Testimonials PADI and DSAT Sidemount Scuba Diving Training Course Director Steve Martin

What we had to say about our training..?" Back to homepage

Tony Cooper

Tony Cooper - Sidemount Course, Capernwray, UK July 2010

Thank You Steve Martin

I first meet Steve back in 2005 I think... I watched how he progressed in his teaching, then a bit of time later I found his web site as a Course Director from there I went to Steve’s side mount course and website. The web site was very informative with lot's off pictures and videos. Steve is very informative and has lots off time for everyone to make sure they know where and what they need to know and takes time with answering all your questions.

So we started off with a classroom session to find more about side mounts and the course structure, this included doing some kit configuration; making are dive equipment more suitable for diving in sidemount.

It was then dive time at Capernwray UK, this is where you find more out about sidemount and what you can do with & in the equipment, in and out the water. For me side mount was about giving me a freedom in the water to move, I think the way we look at this is total freedom to move where and how we want with the least effort. I found it easier and better than in normal scuba or twin sets, also the configuration helped my trim enabling me to do more finning techniques.

It generally makes diving better and easy. I have more air. I have less drag. I save more energy. I can go places I couldn't before. It can be used in both recreational and technical diving, this I am sure will help me in both cave diving and advanced wreck penetration, which are the next areas I would like to get trained in.

I can’t recommend this training highly enough. I feel you prepared me very well for the course and the diving we did and how to carry on and further my new skills.. I NOW have the tools to go further.

Nigel Booth

Nigel Booth - Sidemount Course, Capernwray, UK July 2010

I first found out about sidemount from YouTube (check out the videos!)

I then found out from Steve Martin that he was running a course at Capernwray the following weekend. I had most of the kit (just separated my twin set and got a short HP hose oh and those boltsnaps, jubilee clips and bungee!).

Before the dives at the weekend we met for a theory session 4-8pm which was very well presented and which allowed us to bring to the course our own reasons for undertaking the course which were varied (a previous injury precluding the use of twinset, the want to maintain the safety aspect of twinset but needing to reduce the carry weight, just wanting to find out what it is all about and which way technical diving could potentially go within one of the students dive club).

The presentation of the theory was split up between such subjects as sidemount advantages/ disadvantages, skills, safety, equipment configuration and failure, dive planning, practical application and training dive; what followed then was an equipment workshop which looked at for example the significance of where those boltsnaps go!!!

With the relaxed but informative theory evening concluded we looked forward to the two days of diving at Capernwray the following weekend. Steve, having the small group that he did allowed us all to be met with where we were in relation to the new skills and our general diving ability - that 'trim thing' and those advanced finning techniques.

The skills that we needed to acquire weren't rushed into and didn't dictate the diving. We were given advice, coaching and recommendations on changes to our equipment configuration so that we could get the most out of diving sidemount; other than that we just enjoyed the liberation of diving sidemount.

I would recommend you sign up with Steve and reap the benefits learning this diving style from someone extremely experienced and competent in what he does!

Andy Holden

Andy Holden - Sidemount Course, Capernwray, UK July 2010

In October I broke my leg quite seriously, it's still not as strong as I would have hoped. I had been diving twinsets for the a couple of years and when I tried to pick one up recently found it too heavy for me. I thought my days of diving doubles was over!

I read an article in sport diver about sidemounting then fiddling on Google came to Steve's sidemount site and after reading for a couple of hours I thought well it looks like I can still dive doubles, a couple of emails and calls later and I was on the course!

The first afternoon and evening was the theory and kit fettling, we all had great fun taking things apart and putting it all together again in the new sidemount configuration.

Day 2 and 3 were at Capernwray, a first for me as I have only recently moved 'up north' we did a bit more sorting of kit and then into the water, what a revelation, the new configuration was an instant hit! I hadn't dived for a while but my buoyancy was spot on, trim was great and it seemed so much easier to move around in under water. Over the two days diving we learn't loads and progressed really quickly, by the last dive we were all looking really 'cool' doing helicopter turns and lying on our backs looking at the surface and being buzzed by huge brown trout, we even saw a large Sturgeon.

Steve was a fantastic instructor he has the knack of telling you what to do in such a way that you don't even realise hes instructing but it all clicks straight away, he makes you feel at ease instantly its almost like you've known him for ages.

I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for in life, Steve is the best diver I have ever met and I know a few! He uses the sidemount configuration himself and has done hundred of dives in it. I would recommend him as highly as I can, if you want to dive sidemount then he is your man. I would now like to do the extreme wreck sidemount course with Steve.

I know that I am a better diver after doing his course. Andy Holden

Savvas Katsaros

Savvas Katsaros - Advanced Wreck Sidemount Course, Greece April 2010

“Stephen Martin? A two-meter guy and he gets through manholes?... Ok, got it. Another joke!.. Who is that guy?!..” Well, thought of joking for starters, since learning from – or should I say with - Steve is above all pure fun and yes, he does make it through manholes!

Even since my first OW dive I was dreaming of ship wrecks, so eventually, I bumped into his site, and the nice surprises began! Enlightening comments, videos, equipment evaluation and more, inspired to me a sense of confidence that was proven correct, even beyond expectations. I wouldn’t like to exaggerate, but I think Steve has the gift of teaching -and I’m talking about the interactive relation between master and apprentice- in such an easy going manner that makes you not even think of drawing your eyes and ears off him.

