TDI SIDEMOUNT DIVER COURSE
DURATION
4 days
IN A NUTSHELL
The TDI Sidemount Diver Course with CDT Mexico is designed for divers looking to adopt a streamlined, redundant gas setup with a strong technical foundation.
It provides the skills needed to configure, manage, and optimize sidemount equipment for technical and cave diving. Students will develop proficiency in buoyancy control, advanced propulsion techniques, gas planning, regulator handling, and efficient equipment donning and doffing.
The course also covers crucial sequences for water entry and exit, as well as problem-solving strategies in challenging conditions. Emphasis is placed on team communication, situational awareness, and handling potential failures while maintaining control.
Mastering these essential skills ensures a safe, efficient, and prepared transition into technical or cave diving using a sidemount configuration, laying the groundwork for more advanced exploration.
​PRE-REQUISITES
Students must be 18 years old, and:
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certified as an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver (or equivalent)
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have a minimum of 20 logged dives
SKILLS & CHALLENGES AHEAD
The Sidemount Diver Course introduces you to one of the most versatile and rewarding equipment configurations in diving. It emphasizes awareness, precision, and adaptability, as you learn to manage redundant cylinders, streamline your profile, and master a new level of equipment control.
In-water training includes:
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Gas management, awareness, and maintaining redundancy.
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Regulator switching techniques (two hands, one hand, in low visibility).
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Hand and light communication.
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Fundamental skills: breathing, buoyancy, trim, propulsion, positioning.
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Advanced propulsion: modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, reverse kick, and helicopter turn.
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Problem-solving scenarios: mask replacement, cylinder rigging, or bungee failures.
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Managing leaks and free-flows (valves, first and second stages, LPI hose, etc.).
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Lift bag deployment.
Land-based training covers:
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Equipment configuration and set-up.
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Pre-dive checks and team dynamics.
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Donning/doffing sequences.
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Gas switch simulations.
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Communication drills.
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Thorough briefings and debriefings for every exercise.
Academic presentations and discussions explore:
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Awareness and mindset in sidemount diving.
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Gas planning strategies: rule of thirds, conservatism, and gas matching.
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Maintaining redundancy and regulator switch protocols.
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Dive planning, potential failures, and countermeasures.
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Emergency and safety procedures.
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Psychological and physiological considerations.
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Stress recognition, management, and maintaining control.
The challenge of Sidemount diving:
Sidemount diving increases task loading and demands constant awareness of gas, equipment, and positioning. Divers must adjust cylinder placement as gas levels deplete, refine their buoyancy and trim, and plan gas usage with precision. This course gives you the skills and mindset to dive sidemount safely and efficiently — and for many, it becomes a favorite way to explore.
