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
- Problem solving
- Gas-sharing
- Gas hemorrhages
- Water entries
- 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
