Sidemount diving requires only an Open Water Diver to begin. Although it's important to have excellent buoyancy and trim, you should also be able handle your equipment independently. Sidemount diving offers a whole new level of skill and equipment setup.
Television, magazines or stories from a close friend can all be used to explore the underwater world. It doesn't really matter which source you use, it is still exciting and very enticing. So what can we do to continue exploring? What is technical diving?
Apart from the Sidemount equipment you will need your normal wetsuit, fins mask, computer, compass, DSMB, and other accessories.
Sidemount Diver was one of my most challenging courses. This was due to the fact that my instructor Fiona, from Big Blue Tech, a trusted dive center in Koh Takao, included more skills and dives than I needed. My task load was always manageable so we practiced skills repeatedly. This included mask removable, tank removable underwater, out of air drills, and SMB deployment. We also kept our trim.
There are three parts to certification: knowledge development, skill practice and open water dives. You can complete all three parts locally, on holiday, or split between the two.
Technical divers search for wrecks and reefs in depths below the recreational limit (40 m/130 ft). These divers have the ability to dive into underwater caves and other areas not accessible by regular recreational diving.
You should know what you are getting. Prices include instruction fees and eLearning fees. Keep in mind that eLearning can cost anywhere from $140 up to $280. If you pay for elearning separately, then a course costing $640 from us could be the same price as a course costing $500 from another source.
Due to the issues with single-orifice doubles or backmounted independents (which are not as common in modern diving), backmounted doubles were invented. Independents are two independent cylinders attached to one's back, with independent regulators for each. One cylinder was sufficient to take care of a failed 1st Stage. Single orifice duplicates were two cylinders linked with a valve and one regulator. A single orifice doubles set would cause all gas to be lost if a first stage fails. These problems can be eliminated with the modern isolated manifolds. Each cylinder can work independently but divers can also inhale gas from both of them through one regulator. These doubles are typically held together with metal bands. The valves can also be linked with an isolation device, which allows them to be seperated if required. Backmounted doubles diving offers a profile that's vertically identical to regular single-cylinder backmount.
The entry-level tech diver will learn to optimize their gear to avoid drag and dangling objects. This allows for maximum propulsion efficiency and awareness.
2nd stage regulator, 2nd stage regulator, exposure suit, BCD sidemount, BCD sidemount and SMB sidemount, cutting tool, diving pool, Jet fins, masks and spare masks, technical diving equipments, technical diving gears, 1 long Hose (2.10m-7ft), cave harness or hogarthian.
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.
A minimum of fitness is required for scuba diving. A physician may be required to approve you before diving if you have any chronic conditions, are taking certain medications, or have had recent surgery.
2nd stage regulator; exposure suit with side pockets, BCD-sidemount, SMB cutting tool, diving spool. Jet fins. Mask and spare mask. Technical diving equipments. 1 long hose (2.10m-7ft), hogarthian, or cave harness.
Television, magazines, stories from a friend – it doesn’t matter the source, exploring the underwater world and escaping the surface is enticing and exciting. So how do we keep exploring? What exactly is technical diving?
2-3 hours
Even with small cylinders, you can usually dive for 2-3 hours (rebreathers typically have two 2/3l cylinders or one 3/5l cylinder).