Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Regimen

Technical Sidemount Diving

Items such as cylinders and primary lights, which my be difficult to travel with, are available for rental. Be sure to alert us if you will need any of these.

Steve, just wanted thank you for your awesome online Sidemount PCB class. My PADI Sidemount training was completed last year. I still felt that the XDeep rig wasn't as streamlined and comfortable as I expected. While the instructor was competent, I could tell he didn't live sidemount. I had signed-up for your free course system, which was helpful at the time. However,... read moreSteve just wanted you to thank us for our amazing online Sidemount PCB Course. I had my PADI Sidemount training last year and felt that the XDeep system was not streamlined in the way I desired. The instructor was competent, but it was obvious that he didn’t live or breathe sidemount. I had signed up for the free course which was helpful, but it left me wanting more. I am completing my Overhead Environment Training in Florida this November. I wanted to make certain my setup and skills are up to the mark. I have completed your entire online course. I used all your suggestions to rebuild my XDeep sling harness. Your recommendations helped me redesign my entire harness system, including my attachment points. I feel confident in the water now that I know my setup is working properly. Once again, thank-you. Next is to continue working on my skills, which are much more manageable now that my harness works properly. I wish that I had paid for your training last year. Take care of yourself and keep the updates coming. Thanks, Jason read less

Recreational Divers —

Sidemount PPB diving is growing in popularity within technical diving communities for general compression diving. It has become an increasingly popular specialty training for recreational divers with numerous certification agencies offering technical and recreational sidemount training programs.

Hi Steve, I really enjoyed your Sidemount PCB Essentials course in Gozo! Have probably never spend my money on anything better. It made so much fun and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Seeing your dedication and experience is simply amazing. You pay attention to the smallest details and you are always striving to improve things even further. I also... read moreHi Steve, I really enjoyed your Sidemount PCB Essentials course in Gozo! Have probably never spend my money on anything better. It made so much fun and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Seeing your dedication and experience is simply amazing. You pay attention to the smallest details and you are always striving to improve things even further. I also love your enthusiasm to capture all those details, new equipment, new methods, hints etc. with the camera to be able to include them in upcoming videos to the benefit of everyone. Speaking of your online training videos I must say that they are a class of its own. They definitely get you well-prepared for the things you need to know during the in-water training and I think that exactly this concept is the key to the steep learning curve because the time underwater can be used efficiently. Thank you so much for everything Steve! Cheers, Nils read less

What is a technical scuba diver

International Training is the parent company of Technical Diving International. Both courses have a lot in common. Both courses use identical learning materials (which we also wrote). So, what is the difference?

Steve, your tutorials are fantastic and a great addition to any instructor’s toolbox. I am a PADI instructor in Cyprus. I have taken a few courses to learn this style of diving which, although it is derived from cave diving, has become very popular with recreational divers. However, my only method of certification is sidemount diving. This technique has helped me to become a confident and competent diver. I am a PADI instructor in Cyprus. I have taken a few courses to learn this style of diving which, although it is derived from cave diving, has become very popular with recreational divers. Your technique allowed me to certify confident and competent sidemount divers. This is a method that I have found works well for Dive guides and dive boats. It takes up twice as much space and requires half the time. They will also look sleek underwater and be very safe. It is all thanks to your organized approach to explaining every aspect sidemount diving, which is critical. It is a great way to teach sidemount. We are very grateful! read less

What is a technical scuba diver
Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Tips

Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Tips

Steve/Vas, Your instructor series has been amazing. Please allow me to be the first person to state that I agree with everything you said. One can learn SM simply by watching the videos. I was able to sacrifice my learning without the help of SM Essentials Instructor. It took me nearly one year to get good at AL80s. I then read moreSteve/Vas. The instructor series you have created is truly amazing. Let me just say that I agree with everything you have to say. As I have shown, anyone can learn SM from watching videos. I was able to sacrifice my learning curve, but not without the help of SM essentials instructor. It took me almost one full year to get used to AL80s. I completed the tech dive level one year later and informed my tech instructor that I was diving in SM configuration. I had to explain to him that I taught it myself. His response was "you most likely need to take a SM class with me depending upon how I do on dive 1". After my first dive he said, "There is no reason why you should take a class alongside me." Your online training is perfect, but I would go back to Joe Seda if I had to. I plan to continue the course with him in the future. Regards Tony read less

Technical diving is not the same as regular diving. Tech divers usually have multiple tanks. SidemountPCB is becoming a more popular method to configure multiple cylinders when technical diving. You can learn how to tec dive with the Tec Sidemount PCB Diver Course and then transfer your knowledge to other TecRec courses. The instructor might offer to incorporate this course into the Tec 40, Tec 45, or Tec 50 courses.

Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training Regimen

What should I avoid after scuba diving

Sidemount PCB Diving evolved in the early years of cave diving, pioneered by explorers such as Lamar Hires to use multiple tanks in a streamlined a compact fashion to get places that back mounted divers could not. As time went on, the technique has matured and evolved to become one of the fastest growing areas of our sport.

Sidemount PCB harness: This is a specialized Harness, similar to a BCD. It's very light and low in weight. This harness has several D rings on the shoulder straps. It also features a Buttplate that can be fitted with rings or sliders.

Essentials
Essentials

We do not issue certification cards unless they are earned. The mere fact that you have taken part in a training course does not make you certified. There may be multiple certification agencies that offer certification cards for cave courses. C-cards typically cost around $30 per card depending on their agency. You can ask your instructor more.

AQUI Water Sports is a leader in scuba diving training for multiple agencies under the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). We have created a global community for like-minded divers and educators who believe in quality over quantity. Don’t be just a number on a certification card, be a teammate, a friend, and a lifelong diver.

Technical Sidemount Scuba Dive Training 6000

This course (Intro to Tech) introduces recreational divers to the rigors and discipline of technical diving, and is a great preparatory course if you are considering specific technical diver training, such as cave or decompression diving, or are interested in streamlining your equipment configuration for maximum efficiency. Learn about dive planning, physics and physiology, decompression, decompression associated with technical diving, buoyancy control, and side-mount configuration. The NAUI Technical Equipment Configuration (NTEC) training is also part of the NAUI Intro to Tech course.

These cards are only issued to those who have earned them. Participating in a course is not a guarantee of certification. Certification cards may be offered by multiple agencies for cave courses. C-cards cost $30 to $30 per card, depending on the agency. Ask your instructor for more information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the Tec 40 Course? Your first step into technical diving is the PADI Tec 40 course. It is a fundamental level of decompression diving that allows you to dive with gas redundancy, higher Enriched Air mixes of up to 50%, decompression on EANX 50% for conservatism, and up to 10 minutes of decompression.

Tec divers can visit reefs and wrecks at depths well below the recreational limit of 40 meters/130 feet. They can explore underwater caves and other locations far beyond the reach of mainstream sport diving with specialized training.