Sidemount Specialty
Private only course! Contact us to book on flexible schedule.
Discover the balance and efficiency of sidemount scuba diving with your PADI dive instructor. Many divers find sidemount tanks are more comfortable and easier to put on in the water. Sidemount diving is also beneficial for divers who want improved balance and prolonged dives.
To ensure the students are getting the highest quality instruction, Dive and Sea Sports only offers private sidemount courses. This ensures the instructor spends adequate time with each student fine tuning trim and buoyancy and making necessary adjustments to the student's gear. It also provides the student with adequately adjusted gear for every subsequent sidemount dive after certification.
Availability: Contact us for booking information
Take This Course If You Want to
- Experience a different scuba configuration
- Improve gas management
- Gain insight into basic tec diving techniques
Learn How to
- Assemble and configure sidemount equipment
- Mount scuba tanks in the water
- Adjust your weights for optimal balance
- Frog kick to move easily while wearing sidemount
How to Earn Your PADI Sidemount Diver Certification
Complete your Sidemount Diver eLearning coursework online, then meet with a highly-trained PADI Instructor for training dives.
- Prerequisites:
- PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification)
- Medically fit for diving (check if you meet the medical requirements with the Diver Medical Form)
- Minimum age: 15
- Rentals
Tanks and weights are included but all other gear rentals are not included in the course price. Sidemount configuration requires fine gear tuning specific to each student's body for optimal performance so Dive and Sea Sports does not provide any sidemount gear rentals. Students are expected to bring their own sidemount gear to take this course and the instructor will spend time fine tuning the gear with the student to make them dive ready (discounts apply with the purchase of this course if purchasing sidemount gear from Dive and Sea).
- PADI eLearning®
PADI eLearning® makes it easy to fit scuba certification into a busy schedule. Study online or offline, using a computer or mobile device. Connect with your instructor if you have questions.- eLearning time commitment: 2-4 hours
- eLearning time commitment: 2-4 hours
- With Your Instructor
First, you'll make a confined water dive to become familiar with sidemount diving equipment. Your PADI Instructor will also teach you sidemount diving skills including: frog kicking, attaching and removing scuba tanks as you enter and exit the water, unclipping a scuba tank and swimming with the tank in front of you, and how to switch second stages and manage your breathing gas when wearing two scuba tanks. When you’re comfortable with these skills, you’ll make three open water dives where you’ll practice your new skills, buoyancy control and problem solving.- Total time commitment: 2-3 days