How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Director

Cave Divers

Sidemount diving originated in cave diving, but it has made its way to recreational and non-overhead diving in recent years. You will now wear your tanks side-by-side, instead of having one or two tanks attached to your back. You can attach the tanks to your Sidemount BCD using clips or bungee cords. This allows for extreme flexibility. This flexibility was initially what allowed cave divers to remove their tanks underwater in order to fit into narrow spaces and make their profile smaller.

Skills (specific) – Throughout the tech programs the specific dive skills for that category of diving are practiced until faultless. For overhead diving navigation and line skills are honed in until they’re automatic. Decompression divers can plan and execute the stops and gas management without blinking an eye. Rebreather divers meticulously build, test and break down their units to ensure perfect functionality of the equipment. Skills for each course are laid solid in the first level of certification, and advanced from there. Each step deeper or further hones these skills and adds additional challenges to develop a well rounded, well prepared and well informed diver.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Service —

Our CDS Basics Orientation course is the best option if you don't plan to use sidemount while you cave diver training.

2 first-stage regulator, 2 2nd-stage regulator, an exposure suit with side pockets and a BCD sidemount. A diving spool, mask and a spare mask. Technical diving equipments. 1 long, 2.10m to 7.10ft hose.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Octopus Costume

Sidemount and technical sidemount were my first courses. Sidemount diving is, as its name implies, where you place your tank in front of you. By the end of the session, my hands were covered with cuts. You can remove the tanks from their clips and place them in front of yourself, Superman-style, to streamline your life. The afternoon dive went much smoother after some adjustments to the harness. I was now comfortable unclipping the harness and 'Superman-ing" with the tanks. Sidemount is a great way to have more freedom than having two people on your back. Matt created obstacle courses, and soon we were flying around them with tanks at our fronts, barrel-rolling, and swimming upside down.

The Sidemount diver's setup is slightly different than the backmount.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Director
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Octopus Costume
Harness

Harness

Sidemount diving can be done by anyone who is an Open Water Diver. While it is essential to have good buoyancy and trim, you will be able setup and handle your equipment by yourself. Sidemount diving is a great way to expand your skills and knowledge in equipment setup.

Backmounted doubles came into use in part because of the problems with backmounted independents and single orifice doubles, neither of which are as common in modern diving. Independents are two cylinders strapped to one’s back with independent regulators on each one. If a 1st stage was to fail the diver was down to one cylinder. Single orifice doubles were two cylinders linked together with a valve, and one 1st stage regulator. If a first stage failed on a single orifice doubles set all the gas would be lost. The isolated manifold doubles used today eliminate both of those problems. Each cylinder can be worked independently, but the diver can also breathe gas from both cylinders out of one regulator. This form of doubles is typically held together with metal bands and the valves are linked with an isolation manifold, allowing the two to be separate if needed. Backmounted doubles diving is similar to regular single cylinder backmount, offering a profile that is vertically the same.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Exam Answers

Sidemount regulators can also be used. One regulator will be on a long length hose, while one regulator will be on a shorter one with a necklace. Sidemount regs have a marked design, which makes it easy to identify the tank you are in. This also included a swivel connector for my short-hose regulator. Two SPGs will be provided - one for each stage.

It's normal to be anxious about how it will all work out. Your instructor will assist you with everything!

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Emoji
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Emoji

Skills (generally speaking) - The introductory technical diver will practice their trimming and buoyancy using new equipment. This builds the foundation for efficient diving. Once the foundation is in place, students can start to practice locomotion and then move on with more advanced skills.

You can rent items like primary lights and cylinders, which may be difficult to carry. Please let us know if you need these.

How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Harness

Sidemount and technical were my first courses. Sidemount diving involves placing your tanks in your hands. I was so numb that my fingers and knuckles had been cut by the end. The idea is to take the tanks off of your hands and let them flow out in front. After making adjustments to the harness's size, the afternoon dive went much easier. I was now able to unclip the harness and 'Superman' with the tanks. Sidemount provides an amazing degree of freedom. Matt installed obstacle courses, and we soon found ourselves flying around them while holding tanks at our feet. We also tried barrel-rolling and swimming upside down.

Sidemount divers usually use two tanks. However, it is possible to use one tank as a standard. I was also told that you can use one tank for deco diving.

Check our other pages :

Frequently Asked Questions

- Increased Bottom Time A Closed Circuit diver is not concerned with running out of gas because they are only limited by decompression. This can also be reduced by selecting an oxygen partial pressure that provides the diver with virtually limitless bottom times in 60 feet or less of water.