Specialty Sidemount Diving

Here you will learn how to dive with sidemount.

Training content

In the Sidemount Diving specialty, you will gain your first experience in a pool or pool-like conditions. You will learn the technical handling of the tanks and be taught the corresponding forms of movement in sidemount diving.

Theoretical training

  • History of sidemount diving
  • Different sidemount BCDs
  • Individual adjustment of the BCDs
  • Regulator configuration
  • Rigging the bottles
  • Advantages and disadvantages of different bottle types and sizes
  • Attaching the bottles to the BCD

Practical training

  • Selection, preparation, assembly and inspection of diving equipment
  • Attaching the bottles on land with correct entry into the water
  • Fixing the bottles in the water
  • Buoyancy control, underwater and on the surface
  • Controlled descent and ascent in a horizontal water position
  • Bottle handling, taking one or both bottles to the front, clipping and unclipping aluminum bottles
  • Demonstration of the fin kicks: Frog kick, back kick, helicopter turn
  • Changing the regulators, clipping the regulators
  • Acting as a donor and recipient of an alternative breathing gas supply
  • Stowing the long trousers correctly
  • Changing a blow-off regulator with shutdown drill
  • Breathing from a blow-off regulator
  • Set SMB

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age 12 years old
  • Proof of health status
  • Proof of Open Water Diver or comparable
  • For minors, a declaration of consent from a parent or legal guardian is required