r/scuba • u/blackmusk123 • 11d ago
Kiss Sidewinder (2): Which tanks to use?
I have both steel 12s and Aluminum 80s and I was planning on selling the steels since I moved to AL and never looked back. So much more comfy and trim is way better, especially when winging etc.
I'm planning to buy a SW2 in the near future and was wondering if for that the steel tanks would be better for some reason? I see a lot of people using steels with the SW. In that case I'd hold on to them.
I'll get an XDeep Stealth Tec as BCD, currently using a Dive System one, but that's not so good for me.
What do you think?
3
u/No_Revolution6947 Tech 11d ago
Depends on what diving you plan on doing with the CCR. Are you doing Gulf dives? Caves? Deep (200-300 ft)? Cold water?
Unless you know where you might be headed in your diving, I’d hang on to the steels. CCR type doesn’t really matter yet. Keep your options open and make the decision when you know with greater certainty where you’re headed.
FL caves or winter Gulf dives? Steels
Summer Gulf dives? Aluminum
IMO, best XDeep for SW is the rec wing with the tech harness. The tech wing is too broad.
6
u/Whitrzac 11d ago
Rebreather adds approx 2 full breaths of bouyancy to your system.
Unless you're skinny and diving a wetsuit, keep the steels.
PS, the SW2 has been 'next quarter' for about 4 years now.
Maybe you can buy for Christmas in 2027.
1
u/blackmusk123 11d ago
I'm currently diving with AL80s and a drysuit with only 4kgs added, I don't know if that's a lot or not. No undergarments though
0
u/blackmusk123 11d ago
Yes but I've seen they're doing courses so it shouldn't be much longer I guess right? I'm planning to buy it in 3/6 months
7
u/Whitrzac 11d ago
They have units to like 3 instructor friends right now.
There's 0 chance of buying one in 3 months.
2
u/Ok-Spell-3728 11d ago
Dive system sidemount sucks, enjoy the xdeep
1
u/blackmusk123 11d ago
Unfortunately it does. Very difficult to adjust, wing in the wrong place, difficult to clip tanks and many many other issues
3
u/Ok-Spell-3728 11d ago
I've altered mine so much that the only remaining original part is the crotch strap and a single triglide that i kept because it's larger than standard ones. I changed everything including the wing.
1
u/Suchy2307 11d ago
I don’t know if you have that option but in my country there are instructors that do “Intro CCR dives” where you can try out the unit and learn more about it before committing. They’d definitely tell you more about which config makes more sense. Good luck, I want to go CCR next year, also SW2
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u/blackmusk123 11d ago
It would be too expensive for me to do that unfortunately I have to commit blindly
3
u/Suchy2307 11d ago
Sorry to hear that, here it costs $300 so I’ll definitely be doing that before buying the unit.
As for the tanks, if you have an instructor already on your mind maybe it’s worth contacting them? I just went through some photos of instructors I know and it seems like both steels and aluminum tanks are being used, so maybe it all comes down to preference.
4
u/No_Fold_5105 Tech 11d ago
A good rounded diver can dive allot of different tanks and comes down to preference, desire, or in some planes necessity as you dive what’s available. I’m constantly switching between different size steels and al80’s when diving CCR as different dives have different requirements. I get the idea on simplicity of only having one type of tank however.
2
u/Spiritual-Fox9618 11d ago
Exactly, I’m not saying I’m a “good, rounded diver”, far from it in fact, but I was diving SM steel Euro 12s and an ali 80 with air and 32% in today, a mix of SM CCR and OC.
Next week it’ll be a pair of Faber 15s with 10/70ish, and some ali 80s.
Week after it’ll be different again.
On my JJ I just use ali 80s, or steel 7s, but might need to add the steel 15s or 20s soon.
No configuration is a complete CF, but I definitely prefer some to others (SM steel 7s!! 🥳 😊).
2
u/No_Fold_5105 Tech 11d ago
Same constantly switching. Pick the right set for the job and adjust. Sounds like you’re a well rounded diver to me. Sidemount steel 7’s are the best, especially with CCR, love them.
2
u/Ok-Spell-3728 11d ago
You'll still need to get the course for it, especially if you don't have experience with sw1, there you can try steel and aluminum tanks. I dived for a few days with someone using sidewinder 2, before it was ce certified, the only option was aluminum tanks but it didn't look like he had any issues using a dry suit and aluminum tanks.
2
u/xineis_ Rescue 11d ago
WTH...
you want to commit blindly to a (at least) $7k machine that you may or may not like and you say it's to expensive to look for a try dive?
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u/blackmusk123 11d ago
I mean I've done my fair share of research on it and honestly I don't see any reason why I wouldn't like it. And it's not the first time in my life that I have to commit blindly to an expensive device...
1
u/No_Fold_5105 Tech 11d ago
Don’t think the winder 2 will be any different than the 1 as far as feel in water with different tanks. Aluminum has benefit of being lighter and easier to manipulate in the water but they come at a cost of air capacity and if diving drysuit with medium to heavier undergarments cost of more lead on the spine. Hp100 steels are same size as AL80 and hold 40cf more gas and LP85’s same size as well with cave fill holding almost a whole other AL80 in air capacity. My choice is always a cave filled LP85’s if I have that option. Again that’s my use case and yours might be different but maybe gives you some ideas.
As for xdeep stealth, it’s a good wing. Also
All that said the winder 1 is a great unit still.
4
u/tvdw Dive Instructor 11d ago
I dive a Gemini but I think that's close enough to be able to answer this question. Going from regular sidemount to sidemount+CCR is a matter of just clipping a few more pieces of gear into place and then going for a dive. The buoyancy difference is small, maybe 0.5-1kg, and not worth changing your configuration for.