Sidemount from Charter Boats

[Neil]

Which charters did you use for sidemount diving? Did they have any concerns, and were their boats set up well for it?

[Tom Falardeau]

You might as well save your breath and talk directly to Jim. I think he's the only one on this board who has ever done the charter thing with sidemount.

[JimC]

And only off a boat not listed above. A boat with no schedule and very laid back that doesn't care if I take up all the space in the world. I think now that I have my 'stuff' together I could get in the water quickly, but you still need room. The boat I used had a large, water level platform on the back that I just keeled down on, clipped tanks and rolled sideways. Its also got a large stair like ladder on it, so easy to get out of the water.

I am not so sure I'd want to do it off a normal boat, with normal entry and exit options. Sea'n'Sky operators sidemount them selves, so they might be more willing to accommodate you. IMHO the thing to look for for a sidemount friendly charter op is a big, water level platform at the back and no rushing to hit a schedule. I would avoid narrow or elevated rail entries and skinny ladder exits.

[MikeP]

Dove off "the little Diver " last night
Had a wonderful hour drift


I don't see any issues with charter diving, I put neck clips on till I was in the water then took them off until I was getting back on.
I actually found it alot easier and way less cumbersome than Backmount diving my 130s off the same boat.

[JimC]

Thats the boat I dove off of. The platform at the back is real nice for gearing up. I don't see a big problem going sideways though a railing, but some of the boat ladders I have seen would be very difficult to use. Skinny ladder with railings and then a narrow entry back onto the boat. But then, you could use a gear line if you had to, so there are ways around everything. Then its just up to the patience of the capt. Which is why I like Ron so much - no rush, do you're own thing on you're own time.

[Tom Falardeau]

Dove off "the little Diver " last night
Had a wonderful hour drift


I don't see any issues with charter diving, I put neck clips on till I was in the water then took them off until I was getting back on.
I actually found it alot easier and way less cumbersome than Backmount diving my 130s off the same boat.


You don't even need to bother taking the neck clips off once you're in the water.

Having dove off Sea N' Sky's boat on Sunday, I'd say it was good for sidemount due to platform & ladder. Just not sure how much space you'd have if it were loaded.

[flyboy]

I think I'll try the Ron thing one of these Wednesdays again. the water must be about warm enough for a 3mm.

[Dale]

I think I'll try the Ron thing one of these Wednesdays again. the water must be about warm enough for a 3mm.

JimC's been using a 3mm for a few weeks now, =).

I still like the 7mm...with a hood...MUST have the hood. =)

[Tom Falardeau]

Just a warning to the brethren of the Ottawa River.... it was 68F today, and dropping. Summer has peaked in Cave Country North. I was shivering in my thin 4th Element undies after a 75 minute dive today, where I was fat and happy 12 days ago.

[Neil]

I'm going to try sidemounting from the Helen C (ABUCS) in brockville this Sunday, I'll post how that goes.

[Neil]

I dove from that other boat today that's used by the seaway valley divers and the space in the railing to get on and off the ladder was so narrow that I couldn't do a giant stride. I used the floor area to get the tanks on after most of the other divers had gone in then put one foot out at a time and fell sideways into the water. I guess it wasn't that bad but it was a bit out-of-control if something had gotten caught on the railing.

[JimC]

I told you narrow entries are a problem. :)

[Neil]

I told you narrow entries are a problem. :)

You did! Tom did in his post too! I thought the charter was on Ron's boat Little Diver but had a surprise when I showed up

[Neil]

I dove from the Helen C today and it was great for sidemount. The captain knew of other people who dove sidemount, which was nice. Also there is a lot of deck space at the front and port side of the boat where you can get the tanks on. And you can just do a side entry off the front or side when ready. It was so easy.

And getting back on was even better. The submerged platform below their latter was easily wide enough and I just handed my fins and mask up and walked up the ladder easily onto the boat and to my seat, where the large benches were big enough to get the tanks off while sitting down.

Next time I might try putting the tanks on at my seat.. it's a pretty wide bench so you could lay the tanks down flat on either side of you.

[MikeP]

Did a couple of dive on the Keystorm today, no problems on and off the Island Diver in SM.

