This document provides information about a PADI Sidemount Diver course, including an overview of the course objectives and schedule. It discusses the differences between PADI Sidemount and Tec Sidemount certification levels and outlines the required equipment, configuration options, gas management techniques and safety considerations for sidemount diving. The document also reviews topics that will be covered in the knowledge development sessions such as the history of sidemount, advantages over backmount configurations, and core diving skills.

1. Welcome to the
PADI Sidemount Diver
Course
Knowledge Workshop OW Dives

2. Overview
 What is the Course Objective?
 PADI Sidemount vs. Tec Sidemount?
 What is our course schedule?

3. What is the Course Objective?
 The purpose of this course is to familiarize
the student diver with the necessary
equipment, techniques, protocols and
mindset required to safely conduct dives
using sidemount cylinder configuration

4. PADI Sidemount vs. Tec Sidemount?
Sidemount Diver (Basic)
 Single cylinder configuration with an alternate air
source connected to the first stage
 Double cylinder configuration with a single second
stage and SPG on each cylinder
 Depth and other restrictions in-line with existing
training and experience
 Minimum age 15
 Four open water dives

5. PADI Sidemount vs. Tec Sidemount?
Tec Sidemount Diver
 Two primary cylinders, with one 2nd stage and SPG
connected to each 1st stage
 Two stage decompression cylinders
 Depth and other restrictions limited by existing
training and experience
 Simulated decompression only
 Minimum age 18
 Six open water dives

6. What is our Course Schedule?
 Knowledge Development
 Equipment Workshop
 Open Water Training

7. Theory Topics
Sidemount Equipment Requirements
Current Equipment Configurations
What is the History of Sidemount?
Why use sidemount? The Pros & Cons

8. Theory Topics
 Advantages of Sidemount Configuration
 Safety: Sidemount vs. Backmount
 What are ‘Core Diving Skills’?
 What is the ‘K.I.S.S.’ philosophy?
 Gas Management

9. Sidemount Equipment Requirements
Basic Sidemount Diver
 Mask, Fins & Suitable Exposure Protection (snorkel optional)
 2 Identical Scuba Cylinders
 2 Primary Regulators, each with one 2nd Stage and SPG, one with LPI
 Sidemount Harness & BCD (approved by instructor prior to the course)
 Dive Tables, Depth Gauge & Dive Timer (or Dive Computer)
 Divers Tool or Knife
 Slate with Pencil
 Two Surface Signaling Devices (whistle & SMB or signal mirror)
 Reel & SMB (if required by local regulations)
 Compass
 Multi Pouch Or Pocket
 Redundancy Equipment (spare bungee, double ended bolt snap, cable ties
and mouthpiece)
 Helmet highly recommended

10. Sidemount Equipment Requirements
Tec Sidemount Diver
 Mask, Fins & Suitable Exposure Protection (snorkel optional)
 2 Identical Primary Tanks
 2 Primary Regulators, each with one 2nd Stage and SPG, one with LPI
 2 meter / 6 foot hose
 1-2 Stage / Deco cylinders, rigged for side-slung, of appropriate size and O2 clean
 1-2 Stage / Deco regulators, each with 2nd Stage and SPG.
 Sidemount Harness & BCD (approved by instructor prior to the course)
 Dive Tables, Depth Gauge & Dive Timer (or Dive Computer) + Redundant
 Divers Tool or Knife
 Slate with Pencil
 Two Surface Signaling Devices (whistle & SMB or signal mirror)
 Reel & SMB (if required by local regulations)
 Compass
 Multi Pouch Or Pocket
 Redundancy Equipment (spare bungee, double ended bolt snap, cable ties and
mouthpiece)
 Helmet highly recommended

11. Current Equipment Configurations
Backmount
 Single Tank
 Independent Doubles
 Double Manifold
 Double Manifold with Isolator Valve
Sidemount
 Double Independent
 Double with Remote Isolator Valve
 ‘Monkey Style’ (Single cylinder)

12. Current Equipment Configurations
No Mount
 Used in exceptional circumstances; usually very
tight restrictions
 Hand carried / Pushed ahead
 An extreme and specialized diving technique
 Double manifold with isolator valve

