Sidemount Diver Course

• SDI or TDI divers aiming to enhance their in-water skills and techniques
• Certified divers interested in advancing their technical diving education and exploring various equipment configuration options

• Minimum age of 18
• Certification as an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent

The TDI Sidemount Diver Course covers a comprehensive range of topics, including:

• Gas matching procedures, incorporating dissimilar volumes
• Gas management with independent cylinders
• Psychological aspects of technical diving
• Equipment considerations, including cylinder and regulator options, buoyancy compensator/harness options, proper weighting, equipment configurations, and communication methods
• Problem-solving techniques in a sidemount configuration
• Diving in tight or confined spaces
• Conservation practices
• Water entries and exits
• S-drills specific to sidemount diving

Participants will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in various skills, such as:

• Performing different propulsion techniques (e.g., frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, backward kick, helicopter turns, and hand pulling as appropriate)
• Maintaining adequate buoyancy control and trim
• Conducting tasks such as unclipping and attaching sidemount cylinders, performing gas switches with and without a mask, and safely managing gas in independent cylinders
• Demonstrating conservation, awareness, and back-referencing techniques
• Deploying a lift bag (optional)

Upon successful completion, graduates gain the ability to engage in sidemount diving activities independently, provided they adhere to certain limits and requirements outlined during training.

• Safely and efficiently completing all land drills and dive requirements
• Demonstrating mature and prudent judgment in dive planning and execution
• Maintaining an appropriate level of environmental awareness and respect
• Logging all training dives

• Find an Instructor for this Course
• Find your local TDI Dive Center here.
• Course Cost: $144.15 USD for eLearning only; pool and open water training not included. Contact your local dive shop for the full course cost.