SDI/TDI Sidemount Diver

What makes the new SDI/TDI Sidemount Diver program better?

It’s Complete

Feature: The new SDI/TDI Sidemount Diver program is far more than just another “how to” book on sidemount diving. It’s a complete, comprehensive set of training materials designed to work together to make learning and teaching sidemount diving easy. These materials include:

Student manual
Knowledge Quest workbook
Instructor Guide
Power-Point presentations
Digital Instructor Resource
Final exams and answer keys

On top of this, all of this information is available as an SDI/TDI eLearning course that covers the same material, in the same sequence, and in the same depth.

Benefit: The new Sidemount Diver course materials save retailers and instructors time, as they don’t need to go to several different sources to assemble the materials needed to teach a comprehensive course, nor do they need to take the time necessary to come up with their own quizzes, exams and similar teaching tools. Further, they do not have to explain to students and customers why eLearning is not available for this course because it is.

It’s Flexible

Feature: You can use the same materials to teach or take everything from an SDI open-water Sidemount Diver course to a TDI technical diving course for deep, cave or wreck.

Benefit: The new program saves retailers and instructor money, as there is no need to invest in multiple sets of materials to teach what are, essentially, the same course, just to different audiences.

It’s Practical

Feature: Rather than take a dogmatic “my way or the highway” approach to Sidemount Diver training, the SDI/TDI program covers the broad range of equipment, procedures and techniques used by experienced sidemount divers around the world.

Benefit: The new course materials don’t put retailers and instructors in the awkward position of having to explain why what the instructor and retailer prefer teaching and selling is at odds with what the materials say is the “one and only way” to do things.

Course Cost: $139.95 USD for eLearning only. Pool and open water training not included. Contact your local dive shop for full course cost.

eLearning available in English and Español. Get Started »

Click here to buy this manual

Recreational Sport Diver Equivalences

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February 3, 2016

Sidemount

Who this SDI course is for:

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

Course prerequisites:

SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent
Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent.

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

How to take this course!

Get started with Sidemount on eLearning: here
Find your local Dive Center: here
Shop online for our Sidemount Products: here

pdf Course Standards & Procedures

Sidemount

Who this TDI course is for:

The SDI or TDI diver looking to expand their in-water skills and techniques
The certified diver who has interest in moving forward with technical diving education and expanding their equipment configuration options

Course prerequisites

(these requirements must be met prior to commencement of training):

Minimum age 18
Minimum certification of SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent

What you can expect to learn:

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

Gas matching procedures to include dissimilar volumes
Gas management utilizing independent cylinders
Psychological considerations of technical diving
Equipment considerations including:
- Cylinder options
- Regulator options
- Buoyancy compensator/harness options
- Proper weighting
- Equipment configurations
Communication (light and hand signals)
Problem solving in a sidemount configuration
Diving in tight or confined spaces
Conservation
Water entries/exits
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, helicopter turns, and hand pulling if appropriate for the environment.
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
Demonstrate conservation, awareness, and back referencing techniques
Deploy a lift bag
Carry additional cylinders is optional in this course

What’s in it for you?

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