Introducing us to the “brave new world” of side mount diving and wreck penetration, he transformed it into a joyful world where the sense of uninhibited movement was always present. Moreover and in spite of his young age he did cover an unexpectedly wide field of knowledge, thus leaving no blanks -an essential detail when preparing students for hazardous environments. The equipment and skill workshops became the “happy hour” of this, dry part of training. Encouraging fun and inventive creativity, led into some really good new ideas and in familiarizing with our gear and the team, getting the best out of it.

When we hit the water, I had a feeling of mobility I had never experienced in the classic back-mount. Diving in SM configuration was proven surprisingly simple and task-relieving, turning a training dive into a roller-coaster joyride! Loops, rolls, inverted flat spins …oops sorry! This one belongs to another world.

Looking at Steve “flowing” through water was as reassuring as his simple, explanatory words at surface. Even when we descended for the first penetration in the engine room, and I was hovering -completely numb- above the hatch, which seemed to me like the opened mouth of the beast (singing “…first I was afraid, I was petrified…” and thinking what in good God’s name was I, a forty-two year old fresh diver doing there) just glimpsing at his smile and a slight nod, was enough to sweep away the momentary fear and let me enter the “land” of awe and dreams.

Wherever in water or land, before, during or after the course, this stranger instructor I met – Stephen Martin- is a man willing to share his knowledge and experience. Willing to reveal “little secrets” and learn from you. To let you embed the limitations and expand your limits. The only thing I am sorry about is the language barrier, which kept us from having even more fun.

Thanks Steve. Glad, lucky and proud to be your student. Savvas Katsaros (DSAT Tec 50 Diver)

Nick Pearson

Nick Pearson - Open Water Sidemount Diver Course, Tasmania March 2010

After completing the PADI Deep Diver course, I felt that the equipment setup and techniques for deep diving with recreational gear, were not really designed for this type of diving. As I am working towards technical diving I wanted to channel my training and equipment towards a setup that would permit me to carry out both technical and recreational diving without major financial investment in new technical equipment.

When I heard about Steve 'Sidemount Steve' Martin and his training from my local instructor, I did a bit of research and decided to give Sidemount diving a go.

What I found has opened up a whole world of possibilities in diving! Steve's comprehensive instruction material and instructional techniques made the whole process very enjoyable. He firstly got us sorted with our equipment and all the necessary alterations required for a sidemount rig. The theory component is straight forward and since "there are no stupid questions" I am still asking them by email, well after the training has finished.

The in-water training is where it all comes together. Steve took the time with each student as an individual and made adjustments, tuned techniques, tested the skills, and reshaped the way I will dive forever. I still cant get over how much easier it is to control perfect buoyancy and breathing technique and hang vertically head down an inch off the bottom with no more effort than lying on the couch.

I cant recommend this training highly enough. It makes diving better. I have more air. I have less drag. I save more energy. I can go places I couldn't before. It can be used in both recreational and technical diving, so it saves you money.

If you are a certified advanced diver looking for something, but aren't quite sure what it is, then chances are it could be Sidemount! "Looking forward to some technical training with Steve next time he is back in Tassie!"

Nick Pearson - PADI Rescue/Deep/Sidemount Diver... "Sidemount the S#@t out of it"

Spyros Kollas

Spyros Kollas (DSAT Tec Trimix Instructor) - Sidemount Instructor Course, Greece April 2010.

In Greece we are able to dive anywhere we like since 2006. I am teaching all the range of PADI courses since then. My students were and still asking me for new things and dive experiences. I made trimix courses, rebreather courses, etc with several instructors like Mark Ellyatt, Pascal Bernabe and GUE course etc.

One day they asked my students started asking about cave courses, so I started looking for the suitable instructor and I fell on sidemount cave diving in the internet. It was the time I found Steve; he was a cave diver who was teaching sidemount courses in the open water environment. I began a conversation with him on facebook asking him for many things. This guy became my favorite. He was quick to respond to my questions and I had lots. When I told my guys about sidemount they became excited and where very enthusiastic to try something new. So that was it, I asked Steve to come in Greece.

From the first time he arrived in Athens, Greece I had the feeling that good things were about to happened. We started with the academics and I liked much the equipment configuration. I was waiting for the in water session. It was after the first day I said that i will never, never, never, never dive on backmount again. I noticed a big difference in my SAC rate and much more comfort in the water with the ability to do any move I like.

I was curious to see if it would be the same to our technical dives. We used three different BCD’s and many new things until we decided what we liked and worked the best for us.
We had so much fun, comfort and new things to deal with in the water. Only thing I didn’t like was when it was time to leave the water and return back to the dive centre :)

But back at the dive centre they became one of the most important parts, Steve or any student would shoot video of you while in the water, this was then used in the evening’s debrief session, this became a big highlight during the courses. We had so much laugh’s and funny comments!!! Unbelievable. We all had real - pure fun with this guy Steve Martin and the sidemount training. We were all ready to put into practice what we learn't and carn’t wait to get back into the water “wearing sidemount”

Many thanks Steve...