TDI Sidemount Diver

TDI Sidemount Diver Course Overview

The new TDI Sidemount Diver program is far more than just another “how to” book on Sidemount diving. It’s a complete, comprehensive set of training materials designed to work together to make learning and teaching Sidemount diving easy.

Who this course is for?

• The TDI diver looking to expand their in-water skills and techniques
• The certified diver who has interest in moving forward with technical diving education and expanding their equipment configuration options

Course prerequisites:

• Minimum age 18
• Minimum certification of SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent

What you can expect to learn:

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

• Gas matching procedures to include dissimilar volumes
• Gas management utilizing independent cylinders
• Psychological considerations of technical diving
• Equipment considerations
  • Cylinder options
  • Regulator options
  • Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)/harness options
  • Proper weighting
  • Equipment configurations
• Communication (light and hand signals)
• Problem solving in a sidemount configuration
• Diving in tight or confined spaces
• Conservation
• Water entries/exits
• S-drills specific to sidemount diving
• • Demonstrate various propulsion techniques such as the frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, backwards kick, helicopter turns, and hand pulling if appropriate for the environment.
  • Demonstrate adequate buoyancy control; ability to hover at a fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet
  • Demonstrate adequate trim; ability to maintain proper position during the descent, bottom, and ascent portion of the dive
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform the following exercises while maintaining trim and buoyancy in the water column:
    • Unclipping and attaching sidemount cylinders
    • Perform gas switches with and without a mask
  • Demonstrate the ability to safely manage gas in independent cylinders
  • Demonstrate conservation, awareness, and back referencing techniques
  • Deploy a lift bag
  • Carry additional cylinders is optional in this courseSome of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

What’s in it for you?

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

• The diving activities approximate those of training
• The areas of activities approximate those of training
• Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level

TDI Sidemount Diver minimum certification requirements:

• Perform all land drills and dive requirements safely and efficiently
• Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
• Maintain an appropriate level of awareness and respect for the environment
• Log all training dives

Pricing: