Sidemount Diver

Sidemount diving is not just about exploring caves or hard to reach places.

It is ideal for those that want to add more redundancy but don’t want to deal with the weight of twinset on your back. Mounting cylinders on your side offers more flexibility and streamlining options without the need for heavy cylinders on your back.

What does the course consist of?

  • Gas management utilizing independent cylinders
  • Equipment considerations
    • Cylinder options
    • Regulator options
    • Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)/harness options
    • Proper weighting
    • Equipment configurations
  • Communication
    • Hand signals
  • Problem solving
    • Gas-sharing
    • Gas hemorrhages
  • Water entries
    • Shore
    • Boat
  • S-Drills (specific to sidemount)

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

  • Plan dive
  • Test and check all equipment (depth gauges, bottom timers/watches and computers)
  • Familiarization with area
  • Descend to planed depth and not exceed any pre-planned limits
  • Demonstrate the ability to safely manage gas in independent cylinders
  • Monitor depth/time/air consumption, figure all times on slate
  • Demonstrate ability to control buoyancy
  • Attaching sidemount cylinders while
    • Out of water
    • On surface standing on bottom
    • On surface in water to deep to stand
    • At depth
  • Perform gas switches
  • Perform safety stops
Why Choose the Dive School at Wraysbury Dive Centre
  • Our courses are taught in one location here at Wraysbury Dive Centre - no need to travel around at extra expense. 
  • Because of our facility we are able to give you more in-water time than any other dive school - no need to sit in a classroom all day.
  • All equipment, air fills, learning materials, logbook, certification and entrance to Wraysbury Dive Centre is included in the course price.  There are no hidden extras.
  • Our three full time instructors are professionals, with combined experience of over 45 years in teaching diving.
  • We provide you with the latest and best equipment.
  • We work with you to complete the course to ensure that you leave us happy, safe and confident, even if this takes a little extra time.  We provide reasonable amounts of extra time at no extra expense.  Many other dive schools wiill charge you for this.
  • We love diving and want to ensure that you do too!!
What can I do after this course?
Things to do after you qualify: Tech Sidemount
Add more cylinders into the mix for use in tech diving.
Things to do after you qualify: Go on Dive Trips
At Wraysbury Dive Centre we organise dive trips both at home in the UK and abroad.   Trips are organised for all levels of diver.  Just keep an eye on our trips page here and on our facebook page for upcoming events
Things to do after you qualify: Buy Dive Kit
We would always recommend that you purchase your dive equipment from a dive shop rather than shopping online (and its not just because we have a dive shop on site).  Buying in person allows you to try things on so that you get the right fit, get the right advice and kit for the type of diving that you intend to do and benefit from the experience of those that actually go diving.  You may also end up with a better deal than you imagined.