How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Company

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Harness

Sidemount diving has many advantages. You have two tanks with one regulator, a first stage, and SPG. It makes it safer and allows for little air-hogs such as myself to get more air. Sidemount is also very comfortable, as you can quickly put tanks on the water surface and there's no pressure on your back.

Sidemount cylinder mounting was developed for cave diving. They have been more popular in technical diving ever since. They are able to seperate the dual cylinders and mount them on either end of the diver's body. While this prevents the diver from breathing from one cylinder in case of a failure of the regulator, it allows them to have easier access to the valves. Sidemount diving provides a diver with a more horizontal profile but a smaller vertical one.

Demand Valve —

Sidemount divers usually use two tanks. However, it is possible to use one tank as a standard. I was also told that you can use one tank for deco diving.

Sidemount diving can be done by anyone who is an Open Water Diver. While it is essential to have good buoyancy and trim, you will be able setup and handle your equipment by yourself. Sidemount diving is a great way to expand your skills and knowledge in equipment setup.

How To Become A Scuba Equipment Technician

If you are not ready to dive locally, but wish to support your local dive center, you can complete eLearning courses and coursework close to home. You can then travel to complete your training dives. Ask your local PADI Dive Center for a referral.

At first, technical diving was not something that interested me. I can clearly recall chuckling to my self at the Tec divers I observed, and wondering why anyone would want to have more equipment under water. I love the feeling of freedom and closeness to nature that can envelope you in "the quiet world". Tom was a respected teacher who I felt it was important to share my experience in Tec courses with.

How To Become A Scuba Equipment Technician
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver On Youtube

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver On Youtube

This course will teach you how to set up and operate the equipment that you will use in your training as a cave diver or tech diver. This includes:

Although I don't know how to do this yet, I am happy to say that I am a Sidemount diver. It is my favorite way to dive and it has been 20 of my best dives!

Sidemount Configuration

You are interested in becoming Sidemount Diver? This article will provide all the information you need about what it takes to become a Sidemount diver.

Sidemount Diver was by far the most challenging course I have ever taken. However, my instructor Fiona at Big Blue Tech (a trusted dive center) and Big Blue Tech (my instructor) included a lot of skills and dives in my course. We made sure to keep my task load manageable and practiced many skills including tank removal underwater, mask and tank replacement, out of the air drills, and many others while trying to stay in top trim.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Silhouette
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Silhouette

Sidemount cylinder mounting was originally developed for cave diving, and has become more common in technical diving. The sidemount cylinder mounting allows you to separate the dual cylinders with one stage per cylinder and mount them on either the left or right side of your body. Although this doesn't allow for the diver to breath from any cylinder in the case of a regulator malfunction, it does make it easier to access valves. Sidemount diving allows the diver to have a wider horizontal profile but a narrower vertical one.

Certificate cards: These are issued only to those who have earned them. Certification is not guaranteed by simply taking part in a course. Multiple training agencies might offer certification cards for cave courses. C-cards usually cost about $30, depending on which agency you choose. Talk to your instructor for details.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Technical diving (also known as tec diving or tech diving) is non-professional scuba diving that exceeds the agency-specified limits of recreational diving.

2-3 hours
Even with small cylinders, you can usually dive for 2-3 hours (rebreathers typically have two 2/3l cylinders or one 3/5l cylinder).

5-6 days
Rebreather training classes are typically 5-6 days long, but can be longer depending on a variety of factors such as the training agency, your local conditions, your instructor, and your ability to meet the class standards.