Side Mount diving. (NHZ)

[LCF]

I think, to an extent, how much of a nuisance carrying the single tanks is depends on how you can carry them. I'm too short to carry an Al80 with a straight arm -- I have to bend and carry with my biceps. And I can't put them up on my shoulder, because I've had two collarbone fractures and I have a plate in one of them. So there just isn't any good way to carry them, except with one hand on the valve and the other on the bottom of the tank, which doesn't leave me with any hands to hold the handrails or anything else to stabilize myself, when going up and down the uneven and sometimes unreliable stairs in MX.

Rob Neto, who dives sidemount in the Mill Pond caves, puts his tanks on a dolly and wheels them to the water's edge. If I could do that where I dive, it would make the whole thing much more attractive.

[CaptnJack]

Lynne, you should look into a frameless backpack for MX. Use it as a carry-on on the plane then to carry tanks one at a time from car to water's edge leaving both hands free for the railings etc.

[Nwbrewer]

Lynne, you should look into a frameless backpack for MX. Use it as a carry-on on the plane then to carry tanks one at a time from car to water's edge leaving both hands free for the railings etc.

Why not just a take a cam strap for your BP? Strap on the stage, then take it down, come back up and do the next one. When you're done put the wing and doubles back on.

[CaptnJack]

At a certain basic level, if you can't carry your own crap to the water its a sign the dive might be a bit much for you. I am on the fence about this very issue myself, since it seems to take about 3 or more support cavers per diver for Canadian cave dives.

[Nwbrewer]

I am on the fence about this very issue myself, since it seems to take about 3 or more support cavers per diver for Canadian cave dives.

Now I see why you were asking when I was going to get cave trained, you need sherpas!

[CaptnJack]

I am on the fence about this very issue myself, since it seems to take about 3 or more support cavers per diver for Canadian cave dives.

Now I see why you were asking when I was going to get cave trained, you need sherpas!

I do, but hiker crawler sherpas who have no diving aspirations are actually less uppity tank slaves than fellow divers...

Just having 2 smaller tank packages still isn't enough to make it "easy" (just a variant on Lynne issue of walking with a tank in her arms)

[spatman]

Rob Neto, who dives sidemount in the Mill Pond caves, puts his tanks on a dolly and wheels them to the water's edge. If I could do that where I dive, it would make the whole thing much more attractive.

I use a crappy collapsible hand truck to transport my tanks as close to the water as possible. when this one finally breaks, i may spring for one with bigger inflatable tires to handle rocks and sand.

[ljjames]

I've been using an Adventure Cart with the all terrain wheels as of late... i can get a set of dubs and a couple of singles on it in one trip. Its pretty stable on driveway rocks and grass and I do not feel like it will ever break (which means i'm stuck with it for a while)... My only real complaint would be that its 24lbs but other than that I pretty much love it

I do covet the Sand Wheels for it

http://www.smartgearusa.com/

[CaptnJack]

Nice looking carts, love the big honking wheels. Wish they were a little narrower to fit on a trail.

[kdupreez]

This has been very informative, much appreciated !

Bob - I'd love to dive some, maybe we can get Spatty and RJack coordinated on one dive and you can all share your knowledge and tips

This weekend is kinda out, then a weekend off and then we have lake crescent.. darn it..

Bob, can you swim a mid-week evening dive?

[BASSMAN]

Slinging an 80 is about the closest I'll ever get to a side mount rig!