PADI Sidemount Course

PADI Sidemount is one of the more recent PADI Specialty Courses and is a whole new way of diving. You learn to dive with either one or two tanks attached to your side as opposed to one tank on your back! 

Some of the techniques and procedures used in Sidemount are the basics of Tec Diving so Sidemount is a great way to get a taster for Tec Diving while still within the limits of recreational diving.

Sidemount Diving - two tanks on the side not one on the back

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.

The Dive Academy offer both the PADI Recreational Sidemount Course and the Recreational Sidemount Instructor Course.

The Recreational Sidemount Course takes two days to complete. You complete the theory by independent learning then have a short theory review session where we make sure you understand the concepts and differences of Sidemount diving, such as slightly more complex gas management. You then go to the swimming pool where you get to try out the gear used for Sidemount and get used to the different configuration of the equipment and the different way of doing certain skills compared to diving with a tank on your back. As a diver already there aren't many new skills for you to learn just previously learnt skills conducted in a different way to allow for the different equipment set-up. The second day is where you get to make 3 dives in the sea with the Sidemount gear, getting used to the difference in buoyancy, gas management and just generally get used to a different way of diving. Many who have tried Sidemount say they much prefer it to diving with a normal BCD.

If you are a PADI Instructor or are taking an Instructor Development Course and already a PADI Recreational Sidemount diver, the Sidemount Instructor Course can be completed in one day with only 1 dive needed plus a classroom presentation, although we do prefer to have a short theory and pool session the day before. If you are not a Sidemount Diver already the Sidemount Instructor Course can be completed at the same time as the Sidemount Diver Course.

For more information on PADI Sidemount Specialty take a look at our website: http://www.thediveacademysamui.com

and for information about PADI Professional level training:

http://www.idc-thediveacademysamui.com

or contact us by email: info@thediveacademysamui.com