13. What is the History of Sidemount?
 First used in UK sumps by members of CDG
 In 1970’s ,Woody Jasper modified the ‘English System’,
by adding a jacket style BCD for cave exploration in
Florida.
 ‘Florida System’ developed by DIY over 20 years
 In Europe, the ‘Dragon’ and Martyn Farr’s harness
 In 90’s Diverite / OMS release the Transpac harness,
which became a stable ‘off the shelf’ sidemount rig
 Sidemount became increasing popular and mainstream
during the 2000’s

14. What is the History of Sidemount?
 2004 Golem Gear introduce the Armadillo sidemount,
the first commercial rig, designed by Florida cave divers
 2006 DiveRite introduce the Nomad sidemount system
 Steve Bogearts releases the Razor system
 UTD release the ‘Z-system’
 OMS release the Tesseract/Profile system
 Hollis release the SMS100 and SMS50 systems
 Jeff Loflin writes Sidemount distinctive course for PADI
 Feb 2012 – PADI release Tec Sidemount course
 Jun 2012 – PADI release Sidemount Diver course

15. Why use Sidemount?
The Pros & Cons
What are the benefits?
 Comfort / personal choice
 Physical problems
 Ease of travel
 Safer option
 Logistical considerations
 Remote diving locations
 Difficult access / Restricted environments

16. Why use Sidemount?
The Pros & Cons
•Advantages of Backmount Doubles
 Isolated manifold prevents need to gas switch
 More simplistic gas management
 Isolated manifold ensures access to all gas
except if the manifold/isolator itself fails

17. Why use Sidemount?
The Pros & Cons
•Disadvantages with Backmount
 Valves and 1st stages more exposed
 Valves and 1st stages more difficult to access
 Valves and 1st stages out of site
 Not as many solutions for potential failures
 Bulkier for overhead/restricted environments

18. Why use Sidemount?
The Pros & Cons
•Advantages with Sidemount
 Valves and 1st stages more accessible to diver
 Valves and 1st stages more protected from impact
 Flexibility in response to gas emergencies
 Direct visual confirmation of gas emergencies
 Ability to pass through small restrictions
 Flexibility of approach

19. Why use Sidemount?
The Pros & Cons
•Disadvantages (commonly cited)
 Extra training and practice required
 Extra task loading
 Less stable
 More difficult to control
 More difficult to standardize procedures
 More difficult to use from a boat or shore
 Not practical to use on land

20. The Advantages of Sidemount
Safety
Ease of use
Flexibility
Comfort
Redundancy

21. Safety: Sidemount vs. Backmount
Is Sidemount Safer? YES
 True gas redundancy
 Better protection of tanks, valves, 1st stages and
hand wheels
 Better visibility of critical life-support components
 Greater flexibility and better solutions for failures
and emergencies

22. Safety: Sidemount vs. Backmount
Is Sidemount Safer? No
Although SM diving is the safer configuration it allows you
to get in to tighter , more confined areas.
These areas present inherent risk factors to a greater
degree:
•Silt-outs
•Entanglements
•Entrapment

23. Core Diving Skills
These are the foundation for all other skills:
Buoyancy
Control
Trim
Propulsion
Situational Awareness
These skills should be practiced continually, with
an aim to refine and perfect to an every greater
degree

24. What is the ‘K.I.S.S.’ philosophy?
 Keep It Super Simple
 Reduce – reduce - reduce
 Take only what you need, nothing extra
 Safe – ensure redundancy of all basic life support &
critical safety equipment
 Streamlined – eliminate all ‘danglies’ & potential
entanglement hazards
 Customize hose length and streamline hose routings
 Reduce drag by correct weighting
 Position weights to achieve proper trim
 All equipment should be accessible – struggling causes
stress

25. What is the ‘K.I.S.S.’ philosophy?
Follow these guidelines when configuring
your equipment and your dives will be
more safe, more efficient, more
comfortable and less stressful
Your air consumption and situational
awareness will improve

