Bill Rennaker's Sidemount Diving

Sidemount scuba is simply a well polished approach to gear configuration for cave diving in unusually tight conditions. It employs innovation and discipline to produce an arrangement of scuba unlike any the typical diver is accustomed to.

Sidemount Cave Diving is quickly gaining popularity as an alternate method of gas management. Instead of carrying a redundant primary air source on the back, Sidemount utilizes the versatility of the advanced cave diver to split the typical twin cylinders and relocate them under each arm. In doing so, the cave diver minimizes direct physical contact with the cave, and is able to proceed through unusually tight passages.

The low vertical profile of the cave diver's air supply allows the scuba cylinders to be easily manipulated, and carried in a less cumbersome manner. The absence of large scuba cylinders on the back helps to avoid damage to critical life support equipment from careless strikes to the cave ceiling.

Even in conditions that don't necessarily call for the specialization of Sidemount, a diver may choose to incorporate such techniques simply as an added means of cave conservation, advanced gas management or simple comfort.

The following is an illustration of a typical Sidemount rig, and required components:
.