout the dive.
If a regulator free-flows, you can manually open and close the corresponding valve with each breath to preserve your gas. As you breathe down your gas, your cylinders
“What is that thing you bolted to my train?” she whispered.
Elias ran his hand over the tube. “The crystal is flawless. But the human who cleans it will drop a wrench. The rat that chews a wire doesn’t know it’s perfect. Principle One: balance before power. You have all power, no balance.” adjusting bungee lengths
The ultimate principle for sidemount success is . Every dive provides data on how the tanks sit, how the weight feels, and how easily a regulator can be deployed. Successful sidemount divers keep a log of gear adjustments, modifying bungee lengths, knot placements, and D-ring positions by millimeters until the equipment behaves as a natural extension of the body.
Success in sidemount diving is not merely a result of acquiring specialized equipment; it is earned through deliberate practice, precise adjustments, and patience. Initial dives should be dedicated entirely to refining trim, adjusting bungee lengths, and perfecting buoyancy control. When the configuration functions as a seamless extension of the body, the diver unlocks the freedom, comfort, and safety that the sidemount system is designed to provide.
A bolt snap connected to a tank band clips directly onto the harness waist strap or a dedicated butt-plate rail. Regulator Rigging