Sidemount

Expand your skills and equipment configuration

Course prerequisites

Open Water and be at least 15 years old

What you can expect to learn:

Gas matching procedures

Gas management utilizing independent cylinders

Equipment considerations

Equipment and problem solving in a sidemount configuration

S-drills specific to sidemount diving

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

  • Demonstrate various propulsion techniques such as the frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, backwards kick, and helicopter turns.
  • 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
  • Deploy a lift bag

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
Start Now