The Principle: Tanks drive the dive. Keep them high and tight on the hip—level with your iliac crest, rotated back slightly so the valve sits in your armpit pit. This allows you to "scoop" the water with your chest, reduces drag by 30%, and prevents the tanks from acting like side-mounted parachutes when you frog kick.
Sidemount allows you to move your cylinders forward or backward along your torso. To maintain a flat profile, you must align your physical center of gravity with the center of buoyancy provided by the BCD bladder. Weight Distribution
A horizontal, "flat" trim is the hallmark of a skilled diver, and it is essential in sidemount. Sidemount- Principles For Success
What began as a niche tool for cave divers navigating tight restrictions has exploded into a mainstream configuration used by technical divers, wreck explorers, and even recreational divers. But here is the hard truth:
Hover in horizontal trim. Let go of your tanks completely. If you roll instantly, your hip weight is wrong. Success is the ability to hover neutrally without touching your cylinders. Your body position should hold the tanks in place, not your grip strength. The Principle: Tanks drive the dive
: Place lights, shears, and spools inside pockets rather than clipping them externally.
The primary advantage of sidemount is its low profile. Any dangling equipment defeats this purpose. Sidemount allows you to move your cylinders forward
As you breathe down your left tank, your left side becomes lighter. Success requires .
focus on developing a diver's ability to solve any underwater problem independently before assisting others. Sidemount: Principles For Success (eBook) - Buy Me a Coffee
This is the foundational kick for sidemount. It keeps your fins inline with your body shield, preventing silt from blowing up behind you and maximizing forward thrust.
: Use loop or independent bungees that keep the cylinder valves tucked tightly into your armpits.