The Sidemount setup for diving is slightly different to the backmount setup, and the equipment is also slightly different.
Every PADI Specialty you complete is one step closer toward the Master Scuba Diver(tm); rating.
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver CarrierIt takes passion, experience, and training to become a technical dive instructor. Technical diving comes with additional risks, so it's not worth taking on if you don't have the right combination.
The advantages of Sidemount diving are an additional independent air source as you are diving with two tanks each with a first stage, SPG, and regulator. This makes it a lot safer and gives little air-hogs like myself a whole lot more air. I also found diving with Sidemount to be incredibly comfortable because you can easily don tanks on the surface and there is no pressure on your back.
In general Sidemount is more task loading for a diver as the pressure in each tank needs to be balanced in order to have enough gas for an out of air diver and to be balanced on each side.
Technical divers can explore wrecks and reefs down to depths of 40 meters/130 feet. They can dive in underwater caves or other areas that are not accessible to recreational divers.
You can share the adventure or give the gift that never ends! PADI eLearning(r), which you can purchase and send to any recipient of your choosing, is now available! It doesn't matter if you want to give the course as a gift, or if you need to assign it to your family members.
Divers must maintain a minimum level fitness and health. Some conditions such as chronic illness, recent surgery or medication may make it necessary to obtain written permission before you can dive.
Sidemount PCB can answer your questions regarding medical fitness to dive.
Technical diving is fun, but not for those who want to dive deeper. Cave and decompression diving carry a greater risk. Dive planning and training are key to reducing this risk. These divers are held to a higher standard. To become a skilled diver, it will take practice. It is not possible to replace the time spent in water, no matter how much research you do. Divers will see that minimum standards are often exceeded by instructors during training courses. Technical training teaches diver redundancy. This allows problems to be solved at 1500ft in a cave, and then an exit can be made to the surface. Although it sounds scary and complicated, this is an essential aspect of diving in such an environment. Technical training is challenging, but also fun. The diver will have a golden ticket that opens up new areas of the world.
One of the big risks for a technical diver is decompression sickness. It occurs when nitrogen gas cannot exit the body thru respiration on ascent as the ambient pressure decreases. Therefore stops have to be executed on ascent in order to avoid a pressure difference too big so nitrogen bubbles can be formed. Buoyancy control is very important to control the stops on ascent and increase efficiency for off-gassing of nitrogen. Another important skill is proper breathing which makes metabolism efficient. Trim, which we call a proper tech diving position such as horizontal with a slight arch in the back, looking forward and knees at a 90 degree angle with fins pointing back. Trim prevents stirring up sediments on the bottom as well as most efficient movement in the water. And of course proper finning techniques to avoid overexertion are mandatory to make a diver achieve maximum performance. Now you might say, we want to have fun when we go diving and not be a machine.
Because of the difficulties with single orifice doubles and backmounted independents, doubles were introduced to backmounted diving. Independents are two cylinders that are strapped to one's chest with separate regulators. A 1st stage failure would result in only one cylinder being used by the diver. A single orifice double was two cylinders connected together by a valve and one regulator. All gas would be lost if the first stage of a single orifice twice set failed. Today, both problems are eliminated by the isolated manifold doubles. Each cylinder can be operated independently. However, the diver can still inhale gas from both cylinders using one regulator. The doubles are usually held together by metal bands. The valves are connected with an isolation manifold so they can be separated if necessary. Doubles diving with backmounted doubles is similar to a regular single-cylinder backmount. It offers a vertical profile that is the same.
New gear means new techniques. Diving sidemount, if it's easy, require some new skills (easy to learn).
Gear - While the gear remains the same, divers taking an introductory tech class, such as Sidemount, Intro to Tech or CCR air diluent, will notice some configuration differences. Instead of two second stages on one cylindrical, they're divided between two with a separate initial stage for each. The gas planning becomes a more in-depth process, and the harnesses appear to have more chrome.
To register for the PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver course, you must first: You must be a PADI Open Water Diver, but you must also be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver to become a PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver. Have at least 30 dives under your belt.