Divers who decompression dive use oxygen mixtures of every kind to prolong their time on the seafloor looking for wrecks and corals. The sport diver might only get two dives at 100ft, but a decompression diver can cruise for up to 60 minutes and still get the best bang for their buck.
Sidemount cylinder mounting originated for cave diving and have become more popular in all forms of technical diving since. They separate the dual cylinders, with a 1st stage on each cylinder, and mount them on either side of the diver’s body. This doesn’t allow the diver to breathe from either cylinder in the event of a regulator failure, but does give the diver easier access to valves. Sidemount diving gives the diver a larger horizontal profile, but a smaller vertical profile.
SDI/TDIIncludes Two Open Water DivingsMinimum Age 18 Years, Minimum 15 Years with Parental Consent.
The initial pool sessions were tough; I felt like an open-water diver again, strapped into the twin tanks and trying to conduct valve drills. But as we progressed through the Tec 40, 45 and 50 courses, new skills started to come naturally, and by the end of the course I was enjoying myself. The satisfaction in Tec diving comes from taking your dive skills, buoyancy and awareness to the next level. Knowing that you’re capable of managing life-threatening emergencies at depth, and without the option to ascend straight to the surface (due to decompression requirements) is quite a buzz. And it’s satisfying to execute your dive plan with military precision.
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.
Cave passages formed over millions years of water erosion and extending thousands of feet from their entrance are reserved only for overhead divers. They are stunning in their beauty and peacefulness, but only because they were formed so long ago.
Sidemount PCB is available to help you and your physician with questions about medical fitness for diving.
International Training, parent organization to Technical Diving International / Scuba Diving International (TDI), and Technical Diving International / Scuba Diving International - offers both TDI and SDI versions of the Sidemount Diver course. Both courses have a lot in common. Both courses use identical learning materials (which we also wrote). So, what is the difference?
A great fact book about technical diving is ‘Deco for Divers – A Guide to Decompression Theory and Physiology’ written by Mark Powell.
There are two options available with most agencies: technical Sidemount or recreational Sidemount. Similar prerequisites apply to both TDI or SDI. However, the tec-sidemount course will increase your skills. The course will also require you to learn more about them. Perfect trim and maintaining your level during the skill development is a must.
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.
Items such as cylinders and primary lights, which my be difficult to travel with, are available for rental. Be sure to alert us if you will need any of these.
If you don't want to dive locally but still wish to support your local dive shop you can complete eLearning coursework and training in your home country. To request a referral to your local PADI Dive Center, please contact us.
Sidemount diving offers additional air sources, as you can dive with two tanks, each one with an SPG regulator and a first stage. Sidemount diving is safer and provides little air-hogs, like me, with more air. Sidemount diving is extremely comfortable. You can put tanks on the surface, and there is no pressure on your stomach.
According to experts, approximately 40% of technical divers enroll in additional education and training programs. This yields a reasonable estimate of approximately 160,000 active technical divers worldwide.