What is Sidemount Scuba Diving?
Sidemount diving has become a popular choice for cave divers in Mexico due to its enhanced streamlining, redundancy, and flexibility in confined spaces. Whether you’re a recreational diver looking to transition to sidemount or a seasoned cave diver refining your gear, this guide will help you understand the best equipment, training options, and why sidemount is ideal for Mexico’s cenotes.
Why Sidemount Diving?
Sidemount diving allows you to carry tanks on your sides rather than on your back, providing better balance, buoyancy control, and accessibility. Here’s why it’s an excellent choice for diving in the cenotes of Mexico:
✅ Better Trim & Streamlining – Moving through caves and caverns is easier with a horizontal profile.
✅ Redundant Gas Supply – Essential for overhead environments where gas management is critical.
✅ Easier Equipment Handling – Tanks can be clipped on in the water, reducing strain on your back.
✅ Improved Safety & Redundancy – Individual regulators per tank provide backup in case of failure.
Best Sidemount Diving Equipment for Cave Diving in Mexico
Choosing the right sidemount gear is essential for comfort, performance, and safety in the overhead environment of the cenotes. Below is a breakdown of the best harnesses, regulators, and accessories for sidemount cave diving.
Sidemount Harnesses: RAZR vs. XDEEP vs. APEKS
Your harness is the foundation of your sidemount configuration, affecting comfort, streamlining, and adjustability.
| Feature | RAZR | XDEEP | APEKS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | Takes longer but provides a customized fit | Quick setup, easily adjustable | Similar to RAZR but slightly easier |
| Streamlining | Best for low-profile diving | Good but bulkier than RAZR | Decent but not as refined |
| Adjustability | Custom-fitted to individual divers | Ideal for training and rentals | Moderate adjustability |
| Comfort | Very comfortable after proper setup | Good comfort, easy to adjust | Decent but less refined |
| Ease of Use | Requires experience and tuning | Plug-and-play, beginner-friendly | More user-friendly than RAZR but less than XDEEP |
| Best For | Personalized setups, technical and cave divers | Training, rental use, recreational sidemount divers | Divers who like RAZR but want a different brand |
| Where to Buy | Direct through me | Available on Amazon | Some retailers, but less common |
🔗 Get the XDEEP Harness on Amazon
🔗 Buy the RAZR Harness Directly from Me
Best Sidemount Regulators: Why We Use APEKS
For sidemount diving, the Apeks Sidemount Regulator Set stands out due to its reliability, ease of breathing, and cold-water resistance. Apeks has long been a trusted name in technical diving, and their sidemount configuration is specifically designed to withstand harsh cave environments.
Key Features of Apeks Sidemount Regulators
✔ Designed for Redundancy – Two first stages ensure gas supply from both tanks.
✔ Balanced Diaphragm Design – Consistent breathing performance at all depths.
✔ Excellent Hose Routing – Clean and streamlined setup for sidemount diving.
✔ Cold Water Capable – Reliable even in thermoclines and colder cenotes.
🔗 Check out the Apeks Sidemount Regulators
Other Essential Sidemount Cave Diving Gear
A good sidemount setup isn’t just about the harness and regulators. Cave divers in Mexico need additional equipment for safety and efficiency. Here are some of our top recommendations:
1. Sidemount Diving Lights
In the dark tunnels of Mexico’s cenotes, a high-quality primary dive light is essential. Backup lights are also necessary in case of failure.
🔗 Best Cave Diving Lights
2. Fins for Cave Diving
Fins should be stiff, efficient, and provide good thrust without causing silting. We recommend jet fins or stiff paddle fins for sidemount divers.
🔗 Top Cave Diving Fins
3. Cave Diving Masks
Low-volume masks with good field of vision are best for cave diving.
🔗 Best Masks for Sidemount Diving
4. Wetsuits for Mexican Cenotes
While cenote temperatures are consistent around 24-26°C (75-79°F), prolonged cave dives can feel chilly. A 5mm wetsuit or a drysuit is recommended for longer dives.
🔗 Best Wetsuits for Cenote Diving
5. Cave Diving Line Markers & Reels
Navigation is crucial in overhead environments. Line markers and spools are standard safety tools for sidemount divers.
🔗 Best Line Markers & Reels for Cave Diving
6. Cave Diving Helmets
A helmet is optional but highly recommended for cave diving, especially in low-clearance areas.
🔗 Best Helmets for Cave Diving
How to Get Started with Sidemount Cave Diving in Mexico
If you’re interested in learning sidemount diving in Mexico, our courses cover everything from equipment setup to advanced cave diving techniques.
Sidemount Course – Learn the Basics
The PADI Sidemount Diver course is a great entry point for divers looking to transition from backmount to sidemount. This course teaches:
✔ Proper sidemount equipment setup
✔ Gas management for sidemount diving
✔ Buoyancy control and trim techniques
✔ Sidemount emergency procedures
🔗 Book Your Sidemount Course in Mexico