26. Gas management
 Rule of Thirds
 Switch more often
 Keep tanks balanced
 Both tanks always on & fully open
 Avoid surprises ensure both regulator and valves
are properly working at all times
 If both tanks have the same pressure always start
breathing from the right post
 If different pressures, start with highest pressure;
in order to balance them

27. Gas management
 2nd stages clip off / stowed securely and detune
when not in use
 All 2nd stages should breathable without un-
clipping in the even of an emergency
 Optimal differential in pressure between tanks is
200psi / 10 bar to 1,000psi / 70 bar, throughout the
dive
 200 psi / 10 bar is recommended

28. Gas management
Compute your minimum gas reserve before the
dive, based upon balanced (equal) tanks
Example:
 A tank has 3,100 psi and the is 3,100 psi
 Find the simplest whole number divisible by 3
 In this case: 3000psi (/3 = 1,000psi)
 The rules of thirds – principle is to have one 3rd
reserve when on the surface
 So 3,100 psi (start pressure) – 1,000 psi = 2,100 psi
TURN AROUND pressure

29. Gas management
Compute your minimum gas reserve before the
dive, based on un-balanced tanks:
 Example:
 Tank 1 is 2,700 psi / Tank 2 is 3,200 psi
 Get the lowest pressure tank (2,700psi)
 Find the simplest whole number divisible by 3
 In this case is 2,700psi (/3 = 900psi)
 The rules of thirds – principle is to have one 3rd
reserve when on the surface
 So 900psi x 2 (only use 2 thirds to reach the
surface) = 1,800psi

30. Gas management
(Continuation of previous example)
 But you will be breathing first 600psi to balance out
both tanks
 To do this, 1,800 psi – 600 psi (to balance out) =
1,200 psi
 Divided by 2 tanks. 1,200 psi / 2 tanks = 600psi
 Last thing 600 psi – 2,700 psi (total pressure of
lowest tank) 2,100 psi is your turn around pressure

31. EQUIPMENT WORKSHOP

32. Cylinder Valves
 DIN 200 Bar recommended
 Left / right handed with stem
 Hand-wheel orientation face out
 Hand-wheel should be rubber
 Always fully open

33. Cylinder Rigging
Top
SM bungee – will rotate
the hand-wheel 45 degrees
Bottom
SS hose clamp ideal
Bands an alternative
Swivel bolt snaps clips
with cut-away connection
Inner tube / elastomeric
band for proper routing of
hoses

34. Regulators
DIN 200bar recommended
Swivel turret for optimal
hose routing
Environmentally sealed
Hoses depend on BCD
LP pressure hoses 20/ 26”
Short LP hose with 90/120
elbow (no swivels), fitted with
a collar should be short
SPG psi/bar, 6/9” HP hose
LPI hose for drysuit/ bcd
9/15”, compatible fittings
Primary side
Secondary side

35. Regulators
 All second stages deliver from
the right side of your neck
 Excess long hose tucked in to
the bungees in the tank
 Long hose fitted with a bolt
snap clip through a break
away connection
 Clip on the right shoulder d-
ring when not in use
 All regulators not in use
should be detuned

36. Regulators
2 Tank Donning
Primary tank (left side):
 Left Side: First-ON, Last -OFF
 Checks on the surface:
1. Butt clip bottom snap (primary
tank first)
2. Attach LPI hose
3. Open the valve & bubble check
4. Check pressure / SPG
5. Test LPI function
6. Attach mouthpiece to necklace
7. Breath from second stage
8. Attach bungee to valve

37. Regulators
2 Tank Donning
 Right Hand Tank:
1. Butt clip bottom tank
2. Open the valve & check bubbles
3. Check pressure / SPG
4. Route the long hose over your
shoulder, right side delivery
5. Breath from second stage
6. Clip it to left shoulder d-ring
7. Attach bungee to valve
8. Remember to balance the tanks
to get equal tension of bungees
in both tanks

38. Regulators
Monkey Style / Single Tank
 DIN 200bar recommended
 Swivel turret on first stage in the
inner side
 Hose lengths depend on BCD
 Primary second stage hose 20/26”,
fitted with a necklace bungee
 SPG psi/bar, 6/9” HP hose
 LPI hose for drysuit/ bcd 9/15”,
compatible fittings
 Two bungees / elastomeric band
fitted on the tank
 Alternate second stage fitted, routed
through the opposite side of the
primary and tucked in bungees

