For items such as primary and cylinder lights that may prove difficult to transport, rental is possible. We will be happy to assist you if you have any questions.
Sidemount PCB is a scuba diving equipment configuration which has diving cylinders mounted along the diver, below the shoulders and along the hips, instead of on the back of the diver. It began as a configuration popular with advanced cave divers, as smaller sections of cave can be penetrated and tanks can be changed with greater ease. The same benefits for operating in confined spaces were also recognised by divers who conducted technical wreck diving penetrations. We have well-trained instructors to teach scuba diving courses and scuba diving training in Thailand.
Love your vids Steve. I'm located in Nova Scotia Canada. In August, I received my tdi Sm certification. Your online course is a supplement to my training. It's been very helpful! Thank you!
Your instructor series, Steve/Vas is amazing. Let me be the first one to tell you that you are absolutely correct. You can learn SM by simply watching the videos, as I did. But, I had to compromise/sacrifice some of my learning curves without you (SM essentials instructor). To get proficient with AL80s, it took me nearly a year. Then, I... read moreSteve/Vas. Your instructor series is amazing. Let me be the first one to tell you that you are right in everything you have said. You can learn SM by simply watching the videos, as I did. But, I had to compromise/sacrifice some of my learning curves without you (SM essentials instructor). To get proficient with AL80s, it took me nearly a year. The first level of tech diving was taken by me a year later. I told my instructor that I was using SM configuration. He was shocked that I did not teach myself. I told him, and he replied with "You most likely will need to take a SM workshop together depending on how well I do on dive one". He said that there was no reason to have you take a class after the first dive. Your online training is excellent, but I'd rather see Joe Seda if it was all over again. I will continue to learn from him in the future. Regards Tony read less
I want to thank you for all your help. Your online resource made it possible for me to take a sidemount cave course with Natalie Gibb, Mexico.
Technical diving is a multi-tank sport. Sidemount PCB is a popular way to set up multiple cylinders for technical dive. The Tec Sidemount PCB Diver course will allow you to enter the world of tec dive and then apply the knowledge to other TecRec courses. This course may be integrated with the Tec 40 or Tec 45 courses by your instructor.
Sidemount PCB diving has been growing in popularity among technical divers for general decompression diving. It is also becoming an increasingly popular specialty for recreational diving with many diver certification agencies offering both recreational and technical level sidemount training programs.
You don't need sidemount for your cave diver training. We recommend our CDS Basics Orientation program.
Hi Steve, I really enjoyed your Sidemount PCB Essentials course in Gozo! Have probably never spend my money on anything better. It made so much fun and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Seeing your dedication and experience is simply amazing. You pay attention to the smallest details and you are always striving to improve things even further. I also... read moreHi Steve, I really enjoyed your Sidemount PCB Essentials course in Gozo! Have probably never spend my money on anything better. It made so much fun and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Seeing your dedication and experience is simply amazing. You pay attention to the smallest details and you are always striving to improve things even further. I also love your enthusiasm to capture all those details, new equipment, new methods, hints etc. with the camera to be able to include them in upcoming videos to the benefit of everyone. Speaking of your online training videos I must say that they are a class of its own. They definitely get you well-prepared for the things you need to know during the in-water training and I think that exactly this concept is the key to the steep learning curve because the time underwater can be used efficiently. Thank you so much for everything Steve! Cheers, Nils read less
It was amazing to have such a positive experience with your online class. In my scuba 'career,' I had very few interactions with other instructors, but I can tell you that I have never experienced such useful, deep and practical explanations about how I can become a better scuba diver. When I completed my PADI AOOW training, buoyancy control was a problem as I attempted to capture my SMB ..... Read more I am so grateful for your informative online course. In my scuba 'career, I had very few interactions with other instructors, but I can tell you that I have never seen so many practical and helpful explanations about how to become an even better diver. I struggled with buoyancy control when I attempted my SMB while I was doing my PADI OOW training. I asked my instructor how to improve buoyancy. He told me to just practice. He assured me that he had good buoyancy controls, but he didn't explain the importance proper weighting or breath control to me. Your videos were a real eye opener. Not to mention the fact that my sidemount diving buddy did not understand why I wanted it. Even now, highly recommended instructors often ask me why sm is important. What's the purpose of it? It's a common practice for cave divers. I am happy I chose sm. It is a completely different world. No one ever taught me or inspected my SM. However, when I dive with others they often comment on how well my trim is. I learned everything from your videos. You showed me how to set up equipment, get in and out of water, solve problems, and so on. I hope to meet you and to have a training with you. Because I want to make scuba diving better and to help others become more skilled divers. Although I know that there are many talented divers and instructors, I think your contribution to the diving community is very significant. Thank you! Regards, Csaba read less
Steve, your Sidemount PCB Essentials course was great! I have probably never spent my money on anything more. It was so much fun, and I loved every minute of it. Your dedication and experience are amazing. Your attention to detail is amazing and you always strive to improve the situation. I enjoyed the Sidemount PCB Essentials course at Gozo. I have probably never spent my money on anything more. It was so much fun, and I loved every minute of it. Your dedication and experience are amazing. Your attention to detail is amazing and you're always trying to improve. Your enthusiasm to capture every detail, whether it be new equipment or hints, is what I love. These details can be captured with the camera so that they can be included in future videos. Your online training videos are an excellent resource. These videos will prepare you for in-water training. I believe that this is the key to the steep learning curve. Because you can use your time underwater efficiently, it's possible to be well-prepared. Steve, thank you so much! Nils, Cheers!
Sidemount PCB staging is where the diver sets up cylinders using tank straps, bungee and clips (left- and right-handed). Sidemount configuration is the use of bungee loops (or butt-platerails) to store stage/deco tubes in a sleek manner against the sides of your torso when diving in CCR or back-mounted doubles.
Steve, thank you for the Sidemount PCB Essentials Course in Gozo. I've never spent more money on something better. It was great fun. I enjoyed every second of it. It is amazing to see your passion and experience. Your attention to details is remarkable and you never stop trying to improve. I also enjoyed... Continue reading Steve! I thoroughly enjoyed your Sidemount PCB Essentials Course in Gozo. I've never spent more money on anything. It was great fun. I loved every second of it. It is amazing to see your passion and experience. You are meticulous and pay attention to every detail. I love your passion to capture details, new equipment and hints. You can use the camera to capture them and include them in future videos. I have to say that your online training videos are exceptional. They will get you prepared for what you will need during in-water training. This concept I believe is key to the steep learning curve, as you can make the most of your time underwater. Steve, thanks so much! Nils read more
Yes Sidemount PCB started with the Cave diver, but you do not have to be a tech or cave diver to be able to dive on Sidemount PCB. PADI has a Side mount course in which you only carry one cylinder/tank on one of your sides instead of your back.
Tec divers can visit reefs and wrecks at depths well below the recreational limit of 40 meters/130 feet. They can explore underwater caves and other locations far beyond the reach of mainstream sport diving with specialized training.
from 130 to 148 feet
Those who are already decompression certified can immediately qualify for rebreather decompression dives. Individual training agencies set depth limits ranging from 130 to 148 feet (40 to 45 meters).
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.