Sidemount Diving

In less than two years Side Mount diving has become one of the fastest growing specialties in the Midwest. People are learning that is a lot of fun and not hard to dive sidemount. What is interesting is to be at the lake and see so many divers heading in the water with no bottles on. Or to be on a dive and pass divers dressed in sidemount equipment. Why are so many divers looking to dive sidemount? One reason is it will double your bottom time. The second reason, you can head to and from the water without the heavy bottles on, and that makes a lot of older divers and diver with back problems very happy. What is wonderful is Lake Michigan diving where you jump in the water with no bottle on and clip them to you. After you enjoy a good hour dive you come back to the boat clip the bottles to your accessory line and climb in without all the weight. Once on the boat you can bring one bottle back in at a time. A lot of the stores in the Midwest offer a try sidemount experience, and that is worth trying. Training is important so you get the basic knowledge down. You will need to purchase new equipment or may be able to configure your equipment out. Your instructor can help with that. During the class you learn how to plan sidemount dives and you will spend time in a pool and open water with balance and equipment handling skills.