Please send me a renewal code to the Package 1 Instructor Course. I look forward to my fifth year with sidemountpcb.com. Your team and you continue to be an inspiration and guidance source. All the best! Scott
Sidemount PCB dives are becoming more popular in technical diving for general decompression. There are many certification agencies that offer recreational and technical sidemount training programs.
Your online course was a great learning experience. Although I have had a few lessons with instructors during my scuba career, I can say that I have never seen such detailed, practical and useful explanations on how to be a better diver. My PADI AOW training was difficult because I struggled with buoyancy control when I attempted to shoot my SMB ..... I just had this amazing experience with your online course. Although I have had a few lessons with other instructors during my scuba career, I can say that I've never seen such detailed, practical, and useful explanations on how to be a better diver. As I attempted to shoot my SMB, my buoyancy control was a problem when I completed my PADI AOW training. My instructor suggested ways to increase my buoyancy. He advised me to practice. He was sure he had good buoyancy control but didn't tell me the importance of weighting properly, breathing control, and so on. Your videos were eye-opening. My dive buddies didn't get it. Even my highly-recommended instructors still ask me why I do sm. Is it useful? It is mostly done by cave divers. It was a great decision. It's a whole new world. Although nobody taught me or checked my SM skills, many times when I dive with other divers, they comment on how great my trim is. Your videos taught me everything, including how to set up my equipment, exit the water, and solve problems. We should meet up and have training together. I want to help other divers become better and more qualified. While I know there are many great instructors and divers out there, I believe your contribution to the scuba diving community is significant and vital. We are grateful for your efforts. Regards, Csaba read less
Steve/Vas, Your instructor series has been amazing. Please allow me to be the first person to state that I agree with everything you said. One can learn SM simply by watching the videos. I was able to sacrifice my learning without the help of SM Essentials Instructor. It took me nearly one year to get good at AL80s. I then read moreSteve/Vas. The instructor series you have created is truly amazing. Let me just say that I agree with everything you have to say. As I have shown, anyone can learn SM from watching videos. I was able to sacrifice my learning curve, but not without the help of SM essentials instructor. It took me almost one full year to get used to AL80s. I completed the tech dive level one year later and informed my tech instructor that I was diving in SM configuration. I had to explain to him that I taught it myself. His response was "you most likely need to take a SM class with me depending upon how I do on dive 1". After my first dive he said, "There is no reason why you should take a class alongside me." Your online training is perfect, but I would go back to Joe Seda if I had to. I plan to continue the course with him in the future. Regards Tony read less
Steve met me a little more than 10 years ago, when he visited Portugal to teach Sidemount PCB to our staff (at that time it was very early days of Sidemount PCB). I immediately noticed his passion, technical skill, and professionalism. This was made possible by his website and online training. These contents are great for anyone who is just starting. His passion, technical skill, and professionalism was evident immediately. This was made possible by his website and online training. It is easy to use the contents, whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver. We appreciate your efforts to make sidemount diving a simple and accessible option. read less
Sidemount PCB Diving Classes are an essential course for technical divers who want to be more proficient in different gear configurations, regardless of whether they intend to use sidemount every day. You can take the course in conjunction with any of TDI’s open-circuit specialty courses provided you meet all prerequisites.
Sidemount PCB Harness - This is a specialized Harness similar to a BCD that is very light and minimal in weight. This harness features several D-rings along the shoulder straps and a Butt plate with sliders or rings.
Sidemount PCB staging is where the diver sets up cylinders using tank straps, bungee and clips (left- and right-handed). Sidemount configuration is the use of bungee loops (or butt-platerails) to store stage/deco tubes in a sleek manner against the sides of your torso when diving in CCR or back-mounted doubles.
After completing the course successfully, graduates are allowed to engage in sidemount diving activities with no supervision provided that they adhere to these guidelines:
Sidemount PCB Diving was developed in the early days of cave diving. It was pioneered in this way by Lamar Hires, who used multiple tanks in a compact and streamlined manner to reach places back mounted divers couldn't. The technique has grown to be one of the most popular in our sport.
International Training, which is the parent organization of Technical Diving International / Scuba Diving International, offers both TDI (Sidemount PCB Diver) versions. Both courses can be used in the same way. Both courses use the exact same learning materials (which, obviously, we also wrote). What is the difference between these two learning materials?
Sidemount PCB diving has been growing in popularity among technical divers for general decompression diving. It is also becoming an increasingly popular specialty for recreational diving with many diver certification agencies offering both recreational and technical level sidemount training programs.
Your online videos are amazing. I know you understand this. They have helped me to set up my sidemount much easier. I also found it much easier to diagnose and fix student problems. That's why I want to say thank you.
I met Steve, a little over 10 years ago when he came to Portugal to teach our staff to Sidemount PCB (at the time it was the early days of Sidemount PCB). I could immediately see his level of enthusiasm, technical ability, and professionalism. That moved to an all-different level with his new website and online training. The contents are so complete either for someone starting, someone... read moreI met Steve, a little over 10 years ago when he came to Portugal to teach our staff to Sidemount PCB (at the time it was the early days of Sidemount PCB). I could immediately see his level of enthusiasm, technical ability, and professionalism. That moved to an all-different level with his new website and online training. The contents are so complete either for someone starting, someone experienced and instructors alike. Thanks for all the effort to make sidemount a known and easy way to dive. read less
You must be a PADI Open Water Diver to enroll in the PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver course, 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.
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).
PADI Adventure Diver is a subset of PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. Have you ever considered trying your hand at digital underwater photography, fish identification, or dry suit diving? During this program, you can participate in a variety of scuba adventures.