Sidemount Diver (SDI)

Description

Sidemount diver – Why Sidemount? Aside from looking like an absolute beast, Sidmount is great for divers who are looking to extend their range, considering decompression diving, and is a perfect option for those who are looking to advance their skills but either can’t or don’t want to carry around double tanks on their back. Diving Sidemount also decreases your profile underwater, allowing for easy passage through narrow openings; your tanks are constantly available for you to manage; and again, you look like a BEAST.

There are two Sidemount courses: SDI and TDI. The SDI course teaches the basics. Here divers learn about the gear, how to set it up for a variety of diving conditions, different BCD configurations; regulator types; hose routing options; and most importantly, how to set up and adjust your trim for epic level buoyancy and efficiency of movement under water.

The TDI Sidemount course goes a step farther, instructing the student on how to dive with additional stage tanks and is typically taught in combination with advanced courses like Decompression Procedures or Extended Range.

Cost of course includes: eLearning; class time with instructor(s); two open water dives; registration and certification card upon successful completion. Air fills, including Nitrox, and equipment rentals, are not organically included.

Read the full course Standards & Procedures.

Prerequisites: in order to take this Spartan course, divers much have their basic open water certification through any recognized agency; you must have at least 50 logged dives under your belt with a good handle on your buoyancy; divers must be 18 at sign-up, or 15 with parent approval. On top of this, Spartan Scuba finds this course is more easily conquered by divers who are both drysuit and deep certified (to 130 feet), although neither of these is a requirement.

Interested? Then read on!

Who this SDI course is for:

• The certified diver looking to use a sidemount cylinder instead of the standard back mount unit.

What you can expect to learn:

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

• Gas management utilizing independent cylinders
• Equipment considerations
  • Cylinder options
  • Regulator options
  • Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)/harness options
  • Proper weighting
  • Equipment configurations
• Communication
  • Hand signals
• Problem solving
  • Gas-sharing
  • Gas hemorrhages
• Water entries
  • Shore
  • Boat
• S-Drills (specific to sidemount)

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

• Plan dive
• Test and check all equipment (depth gauges, bottom timers/watches and computers)
• Familiarization with area
• Descend to planed depth and not exceed any pre-planned limits
• Demonstrate the ability to safely manage gas in independent cylinders
• Monitor depth/time/air consumption, figure all times on slate
• Demonstrate ability to control buoyancy
• Attaching sidemount cylinders while
  • Out of water
  • On surface standing on bottom
  • On surface in water to deep to stand
  • At depth
• Perform gas switches
• Perform safety stops

What’s in it for you?

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

• Safety stops as appropriate
• Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level

Also, the SDI Sidemount Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.

SDI Sidemount Diver minimum requirements:

• Perform all land drills and open water dive requirements safely and efficiently
• Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
• Log all dives