39. Regulators
Donning Monkey Style
 Checks on the surface:
1. Butt clip lower bolt snap
2. Attach LPI to BCD
3. Open the valve & bubble check
4. Check pressure / SPG /LPI
5. Test breath from AAS
6. Stow AAS in cylinder bungees
7. Attach mouthpiece to necklace
8. Breath from second stage

40. Lights
Primary Light
 12w Led or 10W HID optimum
 Hose length sufficient to butt
mount the canister (5 ft
recommended)
 Canister should be positioned
horizontally beneath butt
 Crotch strap should be
positioned above the canister
to keep it in place

41. Lights
Primary Light
 Light head delivers from the left
hand side
 Cord is run under the harness
 You can locate the light in your
helmet for a hand free
configuration.
 Highest point with SM is your
head; required for scooter/DPV
 Clip off when not in use
 Boltsnap with breakaway
attachment recommended

42. Lights
Primary Light
 With helmet mounted lights,
always be aware of blinding
other team members
 Block your light with a hand
when turning, to prevent false
communications
 In overhead environments the
light is a basic life support
equipment, thus use ‘Rule of
Thirds’
This type is recommended for helmet

43. Lights
Backup light
 2 back-up lights are necessary in an
overhead environment
 1 back-up light is recommended for
open water dives
 Best stowed on a helmet:
o Already orientated
o Above the eyes
o Doesn’t compromise
peripheral vision
 If helmet mounted: use switch lights
 If not helmet mounted, then store in
pocket/pouch.
 Backup light should have a burn time
of twice the planned time of the dive
This type of light is recommended
for pocket stowage

44. Other Equipment
Cutting devices
2 recommended in separate locations
Easy and rapid to access
Small size
Spare Bungee Cord
Stored in pouch/pocket
Bolt snaps pre-set on each end
Mixed Configuration Teams
 Make sure that all diver’s are brief on gas sharing procedures

45. Open Water Dives
PADI Sidemount Tec Sidemount

46. 1. Assemble, don and adjust the sidemount equipment that will be used on the dive.
2. Demonstrate an appropriate sidemount entry into water shallow enough in which to
stand and donning sidemount cylinders in the water.
3. Inflate the BCD to establish buoyancy, swim on the surface into water toodeep in
which to stand, perform a buoyancy check, and adjust for proper weighting.
4. Execute a five-point descent as a team and perform a descent check and bubble
check.
5. Locate both SPGs and indicate the gas supply in each to the instructor and buddies.
6. Throughout the dive, in two-cylinder sidemount, manage gas by switching second
stages as planned before the dive.
7. Establish neutral buoyancy and swim using flutter kicks and frog kicks (unless it is not
possible for the student due to a physical limitation), with a buddy, 24 metres/80 feet to
assess balance and trim, to make adjustments as required, and
to develop/confirm familiarity with both kicks.
8. Recover and clear the second stage from behind/below the cylinder.
PADI Sidemount (Confined)Dive #1

47. 9. In two-cylinder sidemount, remove and release the second stage of one cylinder,
secure the second stage of the other, clear it and begin breathing from it, then recover
the first second stage.
10. Establish neutral buoyancy and hover using breath control for at least one minute.
11. Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as both the donor and as the receiver
by sharing gas with a long hose second stage, then swimming 15 metres/50 feet
maintaining contact with a buddy
12. In two-cylinder sidemount, respond to a simulated failed regulator or failed cylinder
valve by switching second stages (if necessary to maintain a breathing supply) and
shutting down the simulated affected cylinder valve, within 60 seconds.
13. With a buddy, perform a safety stop in mid-water for three minutes, not varying
from the stop depth by more than 2 metres/7 feet.
14. Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, remove
the cylinder(s) and exit the water.
15. Establish positive buoyancy, enter water too deep in which to stand and don
cylinders, connecting the BCD and other inflators as appropriate for the configuration in
use.
PADI Sidemount (Confined)Dive #1

