Sidemount Diver is one of the most challenging courses that I have ever completed. It was because Big Blue Tech, my trusted dive shop in Koh Tai, and Fiona my instructor included many more skills and dives to my course than necessary. Although we made sure my task load was manageable, we still practiced skills. These included tank removal underwater, mask removable, out-of air drills, SMB deployment, and many other things while maintaining (or trying to maintain) perfect trim.
While I still haven’t perfected this art, I am proud that after 20 Sidemount divers I can call myself a Sidemount Diver. It is the most comfortable way of diving!
Computer-aided instruction forms an integral part of most courses we teach. The Why? The reason is simple. eLearning helps students get in the water earlier and spend more of their time there. We offer all applicable online eLearning programs at no additional charge. They are typically $140. This can translate into an extra day in-water instruction. That is an incredible value. Priceless.
Sidemount and technical sidemount were my first courses. Sidemount diving is, as its name implies, where you place your tank in front of you. By the end of the session, my hands were covered with cuts. You can remove the tanks from their clips and place them in front of yourself, Superman-style, to streamline your life. The afternoon dive went much smoother after some adjustments to the harness. I was now comfortable unclipping the harness and 'Superman-ing" with the tanks. Sidemount is a great way to have more freedom than having two people on your back. Matt created obstacle courses, and soon we were flying around them with tanks at our fronts, barrel-rolling, and swimming upside down.
Technical diving is defined by being exposed at the ceiling, which prohibits the diver from reaching the surface at any time during the dive. This can be due either to a literal ceiling (a cave, wreck, or virtual ceiling) or a decompression obligation. In such cases, mandatory decompression stops are required on ascent for anyone who exceeds the NDL. This may require the use of special equipment (e.g. Twinsets, Sidemount, special gas mixtures, and more training are needed to perform those stops as well as other tasks on ascent. This will optimize Nitrogen offgassing.
The advantages of Sidemount diving are an additional independent air source as you are diving with two tanks each with a first stage, SPG, and regulator. This makes it a lot safer and gives little air-hogs like myself a whole lot more air. I also found diving with Sidemount to be incredibly comfortable because you can easily don tanks on the surface and there is no pressure on your back.
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Left BehindMy first courses were sidemount and technical sidemount. Sidemount diving, as the name suggests, involves placing your tank my hands and knuckles were covered in cuts by the end of the session. The idea is that you can unclip the tanks and put them out in front of you, Superman style, thus streamlining yourself. After some sizing adjustments to the harness, the afternoon dive went much more smoothly. I was now comfortably unclipping and ‘Superman-ing’ with the tanks. Compared to having doubles on your back, sidemount offers an incredible level of freedom. Matt set up obstacle courses and we were soon flying around them with tanks held out front, barrel-rolling and even swimming upside down.
Dive sidemount has become a popular sport in open waters. While it looks more sleek than having a tank strapped to your back, it doesn't hurt your back.
Gear - Although the gear is the same, divers who are enrolled in an introductory tech class (Intro Tech, Sidemount, or CCR Air Diluent) will notice fundamental differences in the configuration. Instead of having 2 second stages per cylinder, they are split into two with each stage having a separate first. The gas planning process becomes more detailed and the harnesses have more chrome.
Sidemount also has clips and tanks bands. The clips will be attached to your harness. Once again, their positions are important for the location of your tanks.
Cave passage formed over millions of years of water erosion that stretch thousands of feet from the entrance are reserved for those trained in overhead diving. The unique beauty and tranquility that these sites offer is only surpassed by the incredible timescale with which they formed.
Specific Skills - These are the skills required to perform specific types of diving. Navigation and line skills are developed until they are effortless for overhead diving. Decompression divers have the ability to execute stops and gas management plans without a blink of an eye. Rebreather divers test, build and then disassemble their equipment meticulously to ensure it works properly. Each course requires skills that are established at the initial level. Then, it is possible to move on to higher levels. Each step further or hones these skills, and adds more challenges to make a diver well-rounded and knowledgeable.
Tech diving is gaining popularity. We were so excited to see it here at Girls that ScubaHQ! There were a lot of questions, and we were nervous so we headed to Theresia Geller, a Blue Marlin instructor in Gili T. Lombok. She taught us the basics of twin sets and introduced us to technical diving. Here's what she taught:
Continue on to the Tec Sidemount Diver program. Here you'll learn additional skills, such switching deco cylinders, and stage and switch deco cylinders.
5-6 days
Rebreather training classes are typically 5-6 days long, but can be longer depending on a variety of factors such as the training agency, your local conditions, your instructor, and your ability to meet the class standards.
- Increased Bottom Time A Closed Circuit diver is not concerned with running out of gas because they are only limited by decompression. This can also be reduced by selecting an oxygen partial pressure that provides the diver with virtually limitless bottom times in 60 feet or less of water.
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).