Get the PADI Sidemount PCB Diver and Tec Sidemount PCB Diver Manual from your local PADI Dive Shop and start studying immediately. If you have a recreational sidemount diver certification, you'll focus on Chapters Two and Three, if not, you'll read the entire manual.
It is easy to transport, lightweight, flexible, no steel/allum back plates, easy to adjust, get in and out of water easily, great for disabled divers, divers who have back problems, and female divers who are small but need extra time. You can also carry two cylinders simultaneously, making it safer and more convenient.
I am grateful for your wonderful work. It has been a tremendous help for anyone interested in Sidemount PCB. Your online resource was invaluable in preparing me for the cave sidemount cross-over course I took with Natalie Gibb in Mexico.
Your great work is greatly appreciated by everyone interested in the Sidemount PCB industry. Thanks to your online resource, I was able to join Natalie Gibb's cave sidemount crossover class in Mexico.
Sidemount PCB Diving evolved in the early years of cave diving, pioneered by explorers such as Lamar Hires to use multiple tanks in a streamlined a compact fashion to get places that back mounted divers could not. As time went on, the technique has matured and evolved to become one of the fastest growing areas of our sport.
International Training is the parent company of Technical Diving International. Both courses have a lot in common. Both courses use identical learning materials (which we also wrote). So, what is the difference?
If you are interested in the SDI course, we will teach it. By default, however we also offer the TDI. You can take this course as a standalone, however our students often combine it with our Apprentice Cave Diver program.
You can enroll in Tec Sidemount PCB Diver courses if you are at least 18 years of age and have logged at least 30 dives. You should also hold a PADI Enriched Diver certification.
Steve, I just wanted to say thank you for the amazing online Sidemount PCB training. My PADI Sidemount PCB training was last year. However, I felt that my XDeep harness setup was not as streamlined as I would like. Although the instructor was excellent, I could see that he didn't live and breathe sidemount. I had already signed up for your free course, which was very helpful. But... read moreSteve, I just wanted to say thank you for the amazing online Sidemount PCB training course. My PADI Sidemount PCB training was last year. However, I felt that my XDeep harness wasn't streamlined the way I wanted. Although the instructor was excellent, I could see that he didn't live sidemount. Your free course system was very helpful, but you left wanting more. I will be attending my Overhead Environment training in Florida this November and wanted to ensure that my setup and skills were up-to-date. I watched your entire online course (WOW). Your recommendations helped me to rebuild my XDeep harness. Your setup helped me re-do my entire bungee system and all my attachment points. I feel that my setup is correct and it feels very comfortable in the water. Again, thank you. Next, I will continue to improve my skills. It is much easier now that my harness has been properly set up. Your training was a great investment. I wish I had done it a year ago. Please take care, and keep the updates coming. Thanks, Jason read less
Steve/Vas, your instructor series is phenomenal. Please let me be the first to say you are correct in what you say. One can teach themselves how to SM just by watching the videos as I have done. However, I did compromise/sacrifice my learning curve without one of you (SM essentials instructor). It took me almost one year to get pretty good with AL80s. I then... read moreSteve/Vas, your instructor series is phenomenal. Please let me be the first to say you are correct in what you say. One can teach themselves how to SM just by watching the videos as I have done. However, I did compromise/sacrifice my learning curve without one of you (SM essentials instructor). It took me almost one year to get pretty good with AL80s. I then took the first level of tech diving a year after that and told my tech instructor I was doing it in SM configuration. I had to tell him I taught myself which he responded with “you most likely will have to take a SM workshop with me depending on how I do on dive one”. After the first dive he said “there is no reason for you to take a class with me”. So your online training is spot on but if I had it to do all over again I would see your guy Joe Seda first. I will, in the future, take the course with him so I can be the best I can be. Regards Tony read less
I've never tried sidemounting before, but I learned a lot from his online video training and I knew Steve was the man for me to learn it. I was correct! It was truly a life changing week! Sidemount PCB Essentials far exceeded my expectations. Steve is an excellent teacher who has patience and spends a lot... read moreI had never tried sidemount but I learned from his online video that Steve was the ideal man to teach me how to do it. I was not wrong. It was truly a life changing week! Sidemount PCB Essentials far exceeded my expectations. Steve is a wonderful teacher. His patience is amazing and he puts in a lot time and effort with his students. Everything is well planned and executed with great care. It was both memorable and rewarding. Sidemount PCB Essentials Course was a transformative experience for me. In such a short time, I saw a change in my awareness and skill level below water that I didn't expect. Everything is in its right place, from the harness setup to the weight amount and location, through the cylinder trim to your balance in the pool. This will make you feel calm, confident, and allow you to experience sidemount set-ups that are true... without any back pain. This course was both challenging and very enjoyable. Each day begins with a planning session. We end the day with a video review of what we did in the water. It was a tedious process to drain the cylinders before we could go into the water. This is why our learning curve has been so steep. Everything was handled in a calm and secure environment, yet with remarkable professionalism. Steve's course is worth it. Steve will assist you in achieving more than you could ever imagine if Sidemount PCB is your passion. read less
Additionally, the SDI Sidemount PCB Diver certification counts towards one specialty rating in order to be eligible for the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.
I met Steve, a little over 10 years ago when he came to Portugal to teach our staff to Sidemount PCB (at the time it was the early days of Sidemount PCB). I could immediately see his level of enthusiasm, technical ability, and professionalism. That moved to an all-different level with his new website and online training. The contents are so complete... read moreI met Steve, a little over 10 years ago when he came to Portugal to teach our staff to Sidemount PCB (at the time it was the early days of Sidemount PCB). I could immediately see his level of enthusiasm, technical ability, and professionalism. That moved to an all-different level with his new website and online training. The contents are so complete either for someone starting, someone experienced and instructors alike. Thanks for all the effort to make sidemount a known and easy way to dive. read less
This was an enlightening experience that I had with your online course. While I've had limited experiences with other instructors over my scuba "career", I can honestly say I've never seen so many practical, useful and deep explanations of how to become a better diver. I had difficulty with buoyancy control while trying to take my PADI AOW course. While I had limited experiences with instructors in my scuba "career", I can honestly say I have never experienced such useful, deep, and practical explanations of how to become a better diver. My buoyancy control was an issue when I attempted to shoot my SMB during my PADI AOW course. My instructor told me how to improve my buoyancy. He suggested that I just practice. He did have a good buoyancy, but didn’t explain to me how important proper weighting and breath control are. Your videos were eye opening. I was also surprised that none of my diving buddies understood why I wanted sidemount. Even highly-recommended instructors have questions about why I dive sm. It is what does it do? This is what cave divers do. I'm very glad that I chose sm. It is an entirely different world. While nobody really taught me or inspected how I do SM diving, I have been praised by others for my good trim. I learned everything through your videos. How to set up my equipment and how to exit or enter water. Also, how solve problems. I would love to have a training session with you, and we could meet. This is because I want others to be better divers. There are many outstanding instructors and divers out, but I'm sure your contribution is enormous and important to the scuba diving industry. I am grateful for this! Regards, Csaba read less
A typical diver, at a typical depth, with a typical tank
Based on personal experience, an average open-water certified diver on a 40-foot dive with a standard aluminum 80-cubic-foot tank will be able to stay down for 45 to 60 minutes before surfacing with a safe reserve of air still in the tank.
You must be a PADI Open Water Diver to enroll in the PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver course, but you must also be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver to become a PADI Advanced Rebreather Diver. Have at least 30 dives under your belt.
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.