The Sidemount Diver Specialty course teaches you everything you need to know to start diving sidemount. Diving Sports Canada proudly teaches through SDI, TDI, and PADI for all scuba diving courses so you will have the option of what level of training suits you best.

Who is this course for?

Sidemount Diving is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to dive for all types of divers. Originally designed for cave divers to be very low profile and flexible, it has appeal to almost everyone. The common misconception is that sidemount is only useful for cave or technical diving. While it is extremely useful for both disciplines, it does not only benefit those divers! With the ability to attach and detach tanks at any point during the dive, as well as being able to easily carry 1-4 tanks at once, you can take whatever setup suits your dive. If you don’t like carrying all that weight on your back at once while shore diving - dive sidemount. If you want to dive with two little 40cuft tanks tucked away under your arms instead of a big 80cuft on your back - dive sidemount. If you want to be well balanced and streamlined on every dive - dive sidemount. If you want to try a different configuration and have an interest in wreck, cave, or technical diving - dive sidemount. If you want to be able to swing your tank infront of you mid-dive for a super awesome photo - dive sidemount.

Prerequisites for the Sidemount Diver Training

Open Water Diver certification or higher

Drysuit Specialty certification (if using a drysuit)

Minimum 15 logged cold water dives

Medical form filled out and approved by a physician (when applicable). Make sure to carefully look over the Medical HERE

All eLearning course material must be completed before the beginning of the course

All prerequisites must be met before the beginning of the training otherwise students may be required to reschedule. See our Rescheduling Policy HERE

What is Included

Sidemount Diver eLearning course material.

1 Evening classroom session for orientation, equipment configuration, and knowledge review.

1 Evening confined water pool training session prior to the ocean dives.

Transportation between pool and dive shop locations.

Necessary exposure gear: Wetsuit, drysuit, boots, fins, hood (except mask, snorkel, and gloves)

We are doing our part to try and reduce plastic use, so all of our certifications will be digital. If students would prefer a physical certification card, then they may pay to have one at the time of certification.

What is Not Included

Mask and Snorkel. Students are required to own each of these items as they cannot be rented for the course.

Sidemount equipment (regulators and harness), computer, DSMB, Compass, dive light. These are available to rent for the course.

Tank rigging materials. These must be purchased before the start of the course. You can watch our Youtube video to see what you need: How To Attach Sidemount Tank Rigging

Additional pool or ocean training that may be required. See our Rates for Group and Private Training HERE

What You Will Learn:

During the sidemount course we will spend one day in the classroom talking about the equipment setup, sizing, hose routing, and going through the training material followed by a pool session to get you in the water and get used to the new configuration. Since the tanks are not connected together, we will be teaching you how to properly manage your gas supply while diving by going through when and how to switch between breathing from each of your tanks. After the pool training we will spend a weekend in the ocean doing 3-4 dives depending on individual preferences and training needs.

See the SDI Course Standards HERE

See the TDI Course Standards HERE

Course Description:

You will receive a code for the online learning to complete before the start of the course.

You will spend one full evening in the class and pool to size equipment and learn basic skills

You will spend a full weekend in the ocean (3 dives min) to perfect gear adjustments, trim, tank switching, putting on and taking off equipment and proper diving techniques.

We are doing our part to try and reduce plastic use, so all of our certifications will be digital. If students would prefer a physical certification card, then they may pay to have one at the time of certification.

Drysuit Training:

Sidemount is a very different way to dive, and learning can be challenging at the beginning. We want you to be as comfortable and safe as possible, so we require you have done some drysuit training with us prior to the course or have a Drysuit Specialty with recent experience. That way you aren't trying to learn two things all at once.

Equipment Rental:

Diving Sports includes all the basic gear including wetsuit and drysuit. We do not include personal gear such as mask, snorkel, gloves, computer, DSMB, or compass. We have the X-Deep Stealth Tec, Stealth Classic, and Hollis Katana 2 available to rent for the course with the Apeks XTX 50, Scubapro MK 25/S620Ti, and Atomic B2 regulators. If you do not have your own sidemount equipment you can rent all the gear for 69.99$

Transportation:

Transport can be provided from our shop to the dive site. We have our shop van (limited to a 6 passenger maximum capacity). Available passenger places in the shop van will be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Prior to signing up, we encourage everyone to look over the Diver Medical Form to make sure they will be cleared to dive.

Diver Medical Form

Diving Sports Waiver

Please see our Cancellation and Refund Policy for Courses and Trips here:

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Commitment to Safety and Enjoyment

At Diving Sports we believe in making sure all our students receive the highest quality instruction and customer service. We are in the business of training, mentoring, and supporting students to become safe, skillful and confident divers. We begin by scheduling our courses with the number of classes it typically takes most students to master the knowledge and skills, then adapt and tailor our schedule to fit our individual student’s needs. Our instructors are open and honest about your progress during each part of the course. Students may need to schedule additional pool or ocean training dives prior to certification. This ensures our students complete their courses with all the skills and knowledge they need to be safe and enjoy their future dives and courses. When you take a course with Diving Sports, you are welcomed into a passionate and inclusive community of divers eager to support your diving journey well beyond the duration of your class.