International Training is the parent company of Technical Diving International. Both courses have a lot in common. Both courses use identical learning materials (which we also wrote). So, what is the difference?
I've never tried sidemounting before but I learned a lot from his online training and I was confident in my abilities. I was correct! It was truly a life changing week! The sidemountpcb essentials course far exceeded my expectations. Steve is a great teacher with a lot of patience. I was not wrong! It was truly a life changing week! Sidemount PCB Essentials far exceeded my expectations. Steve is a great teacher. His patience is amazing and he puts in a lot time and effort with his students. Every aspect of the lesson is well planned and executed with great care. It was both memorable and rewarding. Sidemount PCB Essentials Course was a transformative experience for me. In such a short time, I was able to increase my awareness and improve my skills below water. Everything is in its right place, from the harness set-up, to the weight and position of the swimmers, to the cylinder trim and to your balance in the water. You feel more confident, relaxed, and have a true sidemount setup. This course was both challenging and very enjoyable. Each day starts with a planning and theoretical session. We end with a video review about what we did in the water. This is where all details are discussed. It was a tedious process to drain the cylinders before we could go into the water. This is why our learning curve has been so steep. Everything was handled in a calm and secure environment, yet with remarkable professionalism. Steve's course is worth it. Steve will assist you in achieving more than you could ever imagine if Sidemount PCB is your passion. read less
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.
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.
Steve/Vas Your instructor series is incredible. Let me be the one to confirm what you said. It is easy to learn SM from watching videos like I have. However, I did have to sacrifice my learning curve in order to avoid having to rely on SM essentials instructors. To become proficient in AL80s took almost a full year. I then... Read moreSteve/Vas your instructor series was phenomenal. Let me be the one to confirm what you said. Watching videos like mine can help you learn SM. I did have to sacrifice my learning curve and compromise without a SM essentials instructor. I took almost a full year to become proficient with AL80s. After that, I took my first level in tech diving and informed my instructor that I was learning it in SM mode. He responded by saying that I learned the technique myself. Depending on how I did on dive 1, he may have to teach me SM workshops. After the first dive, he stated that "there's no reason for you not to take a course with me". Your online training was spot-on, but if I could do it over again, Joe Seda would be my first choice. I'm going to take the course with Joe Seda in the near future. Regards Tony read less
Steve, Your Sidemount PCB Essentials class in Gozo was a great experience! I doubt that I will ever spend more money on something else. It was so much fun. It's amazing to see the dedication and your experience. You are attentive to every detail and always looking to improve. Read moreHi Steve! Your Sidemount PCB Essentials class in Gozo was great. I can't think of anything better. It was so much fun. Your passion and knowledge are truly amazing. You pay attention even to the smallest details, and are constantly striving for improvement. I love your passion for capturing all the details, new equipment, and tips. to include them in future videos. I am very impressed with your online training videos. These videos prepare you for the in-water training. And I think this is what makes the steep learning curve so manageable underwater. Steve, I am so grateful for all your help. Nils, Cheers
Sidemount PCB staging: This is where the diver is setting up cylinders with tank straps, bungee, clips and special valves (left and right-handed). and is the practice of using sidemount configuration (bungee loops and/or butt-plate rails) as a means for stowing stage/deco cylinders in a streamlined manner against the sides of the torso, when otherwise diving in back-mounted doubles or CCR
Steve, I just noticed the new chapters in your online classes. These chapters are fantastic. These are particularly useful for reviewing videos and finding a particular part within a video. These were very useful and I began using them right away. Timo, Cheers
Sidemount diving is allowed after successful completion of the course. This is subject to the following restrictions:
The major change in equipment cave divers use since the beginning of this century has been to switch from using backmounted doubles to sidemount. Many cave divers now sidemount. There may even be more sidemount sidemount cave divers that backmount cave divers.
Sidemount PCB gear configuration offers an alternative to the traditional back mounted scuba cylinder(s) configuration. The NAUI Sidemount PCB Diver course provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct open water dives utilizing this particular gear configuration. Upon successful completion divers will be competent to use sidemount gear configuration in additional training and diving opportunities.
The SDI Sidemount PCB Diver certification can be used to earn a single specialty rating for the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.
Hi Steve, I just saw the new chapters you are adding into your online courses. Really like them. Especially helpful, when reviewing videos and searching for just a part in a video. I starting using them as soon as I noticed them. Cheers, Timo
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in sidemount diving activities without direct supervision so long as the following limits are adhered to:
The PADI Rebreather/Advanced Rebreather Diver courses take four days to complete. The course fee is $1250, which includes books and rental.
PADI Adventure Diver is a subset of PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. Have you ever considered trying your hand at digital underwater photography, fish identification, or dry suit diving? During this program, you can participate in a variety of scuba adventures.