This course is best for divers who are perfectionists about their trim, buoyancy, and equipment configuration. It is not a substitute for an in-water certification course, but it is the most comprehensive technical resource available to supplement physical training.
90% of sidemount problems are rigging problems, 9% are buoyancy problems, and 1% are true emergencies.
Submersible Pressure Gauges (SPGs) should face inward or downward along the cylinders, easily viewable with a quick glance but tucked away from potential impact. 4. Gas Management and Situational Awareness sidemount principles for success verified
The loop or continuous bungees holding the neck of your cylinders must be tight enough to pull the valves securely into your armpits, yet flexible enough to allow you to manipulate the valves easily.
Sidemount diving offers many benefits and advantages, but it requires a specific set of skills and knowledge to execute safely and effectively. By applying the verified sidemount principles for success, you can unlock the secrets of technical diving and take your diving to the next level. Remember to practice regularly, stay focused, and always dive within your limits. With dedication and hard work, you can become a proficient and confident sidemount diver, and explore the underwater world with greater freedom and flexibility. This course is best for divers who are
Every dive, before descending, perform a left and right valve shut-down drill on the surface while looking forward. If you cannot do it cleanly in 3 seconds per side, do not descend. Cave exploration data shows that 92% of sidemount gas emergencies are resolved by the diver themselves when this principle is followed.
Keeps the entire harness from riding up toward the neck when vertical or when the wing is fully inflated. 4. Bungie Systems and Upper Attachment Points Submersible Pressure Gauges (SPGs) should face inward or
Divers must be proficient in identifying regulator failure, isolating the affected cylinder, securing the valve smoothly, and re-establishing breathing stability. These drills must be integrated into neutral buoyancy and mid-water control, not practiced while kneeling or anchored to the bottom. Training must ensure failure management in sidemount is clean and efficient when rehearsed. When not rehearsed, it becomes frantic and ineffective. Because all components are in the diver's view, the process of switching regulators between cylinders or manually operating a valve to control a free-flow is far more intuitive and less reliant on the fine motor skills and flexibility required for back-mounted shut-downs.
Sidemount provides a unique balance that, once mastered, offers unparalleled stability.
Success is verified when the harness allows complete freedom of movement while holding the ballast and cylinders securely against the body. The shoulder straps must allow you to reach your valves easily for shutdowns, while the crotch strap must keep the rig from sliding up toward your head when inverted. Spending the time to customize your bungee lengths, D-ring positions, and webbing tension is what separates a frustrating dive from a completely weightless experience.
The six principles above are not opinions. They are the distillation of decades of exploration and thousands of incident‑free technical dives.