How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Clipart

Koh Tao

‘Caverns Measureless to Men’ by Sheck Exley, one of the pioneers of cave diving in Florida, USA. He also wore ‘Basic Cave Diving: A Blueprint for Survival’ which studies many cave diving accidents.

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.

The very general definition of technical diving is to be exposed to a ceiling that does not allow a diver to ascend to the surface at any moment of the dive. This might be due to a real ceiling, in terms of a cave or a wreck, or a virtual ceiling created by a decompression obligation. In this case, by exceeding the NDL’s, mandatory decompression stops have to be performed on ascent in order to avoid any case of decompression sickness. In most cases this requires the use of special equipment, e.g. Twinsets or Sidemount, special gas mixes and of course additional training to be able to perform those stops accurately on ascent to optimize off-gassing of Nitrogen.

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.

Sidemount Scuba Setup

There are three parts to certification: knowledge development, skill practice and open water dives. You can complete all three parts locally, on holiday, or split between the two.

To extend their time at the wrecks and reefs below the ocean floor, decompression divers use oxygen mixtures. Decompression divers can cruise around the ocean floor for as long as 60 minutes, whereas sport divers may only be able to do two bottom dives at 100ft for 15 minutes each.

Sidemount Scuba Setup
Who owns the Titanic wreck

Who owns the Titanic wreck

Tec 40 is the first step to start the TecRec program with Padi. The prerequisites are Advanced Open Water and Deep Diver certifications as well as Nitrox. In addition to that, before starting the course a minimum of 10 Nitrox dives have to be proved. The certification allows divers to dive to 40m doing limited decompression using gas mixes up to 50% of oxygen. The Tec 40 is also the prerequisite to continue with Padi Tec 45 which allows to do unlimited decompression time as long as it is carefully planned. The next step will be Tec 50 that enhances the allowable depth to 50m.

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.

Atlantis

It takes passion, experience, and training to become a technical dive instructor. Technical diving comes with additional risks, so it's not worth taking on if you don't have the right combination.

The technical sidemount was completed the next day. This involved adding our 50-percent oxygen tank and 100 percent oxygen tanks to either side. This will increase your profile underwater. You must ensure that the tanks are as slim as possible. A couple of clips are located on either side of your waist. When your tanks become positively buoyant and you inhale, adjust the clip to match your tank position. It is important to keep your breathing as smooth as possible. Your breathing will change from one tank to another every few minutes. The pressure in each tank will drop at approximately the same rate. If a regulator or tank fails, you will still have gas to breath. Comfort and enjoyment can only be achieved by gaining experience. I spent the next few day doing deco dives using the sidemount rig with Evolution co-owner David Joyce, a Trimix instructor and Tec diver. We visited the Japanese Mogami wreck at 164ft, where I was charmed by the pieces of old gas masks and uniforms.

Sidemount Skills
Sidemount Skills

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.

Do you want to become a Sidemount diver. You've come to the right spot, as this article will cover all the details!

What happens if you don't decompress after diving

You can choose between recreational Sidemount or technical Sidemount with most agencies. Although the prerequisites are the same for TDI and SDI, the tec sidemount course will give you more skills. This course will require you to be more skilled in mastering the skills. You must maintain a perfect trim and keep your body level throughout.

Sidemount diving can be fun, especially if your are a tec diver. Learn how to adjust your rig and how to get in the water with it.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Clipart
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Frequently Asked Questions

Have a PADI Deep Specialty Instructor certification or have completed a PADI Deep Specialty Instructor course. Have at least 100 logged dives, including at least 20 enriched air dives, 25 dives deeper than 18 meters/60 feet, and 15 dives deeper than 30 meters/100 feet. You can become a Tec 45 diver.
 

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.

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).