Sidemount- Principles For Success Jun 2026

Precise placement on the waist and shoulders is critical for keeping tanks pulled tight into your "armpits" for maximum streamlining. 2. Achieving Horizontal Trim

: Must be precisely positioned to keep cylinders tucked under the armpits rather than floating or sinking. Precision Weighting & Trim Sidemount- Principles For Success

The first principle of sidemount success is that Precise placement on the waist and shoulders is

| Symptom | Probable Cause | Principle Violated | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | You roll onto your back | Tank bottoms are too far behind you | #3 (Leaning "L") or #2 (Harness too loose) | | Your feet sink | You are head-light; move weight to buttplate | #1 (Ghost Diver) or use heavier fins | | The tanks swing into your armpits | Chest D-rings too low or waist strap slipping | #2 (Harness Geometry) | | You can't find your valve | Tanks are mounted too horizontal | #3 (Leaning "L") | | You are exhausted after 30 min | Overweighted; fighting buoyancy | #1 (Poor weight check) | | You swap tanks and spin | Not managing asymmetric buoyancy | #6 (Breathing the shift) | Precision Weighting & Trim The first principle of

Success in sidemount is rarely "out of the box." It requires meticulous fine-tuning. Buy Me a Coffee Bungee Systems

You must practice donating your long hose while maintaining control of your buoyancy. Since sidemount is often used in overhead environments, your "out of gas" drills must be muscle memory. Conclusion