Technical Sidemount Diving

Water

Blue Label Diving can offer Sidemount PCB Diving Courses in all levels from SSI to TDI to PADI in Phuket Thailand. From recreational side mount diving with two tanks, to advanced technical sidemounting within overhead environments, and even instructor-level sidemounting. You may not want to dive backmount again once you've learned side mount diving.

TDI Trimix DiverThe TDI Trimix course provides the training required to competently and safely utilize breathing gases containing helium for dives that require staged decompression, utilizing nitrox and / or oxygen mixtures during decompression to a maximum depth 200’.

Steve/Vas, Your instructor series has been amazing. Please allow me to be the first person to state that I agree with everything you said. One can learn SM simply by watching the videos. I was able to sacrifice my learning without the help of SM Essentials Instructor. It took me nearly one year to get good at AL80s. I then read moreSteve/Vas. The instructor series you have created is truly amazing. Let me just say that I agree with everything you have to say. As I have shown, anyone can learn SM from watching videos. I was able to sacrifice my learning curve, but not without the help of SM essentials instructor. It took me almost one full year to get used to AL80s. I completed the tech dive level one year later and informed my tech instructor that I was diving in SM configuration. I had to explain to him that I taught it myself. His response was "you most likely need to take a SM class with me depending upon how I do on dive 1". After my first dive he said, "There is no reason why you should take a class alongside me." Your online training is perfect, but I would go back to Joe Seda if I had to. I plan to continue the course with him in the future. Regards Tony read less

The goal of this course is to teach you the basics of how to use the equipment in your cave or tech diver training. You will also need the same equipment for the course. This includes:

Dive Planning

You will learn the benefits of using a sidemount configuration for diving as well as how to set up a sidemount harness. Practical training will take place in one confined-water session and four open-water dives. You'll be diving with at least two tanks. Then, you can add at most two more tanks.

Stage-only diving is the use of standard deco/stage cylinder configuration, without back-mounted cylinders, on an otherwise standard, or partly modified tec/rec BCD. The lower cylinder is attached to waist D-Rings and the upper cylinder to shoulder D-Rings, both via direct bolt-snap. Some divers (untrained in specific sidemount diving techniques) often incorrectly assume this approach to be sidemount diving. No bungee cord is utilised in the upper attachment, causing the cylinders to hang low beneath the diver and not in line (parallel) with their torso beneath their armpits. Without change of the BCD design, the lack of back-mounted cylinders also causes taco’ing of wing designs and much instability.

Dive Planning
Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Florida

Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Florida

Since the beginning of the century, one of the most significant changes in the equipment cave divers use has been the shift from backmounted doubles to sidemount. Not only do a substantial number of cave divers now sidemount, it’s possible that there are more open-circuit sidemount cave divers than backmount cave divers.

Computer-assisted instruction is an integral part almost all of the courses we teach. The Why? The simple answer is that eLearning allows students to get in the water faster and spend more time there. This is why we include any applicable eLearning program -- typically a $140 value -- in all our courses at no extra cost. This is equivalent to an extra day's in-water training. This is what it's worth. Priceless.

Technical Sidemount Diving

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Also, the SDI Sidemount PCB Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in sidemount diving activities without direct supervision, provided the following limits are adhered to:

Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Kit
Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Kit

One of the most important changes in equipment cave divers have made since the start of the century was the switch from sidemount to backmounted doubles. Sidemount is a popular choice for cave divers. It's also possible that sidemount cave divers are more common than backmount cave divers.

Steve, thank you so much for your mentorship. The lack of asking questions and exploring all options can prevent you from progressing in safety and learning more about diving. I have been studying in depth your online trainings for two years and counting. I have trained and practiced muscle memory, but most importantly, I never kept my mouth shut when other divers asked... read onThanks Steve and Vas for your mentoring. The lack of asking questions and exploring all options can stop you from progressing in safety and learning more about diving. I have studied your online courses for two years and counting. I have trained and practiced muscle memory, but more importantly, I have never been afraid to tell others if they ask. It is amazing how they see the world in a better light. I want to mention that during my 2 years of training, you were always kind enough and willing to answer any questions or offer suggestions for improvement. You have the opportunity to ask questions, share your knowledge, teach others, and learn. No stupid questions are acceptable in diving. I'm certain I will ask another question in the future! Lol

Tec Diving

Sidemount PCB Harness (or Sidemount Harness): This special Harness is similar to a BCD and is extremely light-weight. This harness includes several D-rings on the shoulder straps as well as a Buttplate with rings or sliders.

Learn immediately by purchasing the PADI Sidemount PB Diver and PADI Tec Sidemount PB Diver Manual at your local PADI Dive Shop. If you have a recreational certification as a sidemount diver, you will focus on Chapters Two & Three. If you don't, you will need to read the entire manual.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.

What exactly is the Tec 40 Course? Your first step into technical diving is the PADI Tec 40 course. It is a fundamental level of decompression diving that allows you to dive with gas redundancy, higher Enriched Air mixes of up to 50%, decompression on EANX 50% for conservatism, and up to 10 minutes of decompression.

The PADI Rebreather/Advanced Rebreather Diver courses take four days to complete. The course fee is $1250, which includes books and rental.