SDI SIDEMOUNT DIVER

The certified diver looking to use a sidemount cylinder instead of the standard back mount unit.

Course prerequisites:

SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent
Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent.

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Sidemount Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

Gas management utilizing independent cylinders
Equipment considerations
- Cylinder options
- Regulator options
- Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)/harness options
- Proper weighting
- Equipment configurations
Communication
- Hand signals
Problem solving
- Gas-sharing
- Gas hemorrhages
Water entries
- Shore
- Boat
S-Drills (specific to sidemount)

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

Plan dive
Test and check all equipment (depth gauges, bottom timers/watches and computers)
Familiarization with area
Descend to planed depth and not exceed any pre-planned limits
Demonstrate the ability to safely manage gas in independent cylinders
Monitor depth/time/air consumption, figure all times on slate
Demonstrate ability to control buoyancy
Attaching sidemount cylinders while
- Out of water
- On surface standing on bottom
- On surface in water to deep to stand
- At depth
Perform gas switches
Perform safety stops

What’s in it for you?

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

Safety stops as appropriate
Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level

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