Sidemount Specialty Diver Course PADI and DSAT Sidemount Scuba Diving Training Course Director Steve Martin

"A specialty that may change the way you dive forever" Back to Courses

If you have not yet read my page on why sidemount please do so before continuing this page.

Why do this course..?

Benefits for the recreational diver are;

This course acts as a great "intro to technical diving" course.
It is an easy start to diving with more than one cylinder.
It stays within recreational diving limits.
Only additional sidemounting skills are learn't, so no mask swims and other advanced tec skills are left for further technical courses (see course skills list below).
Also see benefits to the technical diver as some apply to the recreational diver.

Benefits for the technical diver are;

Enables access to dive sites that taking a backmounted twinset is either difficult or impossible.
Your cylinders are put on and taken off in water so no more straining your back and body.
A system that offers a "true" redundant and independent air source (without carrying additional cylinders).
Having the cylinders at your side enables betters trim and buoyancy control (than with a twinset).
Now means easy access to your cylinder valves should a problem arise (fixes the can not reach behind the head problem).
Same equipment is used during more advanced advanced technical training e.g. "wreck penetration" and cave diving in "restrictions".
Having this specialty enables you to take further training using sidemount equipment during any PADI TecRec technical courses.

Skills learn't during this course;

Don and doff their sidemount cylinders whilst in the water.
Conduct a buoyancy check at the surface.
Donor and receiver to an out of air diver.
Switch regulators to keep gas balanced in their independent cylinders.
Neutral buoyancy swimming using various finning techniques.
Valve shutdowns exercise combined with gas switches (safety drill).
Twin partial cylinder removal and swim neutrally buoyant.
Neutral swim with one cylinder removed (hand-held).
Simulate a regulator free flow and breathe from regulator using (valve fluttering).
Maintain the correct trim of the sidemount cylinders (especially when buoyant).
Sidemount bungee failure, replace with spare.

What will we do..?

Course duration - 3 days with 1 training dive & 3 open water dives

Day 1 - Classroom theory, equipment workshop and skills training dive (includes video demonstrations of skills)
Day 2 - Advanced classroom theory and skills open water dive 1 (no staged skills, just get used to SM equipment)
Day 3 - Open water dives x2 (various skills from training dive to be repeated during dives)

Please note: An extra day is recommended if you like either a more relaxed training program or just more time to develop and practice skills, with another day with can easily add in another training dive and an open water dive or more classroom time. All courses are performance based not based on time. On a 3 day schedule you will start at 8am till approx 6pm (9 hours training with 1 hours break), on a 4 day schedule we can do two evenings then two full days or 4 days with a more relaxed time frame 9am till 4pm (7 hours with 1 hour break). The schedule is flexible and can be customised before each course start.

What do I need to start and what's the cost..?

You need to be; PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent rating) and at least 18 years old with 25 logged dives

Cost... Due to my current schedule I am "on request" visiting many countries worldwide. I have a sidemount training proposal for overseas clients which can be emailed. This is really only available to dive centres; they would then schedule in approx 4 students for each course, there is also a course option for instructors wanting to teach this sidemount course. This way I deal directly with the dive centre and they pay me my training costs and expenses and they are responsible for charging you the customer.

If you are a single student looking to do this course, please drop me an email and maybe I can look at finding a dive centre close to you with others who also want to join in sidemount training. If you have any questions about the training or equipment needed, do not hesitate to contact me directly. If your a dive centre, please send me your website address and contact details.

What equipment do I require..?

Below is a list of the equipment you require for this course, I may be able to provide the equipment for you. If you have your own I can help you customise it to get the most from it and the course. The major piece you are unlikely to have is the Sidemount Harness and BCD system this can be provided for you during your course. Please visit my equipment page for details on the sidemount equipment available currently (see here).

Mask, Fins & Suitable Exposure Protection (snorkel optional)
2 Single Tanks
2 Primary Regulators and 1st Stages
1.5 to 2m long regulator hose (recommend Miflex)
Sidemount Harness & BCD (approved by instructor prior to the course)
Dive Tables, Depth Guage & Dive Timer (or Dive Computer)
Divers Tool or Knife
Slate with Pencil
Two Surface Signaling Devices (whistle & SMB or signal mirror)
Reel & SMB (if required by local regulations)
Compass
Multi Pouch Or Pocket
Redundancy Equipment (spare bungee, double ended bolt snap, cable ties and mouthpiece)

What can I do once certified and what to try next..?

Since you have read the why sidemount page you know that as long as you show your diving buddy the difference in your configuration to there's during your buddy check, then you can use this configuration during all of your future dives and possibly on your future specialty courses, as it the future instructor discretion to allow sidemount as they may not have even tried it themselves yet. If diving wearing twin cylinders and with backmount divers you must have your right cylinder hose on a long hose, so you easily donate in case of another diver in a low or out of air emergency.

All specialty courses you want to do with me can be done whilst wearing sidemount once you have done the initial sidemount course(s). See my other sidemount course options like the tec advanced sidemount wreck penetration course (courses list found here)