Did a tour of the engine room on dive one, on the second dive I got into the chain locker and noticed a 15"X20" approx. manhole leading into the bottom holds of the bow.

Has anyone ever been past that manhole? I will attempt to Superman it next time

MikeP

[Neil]

\Did a tour of the engine room on dive one, on the second dive I got into the chain locker and noticed a 15"X20" approx. manhole leading into the bottom holds of the bow.


Is that the one where you can look through and see the long very narrow gash in the hull? (if yes, no, i didnt go in there, but its what made me finally order the Nomad ;) )

[MikeP]

That's the one.

I can't see too many people having been in it.
Look pretty virgin

[JimC]

Just going to put it out there, cuz I feel like I should. You're all adults, so ignore me and do whatever you want...

You're both new to sidemount. Take it slow. Real restrictions are advanced stuff. Taking off tanks is even more so. You have to be diving 110% when you start doing this kind of stuff. You're lines have to be perfect because 99% of the time you will be coming back on the line in zero vis. When it's that small, there are line traps everywhere - heck the whole thing is a line trap. Confidence has to be huge, margin for error is small and when it happens it takes a long time to get out with a level head. In short, its one of the least friendly things you can do on scuba.

You would be AMAZED at how big a 20 foot stretch of restricted stuff can get when you are in zero vis. Even on a well run line you are constantly keyholeing into impassable spots, back tracking and trying it a few inches sideways. Then of course, there is the old "Not big enough to turn around, now I have to backup 20 feet to where I think I can take off 1/2 my stuff and via contortions turn around - all in zero vis, all by feel." trick.

[Neil]

I have a question about what you said because I'm trying to understand it better. I don't want to disagree or argue, just get further clarification:


You would be AMAZED at how big a 20 foot stretch of restricted stuff can get when you are in zero vis. Even on a well run line you are constantly keyholeing into impassable spots, back tracking and trying it a few inches sideways. Then of course, there is the old "Not big enough to turn around, now I have to backup 20 feet to where I think I can take off 1/2 my stuff and via contortions turn around - all in zero vis, all by feel." trick.

A 20ft sidemount restrictions sounds extremely difficult to me,. But how does a hatch in a wreck compare? Would you say thats a 1inch or 2inch restriction (i.e. the thickness of the metal) or do you mean it some other way? Does the distance really matter in this case?

[JimC]

It depends on a lot of factors and each situation needs to be analyzed. In this case I'd be prepared for the small hatch opening into a small area filled with silt. I'd expect zero vis on the exit and very low vis inside. I'd expect to have a lot of difficulty negotiating the exit and plan a large amount of time to get though it. I'd also spend a lot of time ensuring my line was run perfectly. This may take more than one dive to accomplish since setting a line well in a small area usually kills the vis. I haven't been on the Keystorm in over 2 years, my memory is much to fuzzy too remember the specifics of this particular hatch.. so beyond a general warning that this stuff is advanced and try to pace you're excitement with you're experience.. theres not a lot more I can say.

[MikeP]

There is ample room to unclip and swing the tanks around in the first hold before the manhole. I had to swing a tank around to get my hips in from the bow. Past the restriction, it"s pretty cavernous, kinda looks like the inside of the Daryaw.

Its about 10ft in to the manhole from the bow. It did get pretty crappy, I sort of looked like Halley's Comet coming back out.

We need to do a few more dives on the wreck before attempting this, so your comments/concerns do not fall on deaf ears.

MikeP

[Neil]

There is ample room to unclip and swing the tanks around in the first hold before the manhole. I had to swing a tank around to get my hips in from the bow. Past the restriction, it"s pretty cavernous, kinda looks like the inside of the Daryaw.

Its about 10ft in to the manhole from the bow. It did get pretty crappy, I sort of looked like Halley's Comet coming back out.

We need to do a few more dives on the wreck before attempting this, so your comments/concerns do not fall on deaf ears.

MikeP

Will you have to swing both tanks in front of you to get through? I don't find it risky or difficult to swing one tank ahead, but two looks scary :)

[MikeP]

Definately both tanks

[JimC]

Swinging 2 tanks in front of you doesn't accomplish much. You'll probably have to remove one completely and tow it in if it is that small.