Hollis SMS 100 Sidemount System

"There are probably a handful of things happening in the dive industry that we could peg as the latest and greatest idea or innovation… but surely the hottest trend right now has to be side mounted diving"Steve Lewis, SDI TDI.

 

Sidemount diving is simply configuring one or two cylinders on either side of your body, as opposed to backmounting. Tanks can be attached on or near the water, providing much less stress on the body. Regs and gauges are totally independent of each other, creating a fully redundant air supply, with the added advantage that the first stages are within full sight at the diver's side.

 

It is becoming a commonly held belief in the dive industry that sidemounts will become a more popular way of diving for all divers - from technical to open water - and will gradually replace backmounted twins. There are many advantages including accurate buoyancy control, and a streamlined set up for low lying environments and wreck diving, where the potential for line entanglement is much greater when using a backmounted system.

 

The innovation and evolution of Sidemount systems in recent years has helped bring sidemount diving into the mainstream. Systems are affordable and comfortable to wear, with many of the comforts of a traditional BCD. Sidemount instruction is now also becoming more accessible and easier to do.