Having scuba tanks on your back isn’t a requirement for exploring the underwater world.
Many scuba divers have discovered the joy of mounting cylinders on their sides. Sidemount diving gives you flexibility and streamlining options. Plus, you don’t have to walk with heavy cylinders on your back – just enter the water, clip them on and go.
Sound interesting? Sign up for the PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty course. If you’re a PADI Open Water Diver who is at least 15 years old, you can enroll in a PADI Sidemount Diver course.
This course is particularly interesting for people with back problems.
In this course we will cover with the following:
Theory
Benefits of Sidemount
Basic Sidemount Configuration
Diving Sidemount
Sidemount Problems
Practical Application
The PADI Sidemount Diver Practical Application focuses on setting up sidemount equipment. We will use two diving cylinders on a BCD suitable for Sidemount diving. We will also need two regulators with Sidemount configuration
Confined Water Dive
In the confined water dive we will practise with the skills you will use in the open water dives. As you can see, it’s a big list, so we’re going to have a lot of fun.
Assemble, don and adjust the sidemount equipment that will be used on the dive.
Demonstrate an appropriate sidemount entry into water shallow enough in which to stand and donning sidemount cylinders in the water.
Inflate the BCD to establish buoyancy, swim on the surface into water too deep in which to stand, perform a buoyancy check, and adjust for proper weighting.
Execute a five-point descent with a buddy.
Locate both SPGs and indicate the gas supply in each cylinder to the instructor and buddies.
Throughout the dive, in two-cylinder sidemount, manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
Establish neutral buoyancy and swim using flutter kicks and frog kicks (unless it is not possible for the student due to a physical limitation), with a buddy, 24 meters/80 feet to assess balance and trim, to make adjustments as required, and to develop/confirm familiarity with both kicks.
Recover and clear the second stage from behind/below the cylinder.
In two-cylinder sidemount, remove and release the second stage of one cylinder, secure the second stage of the other, clear it and begin breathing from it, then recover the first second stage. then recover the first second stage.
Establish neutral buoyancy and hover using breath control for at least one minute.
Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as both the donor and as the receiver by sharing gas with a long hose second stage, then swimming 15 meters/50 feet maintaining contact with a buddy.
In two-cylinder sidemount, respond to a simulated failed regulator or failed cylinder valve by switching second stages (if necessary to maintain a breathing supply) and shutting down the simulated affected cylinder valve, within 60 seconds.
With a buddy, perform a safety stop in midwater for three minutes, not varying from the stop depth by more than 2 meters/7 feet.
Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, remove the cylinder(s) and exit the water.
Establish positive buoyancy, enter water too deep in which to stand and don cylinders, connecting the BCD and other inflators as appropriate for the configuration in use.
Swim underwater for a distance of not less than 24 meters/80 feet, including at least one turn of 180 degrees and swimming backwards using only kicks (unless doing so is impossible due to a physical limitation), without making contact with the bottom.
Disconnect the lower attachment of at least one cylinder, swing it in front with the upper connection in place, swim at least 18 meters/60 feet, then reconnect the lower attachment.
Execute a proper ascent, and exit the water (any method), then enter the water using a method in which the diver dons the cylinders before entry (giant stride, seated back roll, etc.)
Throughout the session, respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated emergencies presented by the instructor.
Open Water Dives
We will do three open water dives
At first we will plan our dive(s), taking into account our sidemount configuration. Aspects such as when to switch second stages and dive limits. You’ll be able to dive a lot longer with two dive cylinders. In dives 1 and 2 we do the skills we have practised in confined water. The Depth range will be 6 metres/20 feet to 18 metres/60 feet. We will stay within the day light visibility.
In Dive 3 we will repeat some of the most important skills. This dive we will plan first as well. The depth range will be meters/20 feet to 30 meters/100 feet, or students’ maximum depth qualification, whichever is shallower. We will stay within the day light visibility.
Observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. Improve the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevate them to the next level.
Excellent buoyancy control is what defines skilled scuba divers. You’ve seen them underwater. They glide effortlessly, use less air and ascend, descend or hover almost as if by thought. They more easily observe aquatic life without disturbing their surroundings. You can achieve this, too. The PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course improves the buoyancy skills you learned as a new diver and elevates them to the next level.
PADI (Junior) Open Water Divers or higher, who are at least 10 years old, are eligible to take the Peak Performance Buoyancy course.
The PADI Drift Diver Specialty course teaches you how to enjoy going with the flow as you scuba dive down rivers and use ocean currents to glide along. It feels like flying – except that you’re underwater using scuba equipment. Drift diving can be relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. If this sound like fun, then the Drift Diver course is for you.
If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Drift Diver specialty course.
Be the scuba diver everyone wants to follow because you know where you are and where you’re going. The PADI Underwater Navigator course fine-tunes your observation skills and teaches you to more accurately use your compass underwater. If you like challenges with big rewards, take this course and have fun finding your way.
If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 10 years old, you can enroll in the PADI Underwater Navigator Specialty course.
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