Sidemount BCD | Scuba Gear Canada

Sidemount

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Buy sidemount scuba BCD systems in Canada — a configuration that positions your tanks at your sides rather than on your back. Originally developed for cave and wreck penetration diving where a back-mounted tank is too wide to fit through restrictions, sidemount has become popular with recreational divers for the streamlined profile, balanced weight distribution, and the redundancy of carrying two independent tanks. Available as complete sidemount systems and individual components from popular brands like Scuba Force.

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Scuba Force Black Devil Wing 32

Scuba Force

$599.00

Single tank wing for use with most standard backplate and harness setups. Features: Made with 1000 cordura outer shell and nylon inner bladder Donut style prevents air getting trapped in any area Standard power inflator on upper left hand...

4801

$599.00

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What to know about sidemount scuba diving

Why sidemount? The advantages over back-mounted tanks
With tanks mounted at your sides, your back is flat and unencumbered — you can pass through tighter restrictions than any back-mounted system allows. Underwater, the tanks sit along your body rather than above your centre of gravity, which many divers find results in better natural trim and balance. At the surface, you can put the tanks on after entering the water rather than carrying the full kit weight down a ladder or across rocks. Each tank has its own regulator, providing genuine gas redundancy — if one regulator fails, you switch to the other without surfacing.

Tank mounting — bungees, D-rings, and positioning
Sidemount tanks are attached at two points: a bungee cord at the top of the tank that clips to a D-ring on the harness chest area, and a bolt snap at the bottom of the tank that clips to a lower D-ring near the hip. Getting the tank to sit correctly — parallel to your body, valve at shoulder height — takes practice and some adjustment of bungee length and D-ring position. The Scuba Force sidemount systems include purpose-built sliding D-rings and adjustable attachment points to make this process more straightforward. Proper positioning is important for trim and to keep the tanks from swinging or dragging.

Sidemount harness and bladder
A sidemount BCD uses a slim, back-mounted bladder — unlike a wing and backplate which puts the bladder directly behind the tank. The slim profile allows the tanks to mount cleanly alongside the body without interference. The harness includes multiple D-rings for tank attachment and accessory mounting, shoulder adjustments, and a crotch strap to prevent the harness from riding up. A soft back pad provides comfort during surface intervals. The Scuba Force Blade system uses an integrated soft pad with built-in weight pockets, allowing you to carry ballast weight in the BCD itself rather than on a separate belt.

Is sidemount right for recreational divers?
Sidemount is no longer exclusively a technical or cave diving configuration. Recreational divers choose sidemount for the ergonomic advantages, the ability to carry more gas (two tanks instead of one), and the comfort of not bearing the full tank weight on your back during entry and exit. The setup is more complex than a jacket BCD — proper configuration takes instruction and practice — and sidemount is typically taught as a specialty course. If you are considering sidemount, we recommend taking the SDI Sidemount Diver course before investing in the equipment. We offer dive training at The Dive Outfitters.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need special training to dive sidemount?

Yes — sidemount configuration is significantly different from back-mounted diving and requires proper instruction. Tank mounting, buoyancy adjustment with two separate bladders (the BCD bladder plus drysuit if applicable), gas management between two cylinders, and regulator routing all need to be learned correctly. Most training agencies offer a Sidemount Diver specialty course. Attempting sidemount without training risks poor trim, equipment entanglement, and gas management errors. If you are interested in sidemount diving, contact us at The Dive Outfitters about sidemount training options.

What tanks are used for sidemount diving?

Sidemount divers typically use two smaller cylinders — most commonly aluminum 80s (AL80) or steel 85s — one on each side. The tanks must have a bottom bolt snap attachment point, either a tank boot with a D-ring or a wrap-around bungee and clip. Standard back-mounted tanks can often be adapted for sidemount use with the correct rigging. Using matched tanks (same size and material on each side) simplifies trim and gas management. Your instructor will cover tank selection and rigging as part of sidemount training.

What is the difference between sidemount and a wing and backplate?

Both are modular systems used by technical and advanced recreational divers, but they differ fundamentally in how tanks are carried. A wing and backplate mounts the tank on your back — the same position as any back-mounted BCD. A sidemount system mounts tanks alongside your body at hip level. The wing and backplate is the more common choice for recreational and most technical diving; sidemount is chosen when the diving environment requires a narrower profile (cave or wreck restrictions), when the diver prefers the ergonomic benefits of side-mounted tanks, or when two tanks of gas redundancy are desired without the complexity of a doubles manifold setup.

Can I convert my existing wing and backplate to sidemount?

Not directly — sidemount requires a purpose-built sidemount harness and bladder, not a standard wing and backplate. The tank attachment points, D-ring placements, and bladder shape are all specific to sidemount. However, some components such as backplates and webbing may be compatible with sidemount-specific wings and harnesses depending on the brand. If you are already diving a Scuba Force system, some components are compatible across their sidemount and back-mounted product lines. Contact us to discuss your existing setup and whether a sidemount conversion or a fresh sidemount system makes more sense for your situation More often, you can re-configure your regulator set for sidemount diving with a few changes.