PADI Sidemount Rec Diver

Enjoy optimal streamline, find flawless trim, better balance, increase your gas supply and extend your dives by becoming a PADI Sidemount diver.

Learn about the many benefits of diving with a sidemount configuration including more flexibility and the ability to explore a variety of different marine environments including cave diving.

Benefits of becoming a PADI Sidemount Diver

It is more comfortable – with your cylinders mounted either side there is much less pressure on your back.

Expend less energy – enhance your streamlining & body position, improve your buoyancy, become a more efficient diver and use less energy.

Maximise your dive time – two tanks will give you more air and bottom time, especially if you are using Enriched Air sidemount.

Have more control – the regulator first stage and valves are in front of you where they are visible and accessible, making it easier to see and deal with problems.

More peace of mind – with two-cylinder sidemount, you can handle an out-of-gas problem without your buddy by switching to the second cylinder.

Sidemount Diving is lots of fun.

Included in the OTB Diving PADI Sidemount Specialty Course:

• PADI Sidemount diver manual/eLearning
• 4 Sidemount Open Water training dives
• PADI Certification card
• Rental of all scuba equipment
• FREE use of Dive Computer
• Maximum 4 students per PADI Instructor

To enroll on a PADI Sidemount specialty course you must:

• Be an Open Water diver
• Have recent diving experience – we recommend completing a scuba review if you have not dived for 12 months
• 15 years of age or older
• Medically fit to dive

2 Day PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty Course

The course consists of 3 sections:

• Knowledge Development – read the PADI Sidemount diver manual and complete the knowledge reviews
• Confined water training – a shallow water training session that introduces you to the equipment and how to use it
• Open Water training – 4 Sidemount diver training dives

Orientation & Knowledge Development

We start the PADI Sidemount diver specialty course with an Orientation that includes completion of paperwork and the PADI Medical statement.

The PADI Sidemount diver specialty course consists of 4 Open Water training dives at local dive sites.

There is a Sidemount Specialty diver manual to read and an open book knowledge review with 9 questions that your instructor will guide you through and review if you have not selected the eLearning option.

The Instructor led knowledge development is conducted during the morning of day 1.

Some of the subjects you will cover include:

• What the benefits of Sidemount diving are
• Sidemount Equipment configuration
• Dive planning, gas management and turn pressure
• Sidemount equipment malfunctions & emergency procedures
• Techniques used for flutter, frog and reverse frog kicking

Shallow & Confined water training

As you will be using new and unfamiliar equipment compared to what you have previously dived with it is a good idea to start with a confined water training dive.

This will allow you to become familiar with your harness and sidemount equipment configuration and familiarise yourself with the basic skills that differ between sidemount and standard scuba equipment. 

Some of the skills you will be mastering include:

• Descents, ascents, entry and exit techniques
• Gas management by switching second stages as per dive plan
• Correct buoyancy control including body position, trim and balance
• Correct swimming techniques and turning including flutter, frog & reverse frog kicking
• Simulated out-of-gas emergencies using long hose second stage
• Respond to regulator / cylinder valve failure & shutting down cylinder within 60 seconds

Your Sidemount Diving Specialty Instructor will present simulated emergencies throughout the session, building up your confidence so by the end you can respond calmly, correctly and in an appropriate manner.

Sidemount Dives

There are 4 Sidemount training dives you will need complete to become a PADI Sidemount Diver.

Experience the excitement of diving in two-cylinder Sidemount for the first time in Open Water with 4 sidemount training dives.

Practice managing your gas by switching second stages, become more familiar with your kicking techniques plus learn to master your balance and trim.

Your Dive Instructor will ask you to repeat some of the simulated emergencies you practiced in confined water training.

These skills include responding to and shutting down a failed regulator and cylinder, simulating out of air emergencies and air sharing using the long hose.

You will be sure to enjoy these action-packed training dives as you add a new dimension to your diving and more confident and competent diver.

Congratulations. You are now a PADI Sidemount Diver