Not all certifications may be accepted by other dive training organizations. Ask your Tec Sidemount PCB instructor.
You can rent items like primary lights and cylinders, which may be difficult to carry. Please let us know if you need these.
You should not use sidemount in your cave diver training. Our CDS Basics Orientation class is what you need.
Steve came to Portugal in the early days for Sidemount PCB, and I was there to meet him. I was immediately impressed by his enthusiasm, technical skills, and professionalism. With his new website, and online training, this has been elevated to a completely different level. It is easy to use the contents, whether you are just starting out or an experienced professional. Read more Steve met me in Portugal a little over ten years ago to teach Sidemount PCB to his staff. I was immediately impressed by his enthusiasm, technical skills, and professionalism. With his new website, and online training, this has been elevated to a completely different level. This website is perfect for both beginners and experienced divers. Thank you for making sidemount an easy and familiar way to learn to dive. read less
Steve, my pleasure! I enjoyed your Sidemount PCB Essentials training in Gozo. I can't think of anything better. It was so much of a lot of fun. It's amazing to see the dedication and your experience. You pay attention and are constantly striving for improvement. I also love your passion to capture... Read moreHi Steve! It was a great course on Sidemount PCB Essentials in Gozo! I can't think of anything better. It was so much of a lot of fun. Your passion and knowledge are truly amazing. You pay attention and strive to improve everything. I also love your enthusiasm for capturing details, new equipment, tips, etc. You can take these photos with your camera and use them in future videos. Your online training videos have a special place in my heart. These videos prepare you for the in-water training. In fact, I believe this is the key to the steep learning curve. The time spent underwater can be utilized efficiently. Steve, we are grateful for everything. Nils, Cheers
As a Rebreather CCR diver you will always carry bailouts cylinders with you. Yes you can clip the tank to your side and not think anything more of it, but once you have done a Sidemount PCB course you learn how to properly stage tank to either side and if you are a Trimix CCR Diver even how to stage 3-4 tanks comfortably and safely.
Your efforts are greatly appreciated. I began sidemounting using your online videos and completed a speciality class on it. Just a few days ago, I finished UTD Cave 1. Sir, it was a great learning experience. Keep the great content coming
Computer-aided instruction forms an integral part of most courses we teach. Why? The reason is simple. eLearning helps students get in the water earlier and spend more of their time there. That is why we charge no additional for any applicable online eLearning programs. These are typically $140. This can translate into an additional day in-water instruction. That is how valuable it is. Priceless.
Qualifying certifications from another diver training organization may also be available - ask your Tec Sidemount PCB Coach.
Thank you for your hard work. I have just completed my UTD cave 1, sidemounting with your videos. Sir, your videos make a tremendous difference. Keep sharing your great content.
Sidemount PCB Diving began in the early years cave diving. Lamar Hires pioneered this technique by using multiple tanks in an efficient and compact manner to reach places that back mounted divers couldn’t. As the sport grew, this technique evolved and became one of the fastest growing.
The major change in equipment cave divers use since the beginning of this century has been to switch from using backmounted doubles to sidemount. Many cave divers now sidemount. There may even be more sidemount sidemount cave divers that backmount cave divers.
Sidemount PCB Harness. This is a special Harness that looks like a BCD. It is very lightweight and extremely minimal. The harness comes with several D rings on the shoulder straps, as well as a Butt plate that has sliders or rings.
I've never tried sidemounting before, but I learned a lot from his online video training and I knew Steve was the man for me to learn it. I was correct! It was truly a life changing week! Sidemount PCB Essentials far exceeded my expectations. Steve is an excellent teacher who has patience and spends a lot... read moreI had never tried sidemount but I learned from his online video that Steve was the ideal man to teach me how to do it. I was not wrong. It was truly a life changing week! Sidemount PCB Essentials far exceeded my expectations. Steve is a wonderful teacher. His patience is amazing and he puts in a lot time and effort with his students. Everything is well planned and executed with great care. It was both memorable and rewarding. Sidemount PCB Essentials Course was a transformative experience for me. In such a short time, I saw a change in my awareness and skill level below water that I didn't expect. Everything is in its right place, from the harness setup to the weight amount and location, through the cylinder trim to your balance in the pool. This will make you feel calm, confident, and allow you to experience sidemount set-ups that are true... without any back pain. This course was both challenging and very enjoyable. Each day begins with a planning session. We end the day with a video review of what we did in the water. It was a tedious process to drain the cylinders before we could go into the water. This is why our learning curve has been so steep. Everything was handled in a calm and secure environment, yet with remarkable professionalism. Steve's course is worth it. Steve will assist you in achieving more than you could ever imagine if Sidemount PCB is your passion. read less
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).
You must be a PADI Open Water Diver to enroll in the PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver course, but you must also be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver to become a PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver. Have at least 30 dives under your belt.
5-6 days
Rebreather training classes are typically 5-6 days long, but can be longer depending on a variety of factors such as the training agency, your local conditions, your instructor, and your ability to meet the class standards.