Two cylinders at your sides instead of one on your back
The sidemount course is for divers who want to learn to dive with cylinders mounted at their sides instead of on their back. With two cylinders and two regulators you have more air for longer dives and a backup air source if one fails. You can reach the cylinder valves with your hand and it is easier to stay streamlined, so sidemount is especially handy in tight spaces and poor visibility, for example around wrecks.
What you learn
- Configuring and preparing two cylinders and regulators: BCD options, attachment and hose routing
- Controlling buoyancy and trim in horizontal and vertical positions, including in tight spaces and poor visibility
- Managing each cylinder separately and planning your air for longer dives
- Valve shutdowns and removing a cylinder
- Handling a regulator failure or an air leak and sharing air with a buddy
- Spotting problems early and preventing them
How the course runs
Theory
How sidemount equipment is built and configured, buoyancy and trim, air planning, emergency procedures and risk management.
Setting up the equipment
Together with the instructor you assemble and adjust the sidemount system: you attach the cylinders, route the hoses and check how the gear sits in the water.
Dives
On three dives you practise buoyancy and trim, handling the cylinders and regulators, valve shutdowns and quick responses to failures. You also simulate a regulator failure, an air leak and sharing air with a buddy.
What comes next
Sidemount skills help on longer dives and around wrecks, and later in technical diving, where the sidemount configuration is common.
Frequently asked questions
How is sidemount different from a twinset?
A twinset is two cylinders joined by a manifold and worn on your back. In sidemount each cylinder is attached separately at your side with its own regulator, and you can reach its valve with your hand.
How much experience do I need?
You need an Open Water Diver certificate, at least 20 logged dives and good buoyancy control. The minimum age is 15 (PADI) or 18 (SDI).
Do I need my own sidemount equipment?
No, the diving equipment is included in the course price.
Which certificate will I get?
An international PADI or SDI Sidemount Diver certificate.