You can do eLearning and coursework at home to help support local dive shops. Then, travel to complete your training dives. For a referral, contact your local PADI Dive Center.
Sidemount can be a boon for all divers, but it's especially useful for cave diving. (It was actually cave divers that invented sidemount. These are some of the benefits:
How To Become A Sidemount Technical Scuba Diver Book2nd stage regulator and exposure suit with side pocket, BCD sidemount. SMB. Cutting tool. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulation. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulatory. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd Stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd stage regulator. 2nd hose
Depending on the environment and type of diving each configuration has its advantage and disadvantage. Diving in caves or wrecks the preferred way to dive for sure is either Sidemount or rebreathers. There is also an option for a Sidemount rebreather which makes the diver more streamlined to fit through narrow restrictions. Sidemount also gives the diver the advantage to leave tanks behind that will be picked up upon exiting the cave or wreck. To fit through narrow bedding planes unclipping the tanks makes the profile of the diver even smaller and places that are not available to a backmounted twinset diver become accessible.
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.
Technical diving is defined by being exposed at the ceiling, which prohibits the diver from reaching the surface at any time during the dive. This can be due either to a literal ceiling (a cave, wreck, or virtual ceiling) or a decompression obligation. In such cases, mandatory decompression stops are required on ascent for anyone who exceeds the NDL. This may require the use of special equipment (e.g. Twinsets, Sidemount, special gas mixtures, and more training are needed to perform those stops as well as other tasks on ascent. This will optimize Nitrogen offgassing.
2nd stage regulator; exposure suit with side pockets, BCD-sidemount, SMB cutting tool, diving spool. Jet fins. Mask and spare mask. Technical diving equipments. 1 long hose (2.10m-7ft), hogarthian, or cave harness.
Gear - While all gear is identical, divers in their introductory tech classes (Intro To Tech, Sidemount and CCR Air diluent), will notice some fundamental differences in their configurations. Instead of being split into 2 stages on a single cylinder, the second stages are divided up between two with a separate stage on each. Gas planning becomes more complex and the harnesses are more chrome.
One of most significant changes to the equipment cave divers use since the beginning is the shift from using backmounted doubles towards sidemount. While a large number of cave divers are now sidemounting, it is possible that there are many more sidemount cave diver than backmount.
Sidemount diving has many advantages. You have two tanks with one regulator, a first stage, and SPG. It makes it safer and allows for little air-hogs such as myself to get more air. Sidemount is also very comfortable, as you can quickly put tanks on the water surface and there's no pressure on your back.
To dive, you must have a minimum of fitness and good health. Before diving, you may need to be cleared by a doctor if your health is not in good condition.
If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Sidemount PCB.
2-3 hours
Even with small cylinders, you can usually dive for 2-3 hours (rebreathers typically have two 2/3l cylinders or one 3/5l cylinder).
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.
According to experts, approximately 40% of technical divers enroll in additional education and training programs. This yields a reasonable estimate of approximately 160,000 active technical divers worldwide.