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The Who’s Who of Sidemount

Published

1 year ago

June 16, 2023

InDEPTH

Patrick Widmann

Patrick is the co-owner of Protec Dive Centers in Mexico. A world class cave diver, instructor and explorer, Patrick is the inventor of the Stealth Sidemount System in collaboration with Piotr Czernik, CEO of XDEEP. In addition to numerous exploration projects in remote locations such as Madagascar, Patrick works at Protec Dive Centers to develop the next generation of cave instructors and explorers. He has recently become the Training Director for KISS Rebreathers and is heavily involved in the development of the KISS Sidewinder.

What is sidemount to you?

In short, sidemount is the way I dive. It started of as a pure tool for cave exploration but very soon after became my number one configuration no matter the environment or mission. The only exception was deeper cave diving, sub 50m/170ft where I would use back-mounted CCR technology, until May 2019 when I finally discovered the Kiss Sidewinder Rebreather.

The main problem in sidemount in my opinion is the lack of acceptance of other styles and methods. People spend too much time and energy arguing with each other on the internet about what cylinders or harnesses they use. I think people should do whatever makes them enjoy the sport as much as possible, as long as it’s done safely. Mutual respect for different styles and also understanding a bit where what comes from goes a long way I’d say.

Was there an epiphany moment for you with sidemount?

Throughout my long sidemount journey (started in 2005) there have been so many important moments, that it is hard to pick one. I’d say switching from homemade gear to something specifically designed to do the job was definitely a very defining moment. In my case, I switched to the X-Deep Stealth 2.0 which I designed together with the owner Piotr after a rather complicated first attempt with a different Polish equipment manufacturer. Especially how the Stealth changed teaching the course and turned it from being the most annoying class ever, into an incredibly stimulating and fun class. Before it took a massive amount off time to basically improvise a rig out of some old bits and pieces by cutting, burning and sawing them together to now suddenly being able to spend all this time in the water doing skills and drills.

Nowadays an experienced instructor can get a total beginner to feel super comfortable in a dedicated sidemount system within minutes of the first dive, something that before used to take several dives, and a lot of adjusting and readjusting of the homemade gear. Another mega highlight for sure was my first dive on the Kiss Sidewinder which was simply mind blowing. Feeling the same freedom of movement and weightlessness I was used to from diving open circuit sidemount, while now diving closed circuit but also having a buoyancy control and a stability and balance level that literally can’t be explained, but has to be experienced, was a truly life altering moment. . I never felt so much in tune with the underwater realm, and yes I know how corny that sounds.

What role does sidemount diving play in exploration?

For me, the main purpose of sidemount in exploration is first of all dealing with international travel: greatly reducing the amount of bags to carry and excess baggage I had to pay. Secondly, getting to the dive site: often getting to the starting point of an exploration dive involves a lot of hiking and transporting your equipment through difficult terrain, in my case be it the jungle of Mexico, the bush of Madagascar, dry cave sections in Brazil or the mountains of the Dominican Republic to name a few.

Of course also being able to pass through restricted areas in caves, being able to pass through very low ceiling areas or even to remove tanks and navigate through no mount restrictions where only the divers body can fit is a true advantage for a cave explorer, and of course it also greatly improves overall comfort and safety.

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