PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty

Dive with Comfort, Flexibility, and Balance

Traditionally, divers are trained to use a single tank mounted on their back. However, sidemount diving offers an innovative and versatile alternative. The PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty course introduces you to diving with one or more tanks positioned along your sides, providing increased flexibility, comfort, and safety while enhancing your underwater experience.

Why Choose Sidemount Diving?

1. Streamlined Movement: Enjoy greater freedom of motion and reduced restrictions, allowing you to move effortlessly through the water.
2. Extended Air Supply: Carry additional tanks for longer dives without the bulk of a traditional back-mounted system.
3. Ease of Equipment Management: Transport tanks more conveniently, benefit from relaxed entries and exits, and reduce strain on your back.
4. Enhanced Safety: Gain access to a redundant air source and better control over your air supply.

Course Highlights:

The PADI Sidemount Diver course spans two days and includes four dives to build your skills progressively:

Confined Water Dive:

• Introduction to sidemount equipment and setup.
• Hands-on practice with:
  • Assembling and configuring a sidemount system tailored to your body.
  • Mounting and detaching tanks in the water.
  • Adjusting weights for optimal trim and balance.
  • Perfecting propulsion techniques, such as frog kicks.
  • Switching regulators and managing air from two tanks.
  • Unclipping a tank and swimming with it positioned in front of you.
  • Handling entries and exits while managing your tanks.

Open Water Dives:

• Three dives to refine your skills in real-world settings.
• Practice buoyancy control, tank management, and situational problem-solving.
• Learn to adapt sidemount techniques to various diving conditions and environments.

The Advantages of Sidemount Diving:

• Comfort and Ergonomics: Distribute the weight of tanks along your sides, reducing strain on your back and improving in-water balance.
• Versatility: Ideal for recreational dives, as well as more technical explorations like wreck and cave diving.
• Confidence and Safety: Develop skills that enhance your overall diving proficiency while gaining a redundant air supply.

Broaden Your Diving Horizons:

By completing this course, you’ll gain valuable insights into fundamental technical diving techniques while enjoying the freedom and flexibility of sidemount diving. Whether you’re exploring coral reefs, navigating wrecks, or planning for more advanced underwater adventures, the PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty course opens the door to a new level of underwater exploration.