Rentals are available for items such as primary lights and cylinders that can be hard to transport. If you require any of these items, please let us know.
Sidemount is a great option for cave diving, as it can offer many benefits to divers. Sidemount was invented by cave divers. These are just a few of the many benefits.
If you want some diving classes alternative and lessons or want to know what's best next for your education, take a look at the three options below.
Sidemount and technical were my first courses. Sidemount diving involves placing your tanks in your hands. I was so numb that my fingers and knuckles had been cut by the end. The idea is to take the tanks off of your hands and let them flow out in front. After making adjustments to the harness's size, the afternoon dive went much easier. I was now able to unclip the harness and 'Superman' with the tanks. Sidemount provides an amazing degree of freedom. Matt installed obstacle courses, and we soon found ourselves flying around them while holding tanks at our feet. We also tried barrel-rolling and swimming upside down.
Sidemount Diver Specialty courses may count towards Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Ask your instructor.
If you're not ready to try diving locally, but want to support your local dive shop, you can complete eLearning and coursework near home, then complete your training dives while traveling. Contact your local PADI Dive Center to ask about a referral.
Sidemount regulators are also covered. You'll usually find one regulator on long hoses and one on shorter hoses with a necklace. Sidemount regs can be marked to distinguish the tank from which you are inhaling, unlike regular regs. This was a swivel-joint that I used to control my short hose regulator during my training. Additionally, you will receive two SPGs for each stage.
Divers who are comfortable with sidemount diving can also enjoy open-water dives. Why? Because sidemount diving is very easy and comfortable.
Initial pool sessions were hard. I felt like an openwater diver again, strapped in to the twin tanks trying to conduct valve drills. However, as we moved through the Tec 40 to 45 and 50 courses, our skills improved and we were able to enjoy the course. The most satisfying part of Tec diving is taking your skills, buoyancy, knowledge and awareness to the next stage. It is quite exciting to be able to manage life-threatening emergencies at deep water without having to climb to the surface (due decompression requirements). It's gratifying to execute your dive plan in military precision.
Sidemount PCB is available to help you and your physician with questions about medical fitness for diving.
If you're not yet ready to try local diving but would like to support your local dive store, you can do your eLearning at home and then go on to your training dives abroad. Request a referral from your local PADI Dive Center.
Skills (generally) - An introductory tech diver will practice his trim and buoyancy using the new equipment configuration. This is the first step to efficient diving. Once this foundation is established, the student can begin practicing locomotion before moving on to more advanced skills.
Consider continuing on to Tec Sidemount Diver course in which you’ll learn additional skills specific to tec diving in sidemount, such as staging and switching deco cylinders.
There are three components to certification: skill practice, knowledge development and open water diving. All three parts can be completed locally or on vacation, or you can split them.
5-6 days
Rebreather training classes are typically 5-6 days long, but can be longer depending on a variety of factors such as the training agency, your local conditions, your instructor, and your ability to meet the class standards.
- Increased Bottom Time A Closed Circuit diver is not concerned with running out of gas because they are only limited by decompression. This can also be reduced by selecting an oxygen partial pressure that provides the diver with virtually limitless bottom times in 60 feet or less of water.
The depth range of oxygen rebreathers (simple closed circuit) is limited to approximately 6 m, beyond which the risk of acute oxygen toxicity rises to unacceptable levels very quickly.