Technical diving will reveal that divers often have more than one tank. Sidemount PCB allows you to use multiple cylinders in technical diving. With the Tec Sidemount PCB Diver course, you can get into tec diving and transfer what you have learned to other TecRec courses. You may have the opportunity to combine this course with the Tec 40 and Tec 45 courses.
Steve was a Portuguese teacher who came to Portugal 10 years ago to teach us Sidemount PCB. His enthusiasm, technical abilities, and professionalism were immediately evident to me. His new website and online training have taken this to a whole new level. It is so comprehensive... continue reading. Steve came to Portugal over 10 years ago to teach Sidemount PCB to our staff (at that time it was still the beginning of Sidemount PCB). His enthusiasm, technical abilities, and professionalism were immediately evident to me. His new website and online training have taken this to a whole new level. These contents are perfect for beginners, experienced divers, and instructors. Sidemount is now a well-known and simple way to dive. read less
This course (Intro to Tech) introduces recreational divers to the rigors and discipline of technical diving, and is a great preparatory course if you are considering specific technical diver training, such as cave or decompression diving, or are interested in streamlining your equipment configuration for maximum efficiency. Learn about dive planning, physics and physiology, decompression, decompression associated with technical diving, buoyancy control, and side-mount configuration. The NAUI Technical Equipment Configuration (NTEC) training is also part of the NAUI Intro to Tech course.
Graduates may take part in sidemount diving activities after completing this course. However, they must follow the following guidelines:
Sidemount PCB has many benefits, but it is particularly well-suited for cave diving. Cave divers were the ones who invent sidemount. Here are some of these benefits:
Love your vids Steve. I’m in Nova Scotia Canada. Just got my tdi sm cert in August. I bought your online course to supplement my training. It’s helped me a lot! Thank you
Steve, your tutorials are fantastic and a great addition to any instructor’s toolbox. I am a PADI instructor in Cyprus. I have taken a few courses to learn this style of diving which, although it is derived from cave diving, has become very popular with recreational divers. However, my only method of certification is sidemount diving. This technique has helped me to become a confident and competent diver. I am a PADI instructor in Cyprus. I have taken a few courses to learn this style of diving which, although it is derived from cave diving, has become very popular with recreational divers. Your technique allowed me to certify confident and competent sidemount divers. This is a method that I have found works well for Dive guides and dive boats. It takes up twice as much space and requires half the time. They will also look sleek underwater and be very safe. It is all thanks to your organized approach to explaining every aspect sidemount diving, which is critical. It is a great way to teach sidemount. We are very grateful! read less
This course will teach you about sidemount diving, and how to create a tec sidemount helmet. One confined water session, four open water sessions and hands-on training are included. You will start with two tanks and expand to at least two additional tanks.
Certification cards: We issue these only when earned. Simply taking part in a course does not guarantee certification. For cave courses, certification cards from multiple training agencies may be available. C-cards generally cost around $30 each, depending on agency. Your instructor can tell you more.
Be aware of what you're paying: All prices include instruction and eLearning. The cost of eLearning by itself can range from $140 to $280. A $640 course purchased from us may cost you the same as $500 purchased from someone else, if you need to pay for elearning separately.
Sidemount PCB Diving Courses can be used as a stand-alone course by technical divers who wish to learn more about different gear configurations. The course may be taught together with any of TDI’s other open circuit specialty courses, provided all prerequisites and standards have been met.
Since the beginning of the century, one of the most significant changes in the equipment cave divers use has been the shift from backmounted doubles to sidemount. Not only do a substantial number of cave divers now sidemount, it’s possible that there are more open-circuit sidemount cave divers than backmount cave divers.
Yes Sidemount PCB started with the Cave diver, but you do not have to be a tech or cave diver to be able to dive on Sidemount PCB. PADI has a Side mount course in which you only carry one cylinder/tank on one of your sides instead of your back.
Sidemount is something I've never attempted before, but after watching his online training videos I was confident that Steve would be able to help me. It was a great experience! It was truly an unforgettable week! Sidemount PCB Essentials has exceeded all my expectations. Steve is a wonderful teacher. He has patience and takes a lot time to help you. Read moreI've never tried sidemount, but I was able to see his online training and knew that he was the right man for me to learn it and feel confident about it. I was right! It was truly an unforgettable week! Sidemount PCB Essentials has exceeded all my expectations. Steve is a wonderful teacher. He has patience and takes time to help his students. Every detail is meticulously planned. It was a memorable experience that I enjoyed. Sidemount PCB Essentials Course changed my diving. In a very short time, my awareness and skills under water rose to levels I had never imagined. Everything is in order: the harness setup, weight, position, cylinder trim, and your balance in water. You will feel relaxed and confident, and you'll experience true sidemount setup... with no back pain! It was challenging but very enjoyable. Each day begins with a planning and theoretical session. Then, we have a video review of our drills in water. Everything is explained in great detail. Our learning curve is steep because we had to drain our cylinders each time we entered the water. The entire process was performed in a relaxed, secure environment and yet showed extraordinary professionalism. You should not hesitate to take this course with Steve. Steve will show you how to become a great diver if you're passionate about Sidemount PCB. read less
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).
Tec divers can visit reefs and wrecks at depths well below the recreational limit of 40 meters/130 feet. They can explore underwater caves and other locations far beyond the reach of mainstream sport diving with specialized training.
The PADI Rebreather/Advanced Rebreather Diver courses take four days to complete. The course fee is $1250, which includes books and rental.