Often used in technical diving—1/3 for the way in, 1/3 for the way out, and 1/3 for emergencies.
To track your progress and evaluate your proficiency, use this core performance checklist during your training sessions: Focus Area Success Metric Maintain a flat, horizontal profile. Feet, hips, and shoulders remain completely level. Streamlining Eliminate dangling gear. Cylinders run perfectly parallel to your torso. Gas Management Maintain lateral balance. Pressure differential between tanks stays under 30 bar. Valves Ensure instant emergency access. Ability to shut down any valve within 5 seconds. Sidemount- Principles For Success
Your tank valves are the most exposed part of your rig. Every time you clip a tank on the surface, you are one drop away from cracking a neck O-ring. The principle here is . Pause for one second before applying tension to the bolt snap. Ensure the line isn't twisted. A twisted bungee will unclip itself at 80 feet—a terrifying experience. Often used in technical diving—1/3 for the way
Choose to succeed. Dive sidemount.
By following the principles and best practices outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to becoming a proficient sidemount diver. Happy diving! Streamlining Eliminate dangling gear