- planning and execution of bailout scenarios
- gas planning utilizing independent systems
Wreck or Cave Side Mount Course
establishes the procedures and skill sets necessary to begin cave or wreck dive in Side Mount configuration
- builds on the skills and procedures established in the open water course as well as adding additional skills
- develops further comfortability diving in side mount cave or wreck
Any new equipment configuration takes time to master and this should be done in a low stress safe environmentSide Mount diving in lower ceilings and tighter restrictions increases the environmental hazards and psychological stress levels considerably.
OW Sidemount:
Advanced OW with 25 logged dives at AOW level
course durationWreck or Cave Sidemount:
– Cave Diver or Wreck Penetration Diver- 50 logged cave or serious wreck penetration dives- Instructor’s approvalcourse duration 4 days
Side mount diving configurations and techniques have become recognized as an accepted and safe methodology for open water as well as caves or wrecks.Even in conditions that don’t necessarily call for side mount, a diver may choose to incorporate such techniques for the following logical points
- Ease of transporting single cylinders to and from the water rather than doubles
- Low vertical profile of the diver’s air supply allows the scuba cylinders to be easily manipulated, and carried in a less cumbersome manner
- Access to tank valves and regulator 1st stage during dive operations
- Enables the diver to configure for doubles diving in nearly any location in the world where scuba diving activities using standard aluminum cylinders
- Enables the diver to move through smaller passages
- Establishes a large redundant gas supply
Side mount configurations can be used by students in their wreck through full cave courses as their primary configuration This does not qualify them as a Side Mount Diver in the sense of advanced exploration techniques. The student will only receive a Cave Diver certification, and not a Side Mount Diver certification. If the diver wishes to use this configuration to it’s full capabilities, then a Side Mount Diver course should be taken after 50 non-training cave dives have been completed. The Side Mount Diver course allows the diver to move on to the more advanced techniques including in-water cylinder removals, negotiating restrictions and gas management considerations for a truly independent cylinder configuration.There are two levels of side mount training available
- Open Water Side Mount
- Wreck or Cave Side Mount
Side mount systems should be versatile so used in many variations, including rebreathers. Above the rebreather (on divers right) and 80 cf bottle (on divers left) are side mounted, while the small on board 20 cf cylinders are back mounted to maintain a low profile. The profile moves weight below center of gravity also.
TDI Training Facility
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