The Sidemount Diver specialty is the perfect course for any diver wishing to use this increasingly popular equipment configuration, either as a ‘stand-alone’ course within SDI or TDI or in conjunction with one of TDI’s other open circuit specialties. Learn how to safely utilize side-mounted primary cylinders as an alternative to the traditional back-mounted method.
This course takes students through the specific techniques, planning procedures and skills that set side-mounted cylinder diving apart from the traditional back-mounted method. During the course, I will take students on a minimum of three dives and covers skills such as:
- Equipment considerations
- Gas management
- Attaching cylinders
- Trim and buoyancy
- Deployment of surface marker
- Different water entries
Course Structure
Prerequisite: OWD
Duration: 2 days, 2 (SDI) or 3 (TDI) dives
The maximum depth limit of this course must not exceed that of the student’s current certification, unless being taught in conjunction with another TDI course which allows a greater depth.
I strongly recommend that the student has his own equipment. I can give introductions to Sidemount on site, but many systems need to be fine-tuned, which you would lose on a loaner. I teach on all systems, of course, but I dive the Razor myself and recommend this too.
Please order your Razor Sidemount Harness from me in advance. It is then ready when the course starts.