48. 16. Swim underwater for a distance of not less than 24 metres/80 feet, including at
least one turn of 180 degrees and swimming backwards using only kicks (unless doing
so is impossible due to a physical limitation), without making contact with the bottom.
17. Disconnect the lower attachment of at least one cylinder, swing it in frontwith the
upper connection in place, swim at least 18 metres/60 feet, then reconnect the lower
attachment.
18. Execute a proper ascent, and exit the water (any method), then enter the water
using a method in which the diver dons the cylinders before entry (giant stride, seated
back roll, etc.)
19. Throughout the session, respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated
emergencies presented by the instructor.
PADI Sidemount (Confined)Dive #1

49. •Complete a pre-dive safety check.
• Demonstrate a sidemount entry appropriate for the local environment.
•Inflate the BCD to establish buoyancy, perform a weight check and adjust if needed.
•Execute a five-point descent with a buddy.
•Manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
• Establish neutral buoyancy and swim using flutter & frog kicks 24 ft to assess balance
and trim, to make adjustments as required, and to develop/confirm familiarity with
both kicks.
•Recover and clear a second stage from behind/below the cylinder.
•Respond to a simulated failed regulator or failed cylinder valve by switching second
stages (if necessary to maintain a breathing supply) and shutting down the simulated
affected cylinder valve, within 60 seconds.
•With a buddy, ascend at a rate no faster than 18 m/60ft per minute and make a 3 min
safety stop at 5m/15ft.
•At the surface, tow a simulated tired sidemount for 24 metres/80 feet.
•Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, remove the
cylinder(s) and exit the water.
PADI Sidemount Dive #2

50. •Complete a pre-dive check using proper procedures.
•Demonstrate a sidemount entry appropriate for the local environment.
•Manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
•Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as donor & receiver by sharing gas with
a long hose second stage, then swimming 15m/50ft maintaining contact with the
buddy.
•Establish neutral buoyancy and hover using breath control for at least 1 min
•Respond to a simulated failed regulator or failed cylinder valve by switching
•second stages (if necessary to maintain a breathing supply) and shutting down the
•simulated affected cylinder valve, within 60 seconds.
•Disconnect the lower attachment of at least one cylinder, swing it in front with the
upper connection in place, swim at least 18m/60ft, then reconnect the lower
attachment.
•Ascend at a rate no faster than 18m/60ft per min
•Perform a 3 min safety stop at 5 m/15 ft
•Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, and exit
•Throughout the dive, respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated
emergencies presented by the instructor.
PADI Sidemount Dive #3

51. •Assemble, don and adjust the sidemount equipment that will be used on the dive.
•Complete a predive check using proper procedures.
•Demonstrate a sidemount entry appropriate for the local environment.
•Execute a five-point descent as part of a buddy team.
•Throughout the dive, manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the
dive.
•Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as both the donor and as the receiver by
sharing gas with a long hose second stage, then swimming 15m/50ft maintaining
contact with the buddy.
•Establish neutral buoyancy and hover using breath control for at least one
•minute.
•With a buddy, ascend at a rate no faster than 18m/60ft per min and make a three
minute safety stop at 5m/15ft.
•Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, and exit
•the water.
•Throughout the dive, respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated
emergencies presented by the instructor.
PADI Sidemount Dive #4

52. •Plan dive using ‘A Good Diver’s Main Object Is To Live’
•Assemble, don and adjust the sidemount equipment that will be used on the dive
•Comprehensive Buddy Check
•Demonstrate an appropriate sidemount entry into water shallow enough in which to
stand and donning sidemount cylinders in the water and bubble check both tanks
•Inflate the BCD to establish buoyancy, swim on the surface into water too deep in
which to stand, perform a buoyancy check, and adjust for proper weighting.
•Execute a five-point descent as a team and perform a descent check and bubble ck.
•Locate both SPGs and indicate the gas supply in each to the instructor and buddies.
•Manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
•Establish neutral buoyancy and swim using flutter kicks and frog kicks, with a buddy, 24
m/80 ft to assess balance and trim, to make adjustments as required, and to
develop/confirm familiarity with both kicks.
•Recover and clear both second stages from behind/below the cylinder.
•In two-cylinder sidemount, remove and release the second stage of one cylinder,
secure the second stage of the other, clear it and begin breathing from it, then recover
the first second stage.
•Establish neutral buoyancy and hover using breath control for at least one minute.
TEC Sidemount (Confined)Dive #1

