Sidemount Diving Course in Playa del Carmen
Sidemount Diving Course in Playa del Carmen
“Getting the right equipment and configuring that equipment correctly is very important but it is only half the story. The other half of the story is training.” Steve Bogaerts
WHY SIDEMOUNT DIVING?
Sidemount diving originated in the UK with sump divers from a need for further exploration in the caves to cross water filled passages. Modern Sidemount diving was developed and fine tuned in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico by necessity to fit the local cave environment and facilitate exploration. The area is full of cenotes, caves and caverns, and is a famous place to practice sidemount diving.
Today it has won the hearts of both the recreational and technical diving worlds having evolved greatly in both equipment, configuration and protocols over the recent years and offer variety of benefits as following:
- True gas redundancy: Two independent gas supply
- Easier problem management: easier access and direct visibility to points of failure
- Efficient hydrodynamic
- Comfort: Lighter equipment, more versatile & customizable, freedom of movements, natural body position
- Personal Choice: physical problems (e.g. back issues), ease of travel …
- Fine Tuned Trim: Optimal lift & weight distribution
- Logistical considerations: exploration, remote diving locations, difficult access, availability of tec equipment
- Advanced penetration for overhead environments
Sidemount Training
OPEN WATER SIDEMOUNT
- Limitations: No Overhead – Recreational Limits
- Prerequisites: Open Water Diver – 25 Dives
- Duration: 4 Days Min.
SM REFRESHER & TUNE UP
- Limitations: No Overhead – Rec Limits
- Prerequisites: Sidemount Diver
- Duration: 1 Day
SIDEMOUNT EQUIPMENT SET UP
- Limitations: Confined Water
- Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
- Duration: 1 Day
SIDEMOUNT CAVE CROSSOVER
- Limitations: No Removal of Life Support Equipment
- Prerequisites: Cave Diver
- Duration: 6 Days Min.
OPEN WATER SIDEMOUNT
WHAT WILL I LEARN ?
Learn how to sidemount dive in Playa del Carmen! Our Open Water Sidemount Diver Course acts as an introductory course for our technical diving courses, and as such we will cover the following subjects and skills in a neutral and stationary position:
- History of Sidemount
- Equipment workshop & set up
- Fundamentals: Breathing, Buoyancy, Trim, Propulsion & Awareness
- Dive planning & gas management
- Donning & removing SM gear
- Gas switches
- Mask failure
- Basic light management
- Long hose out of air sharing
- Valve Shut Down Procedure
- Managing free flows & leakages
- Fixing hardware failures
- Single sidemount diving configuration
- SMB deployment
WHAT WILL I LEARN ?
Learn how to sidemount dive in Playa del Carmen! Our Open Water Sidemount Diver Course acts as an introductory course for our technical diving courses, and as such we will cover the following subjects and skills in a neutral and stationary position:
- History of Sidemount
- Equipment workshop & set up
- Fundamentals: Breathing, Buoyancy, Trim, Propulsion & Awareness
- Dive planning & gas management
- Donning & removing SM gear
- Gas switches
- Mask failure
- Basic light management
- Long hose out of air sharing
- Valve Shut Down Procedure
- Managing free flows & leakages
- Fixing hardware failures
- Single sidemount diving configuration
- SMB deployment
WHAT’S INCLUDED
SM Tanks Rentals
Nitrox 32% Fills
Transport to dive sites from EDI Base
Private Technical Sidemount Diving Instructor
In-water Training: Confined Water Session & 6 Dives Min.
Sidemount Refresher & Tune Up Course
WHAT WILL I REVIEW ?
Our Sidemount Refresher & Tune Up training, will cover the following subjects:
- Donning & Removing SM Gear
- Fundamentals: Breathing, Buoyancy, Trim, Propulsion & Awareness
- Dive Planning & Gas Management
- Gas Switches
- Long Hose Deployment
- Out Of Gas Sharing Drill
- Valve Shut Down Drill
- Mask Flooding & Replacement
WHAT WILL I REVIEW ?
Our Sidemount Refresher & Tune Up training, will cover the following subjects:
- Donning & Removing SM Gear
- Fundamentals: Breathing, Buoyancy, Trim, Propulsion & Awareness
- Dive Planning & Gas Management
- Gas Switches
- Long Hose Deployment
- Out Of Gas Sharing Drill
- Valve Shut Down Drill
- Mask Flooding & Replacement
WHAT’S INCLUDED
SM Tanks Rentals
Nitrox 32% Fills
Transport to dive sites from EDI Base
Private Technical Sidemount Diving Instructor
In-water Training: 1 Confined Water Session
Sidemount Equipment Set Up
WHY WOULD I NEED AN EQUIPMENT SET UP?
Most back mount systems are seldom easy to adjust, but a Sidemount configuration has a lot more moving parts that are interrelated and it takes a lot of time and practice underwater to come to understand how they affect each other. There is a difference between being functional and being efficient, and that’s where a Sidemount expert comes into play to help you. Here is a few reasons why you would want a Sidemount Equipment Set Up:
- You are certified but feel your configuration is not feeling right
- You are switching to a Dry Suit
- You have bought a SM system independently and would like it to be assembled and fitted perfectly to you
- You are about to start a new course and would like to have your equipment ready for the challenge
- You want to update your configuration to the latest standards
WHAT WILL I LEARN ?
Our Equipment Set Up program will cover the following subjects:
- Equipment Workshop
- Harness adjustments & modifications
- Weighting for perfect horizontal and vertical trim
- Buoyancy Fine Tuning
WHAT WILL I LEARN ?
Our Equipment Set Up program will cover the following subjects:
- Equipment Workshop
- Harness Adjustments & Modifications
- Weighting for perfect horizontal and vertical trim
- Buoyancy Fine Tuning
WHAT’S INCLUDED
SM Tanks Rentals
Nitrox 32% Fills
Transport to dive sites from EDI Base
Private Technical Sidemount Diving Instructor
In-water Training: 1 Confined Water Session
– Transport to dive sites from EDI Base
– Private Technical Sidemount Instructor
– Tanks Rental & Nitrox 32% Fills
– Weights
If booking alone, we will do our best to find you a teammate. Solo booking will require pricing adjustment (+50 USD/ Day).
- Complete Sidemount System (Additional day for SM rental set up required) & SM Regulator Set + Primary Technical Light with Goodman Handle + Tech short for Wetsuit Diver – $50/Day Package
OR
$25 / Day for SM System
$20 / Day for SM Regulators
$15 / Day for Primary Tec Light
$15 / Day for Technical Dive Computer
$5 / Day for other items
Students are being provided with training videos and materials to practice and prepare for their class. It is expected from them to come ready for the class they have booked and demonstrate the prerequisite performance requirements communicated to them. Should a student be unable to do so on their first day, they will not be accepted to start the intended program. Their fees and days reserved will be credited towards an alternate training programs and/or guided dives.
Unreadiness to start the intended program is not ground for refund, partial or complete.
Students are paying for a course, but certifications must be earned. We will do our outmost to get your skills and knowledge up to scratch, and if this means extra dives or academic sessions, so be it (extra rate will apply if necessary). We recommend our students to plan at least 2 extra days for make ups / weather conditions / sickness / mid-course breaks or other unforeseen events.
Equipment rentals: Our equipment is well maintained and cared for our divers comfort. When renting our equipment, the diver is accepting responsibility for its care. If an equipment is damaged or lost due to negligence or misuse, the diver is accepting to bear the cost of repair, or replacement if necessary.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
All the schedules below are our best recommendation for an optimal experience. They can be adapted and personalized to your convenience or necessities.
Courses: 8am – 6pm
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