SDI Sidemount Diver Course

diver with fish

SDI Sidemount Diver

Course Overview

This course is designed to teach certified divers how to safely utilize sidemounted primary cylinders as an alternative to the traditional back-mounted configuration. The course is strictly non-decompression with a maximum depth limit of 40m/130ft, or within the limit of the student’s current certification, whichever is shallower.

Course prerequisites:

  • Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
  • SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent

What you can expect to learn

The SDI Sidemount Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

  • Gas management utilizing independent cylinders
  • Equipment considerations
    • Cylinder options
    • Regulator options
    • Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)/harness options
    • Proper weighting
    • Equipment configurations
  • Communication
    • Hand signals
  • Problem solving
    • Gas-sharing
    • Gas hemorrhages
  • Water entries
    • Shore
    • Boat
  • S-Drills (specific to sidemount)

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

  • Plan dive
  • Test and check all equipment (depth gauges, bottom timers/watches and computers)
  • Familiarization with area
  • Descend to planed depth and not exceed any pre-planned limits
  • Demonstrate the ability to safely manage gas in independent cylinders
  • Monitor depth/time/air consumption, figure all times on slate
  • Demonstrate ability to control buoyancy
  • Attaching sidemount cylinders while
    • Out of water
    • On surface standing on bottom
    • On surface in water to deep to stand
    • At depth
  • Perform gas switches
  • Perform safety stops

Pricing:

Sidemount Diver €300,00