Sidemount diving is a form of sidemount diving that originated in cave diving but has been incorporated into recreational and non-overhead diving over the years. Simply put, your tanks will be worn on your side instead of being attached to your back. The tanks attach to a Sidemount BCD with clips or bungee chords, allowing for maximum flexibility. It was this flexibility that cave divers used to be able to lift their tanks from the bottom underwater, making it easier to pass through tight spaces.

Technical diving was something I didn't initially like to do. I clearly remember chuckling at the Tec divers that I saw and wondering why anyone would want more equipment underwater. The feeling of being close to nature and the freedom it can give you is something I love. Tom was an inspiring teacher and it seemed right to try, as I was working at a dive shop that offered Tec courses.

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Three parts are required to become certified: knowledge development, skill practise and open water diving. You can choose to do each part locally, on holiday or alternate between them.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Guide

Each PADI Specialty you complete gets you one step closer to earning the elite Master Scuba Diver™ rating.

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.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Guide
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Photos

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Photos

Mentality – Technical diving is still fun. It’s all about seeing cool things, just like sport diving, but technical divers see sights longer, deeper, and hidden to the sport diver. While technical divers are still fun-focused they also regular focused. Jokes can still be made, laughs can still be had, but a certain sense of serious must come about when it comes to dive planning and execution. All diving has risks, and those risks are increased if proper planning, skill practice, and execution are not done.

Gear – While the gear is fundamentally identical, divers in their intro tech class (Intro, Tech, Sidemount or the CCR-Air diluent), may notice some fundamental configuration changes. They now have two second stages, each with a separate start stage. Gas planning becomes a detailed, thorough process. The harnesses also have more chrome.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Application

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver 400

2nd stage regulator; exposure suit with side pockets, BCD-sidemount, SMB cutting tool, diving spool. Jet fins. Mask and spare mask. Technical diving equipments. 1 long hose (2.10m-7ft), hogarthian, or cave harness.

Decompression divers can use all sorts of oxygen mixtures to extend their time looking at reefs and wrecks on the sea floor. While the sport diver may only have two 15-minute bottom time dives at 100ft, the decompression diver is able to cruise for up 60 minutes. This allows them to get the most bang possible.

How long does a scuba tank last
How long does a scuba tank last

When or why I decided to do my Sidemount course I don’t remember. As with most of my diving decisions, it was probably a case of – oh that looks cool, could be useful, I’m going to try it!I knew that Sidemount was going to be a useful certification and something that I could use in the future and build on. I also knew that I eventually wanted to do some proper cave diving and that a Sidemount certification would come in handy for that.

After successful completion, the Tech Diver Level 1 can be started and allows a diver to dive to 51m using appropriate Trimix gas mixes beyond 30m. It is also possible to start Cave Diving Training after the Fundamental Tech Pass.

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Television, magazines or stories from a close friend can all be used to explore the underwater world. It doesn't really matter which source you use, it is still exciting and very enticing. So what can we do to continue exploring? What is technical diving?

Make sure you understand what you're buying: Prices include instruction as well as eLearning fees. Remember that eLearning fees can run anywhere from $140 - $280. For example, a $640 course offered by us may be equivalent to a $500 course provided you pay separately for elearning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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).