53. •Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as both the donor and as the receiver by
sharing gas with a long hose second stage, then swimming 15 metres/50 feet
maintaining contact with a buddy
• In two-cylinder sidemount, respond to a simulated failed regulator or failed cylinder
valve by switching second stages (if necessary to maintain a breathing supply) and
shutting down the simulated affected cylinder valve, within 60 seconds.
•As part of a team, complete a simulated 3 minute emergency decompression stop
without vary stop depth by more than 1m/3ft
• Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, remove the
cylinder(s) and exit the water.
•Establish positive buoyancy, enter water too deep in which to stand and don cylinders,
connecting the BCD and other inflators as appropriate forthe configuration in use.
•Establish positive buoyancy in water too deep in which to stand and don both
cylinders, connecting the BCD/LPI.
•In water too deep to stand, conduct a bubble check at the surface.
•In water too deep to stand, descend as a team and conduct descent and bubble checks.
•Swim underwater for a distance of not less than 24m/80ft, including at least 1180
degree turn, using only kicks and without making contact with the bottom
TEC Sidemount (Confined)Dive #1

54. •Disconnect the lower attachment of at least one cylinder, swing it in front with the
upper connection in place, swim at least 18m/60ft, then reconnect the lower snap.
•In water shallow enough in which to stand, demonstrate on both right and left
cylinders how to use feathering to breathe from a free-flowing regulator.
•Execute a proper ascent and exit the water, then re-enter the water using a method in
which the diver enters the water with two main cylinders before entry.
•In water too deep to stand, descend and perform a bubble check and s-drill while
wearing one stage/deco cylinder.
•Maintain neutral buoyancy whilst demonstrating procedures for staging and securing a
deco/stage tank on the bottom as part of a team.
•Respond to simulated out of gas emergency, as both donor and receiver, by sharing gas
with the long hose second stage, then having the donor provide a stage/deco cylinder
to which the receiver NO TOX gas switches.
•Perform a simulated two-stop decompression with a total time of at least 5 mins, and
correctly execute a NO TOX gas switch at the second stop.
•In water too deep to stand, while wearing main cylinders, don 2 stage/deco cylinders,
positioning them appropriately for the simulated decompression gas in each cylinder.
TEC Sidemount (Confined)Dive #1

55. •In water too deep in which to stand, descend and perform a descent check, bubble
check and s-drill, while wearing at least 2 deco/stage cylinders.
•Demonstrate, at least 3 times, the correct procedure for staging and retrieving
deco/stage cylinders at two locations, swimming as a team at least 6m/20ft from the
final staging point, the retrieving and donning them.
•While wearing 2 stage/deco cylinders, at least one of which is simulated to be too deep
to breathe, correctly respond to a simulated regulator failure, at least twice, by shutting
down the appropriate cylinder valve and, if necessary, switching to the second stage of
a breathable cylinder.
•Upon reaching main cylinder turn pressures provided by the instructor prior to the
dive, signal the instructor and the team to turn the dive.
•Retrieve and deploy a DSMB or lift bag for use as an ascent line.
•Demonstrate proper cylinder handling during an exercise with four simulated
decompression stops, correctly executing at least two NO TOX gas switches.
•Demonstrate an exit by removing stage/deco cylinders underwater, attaching them to a
line a 2m depth, ascending to the surface and exiting by an appropriate method.
•Respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated emergencies presented by
the instructor.
TEC Sidemount (Confined)Dive #1

56. •Plan the dive using ‘A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live’
•Complete a pre-dive safety check.
• Demonstrate a sidemount entry appropriate for the local environment.
•Inflate the BCD to establish buoyancy, perform a weight check and adjust if needed.
•Execute a five-point descent, performing descent and bubble checks and s-drills
•Locate both SPGs and signal gas to instructor and buddy using tec hand signals
•Manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
• Establish neutral buoyancy and swim using flutter & frog kicks 24 ft to assess balance
and trim, to make adjustments as required, and to develop/confirm familiarity with
both kicks.
•Recover and clear a second stage from behind/below the cylinder.
•Respond to a simulated failed regulator or failed cylinder valve by switching second
stages (if necessary to maintain a breathing supply) and shutting down the simulated
affected cylinder valve, within 60 seconds.
•As a team, ascend at a rate no faster than 18 m/60ft per minute and make a 3 min
safety stop at 5m/15ft.
•At the surface, tow a simulated tired sidemount for 24 metres/80 feet.
•Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, remove the
cylinder(s) and exit the water.
TEC Sidemount Dive #2

57. •Conduct dive planning using ‘A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live’
•Complete a pre-dive check using proper procedures.
•Demonstrate a sidemount entry appropriate for the local environment.
•Execute a 5-point descent, along with descent & bubble checks and s-drills
•Manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
•Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as donor & receiver by sharing gas with
a long hose second stage, then swimming 15m/50ft with the buddy.
•Establish neutral buoyancy and hover using breath control for at least 1 min
•Respond to a simulated failed regulator or failed cylinder valve by switching second
stages (if necessary to maintain a breathing supply) and shutting down the simulated
affected cylinder valve, within 60 seconds.
•Disconnect the lower attachment of at least one cylinder, swing it in front with the
upper connection in place, swim at least 18m/60ft, then reconnect the lower
attachment.
•Ascend no faster than 18m/60ft per min & perform a 3 min safety stop at 5 m/15 ft
•Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, and exit
•Throughout the dive, respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated
emergencies presented by the instructor.
TEC Sidemount Dive #3

58. •Assemble, don and adjust the sidemount equipment that will be used on the dive.
•Plan dive using ‘A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live’
•Complete a predive check using proper procedures.
•Demonstrate a sidemount entry appropriate for the local environment.
•Execute a five-point descent with descent & bubble checks and s-drill.
•Manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
•Establish neutral buoyancy & swim 24m/80ft to assess trim and position.
•Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as both the donor and as the receiver by
sharing gas with a long hose second stage, then swimming 15m/50ft maintaining
contact with the buddy.
•Establish neutral buoyancy & hover using breath control for at least one minute.
•Maintaining neutral buoyancy, demonstrate procedures for staging and securing at
least one deco/stage cylinder on the bottom as part of a team.
•Demonstrate proper cylinder handling on ascent with 2 simulated deco stops,
executing at least 1 NO TOX gas switch.
•Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, and exit
•the water.
•Throughout the dive, respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated
emergencies presented by the instructor.
TEC Sidemount Dive #4 (1 Stage)

59. •Assemble, don and adjust the sidemount equipment that will be used on the dive.
•Plan dive using ‘A Good Diver’s Main Objective Is To Live’
•Complete a pre-dive check using proper procedures.
•Demonstrate a sidemount entry appropriate for the local environment.
•Execute a five-point descent with descent & bubble checks and s-drill.
•Manage gas by switching second stages as planned before the dive.
•Establish neutral buoyancy & swim 39m/100ft to assess trim and position.
•Respond to a simulated out-of-gas emergency as both the donor and as the receiver by sharing gas
with a long hose second stage, then swimming 15m/50ft maintaining contact with the buddy.
•Establish neutral buoyancy & hover using breath control for at least one minute.
•Maintaining neutral buoyancy, demonstrate procedures for staging and securing at least two
deco/stage cylinder on the bottom as part of a team.
•Demonstrate proper cylinder handling on ascent with 3 simulated deco stops, executing at least 2 NO
TOX gas switches.
•During simulated deco, respond to simulated free-flow by shutting down the regulator within 40
seconds and switching to another appropriate regulator.
•Surface in water too deep in which to stand, establish positive buoyancy, and exit
•the water.
•Throughout the dive, respond calmly, correctly and appropriately to simulated emergencies presented
by the instructor.
TEC Sidemount Dive #5 (2 stages)