Tom Crisp - Sidemount Diver / Photograph by Andrew Simpson

While some technical divers like the idea of diving with a lot of equipment others opt for the minimalistic approach, both are valid in their own way as there is no one way to dive.
The sidemount BCD utilizes the minimal approach much like the DIR and hogarthian concepts, “less is more.” However the sidemount divers have taken it a step further.
To understand the concepts behind the system you first need to understand the history.

Sidemount diving began in the early 1960’s when British dry cavers came to a cave passage filled with water.
To get further into the cave they had to dive in the sump. Their reasoning behind sidemount was because it was easier to transport the equipment through the cave as it could be broken down into much smaller components than a twinset.
A decade later sidemount started to show up on the American cave diving scene with divers such as Woody Jasper using it to push new leads in Florida’s springs.
More recently commercially made BCD’s have been developed as sidemount diving is growing in popularity not just for cave divers but also open water and technical divers, But why?

With the sidemount configuration you take the cylinders off of your back and place them at your sides much like a stage cylinder, making your profile in the water more streamlined.

Also cylinders can be removed and replaced more freely than in back mounted cylinders making it perfect for cavers, they can now easily remove equipment to fit through smaller holes/passages.

For open water divers cylinders can be easily put on in the water where you are relatively weightless allowing a diver with a back or knee injury a more comfortable entry.
There are many more reasons for sidemount diving but we’re here to look at the equipment.

Sizing up a Sidemount

The BCD we are looking at is the two piece continuous weave harness and bladder.

Many of the sidemount BCD’s on the market at the moment seem to cater to the diver who wants to use them for both sidemount diving and back mount, making them great for anyone wanting to switch between the two regularly.
Where the continuous harness varies is that it can only be used for diving in sidemount so does not compromise any of the system to allow for conventional backmount.

As I said before this harness uses many of the same concepts of DIR diving.
It has no quick release buckles or quick-adjust straps to reduce failure points and entanglement hazards (after all it was originally designed for cave diving).
It does not have a rigid backplate so it provides more flexibility in the water. This is probably my favorite feature of the whole system as you feel free and at ease in the water, much like a spear fisher who does not have a lot of gear.

An MSR camel back, dump valve and hydration kit is used for off-setting any additional weight carried at the start of the dive, effectively this is your wing.
The only downside to this wing I have found is the time wasted on the back of the boat trying to explain to everyone exactly how it works.

There are a few different sizes of wing from 10 liters down to 2 liters (1 liter = 1kg of lift).
The wing itself is fairly small in comparison to most meaning that you have to be properly weighted.
This is by no means a bad thing as buoyancy becomes much easier. Due to the small size of the wing it sits very close to the divers back again making it streamlined and comfortable to wear.
It can be easily removed in and out of the water just like the cylinders, but you would have to have an extremely good reason to do this in the water.
The wing can only be orally inflated due to the lack of a power inflator, this takes a little practice to start with but is soon mastered.

To sum up, this System is a pleasure to dive due to its simple and streamlined nature.
In fact it is so streamlined that when you are kitted up on the back of the boat you often get asked if you are forgetting anything.
It does everything the sidemount diver needs, whether it is for open water or cave diving while keeping equipment clutter to a minimum.

The best way to appreciate the benefits is to try one out.
If you would like to give sidemount diving a whirl then just ask at the shop and we’d be more than happy to help.
TDI courses and the harness’ are available almost any time.

Related Pages

• TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and TDI Decompression Procedures Diver
• Shearwater Predator Computer
• Sidemount Diving
• Scubapro Jet Fin

Tom at the Knights / Photograph by Ian Skipworth

When combined with the TDI Decompression Procedures course, you will learn the correct procedures for planning and executing staged decompression to a max depth of 45m using the correct equipment and configurations.

The course builds on skills learnt on the Intro To Tech course, so you will be comfortable using twins with different gas mixes in your stage tanks.

Student Pre-requisites
To enroll on this course with Global dive, we require the following prerequisites;

• Minimum 18years of age
• Minimum of 50 logged dives
• Be qualified to either SDI or PADI Advanced Open Water level.
• Be qualified to either SDI, TDI or PADI Nitrox diver level

We recommend you are also certified to Rescue Diver and have completed the TDI Intro To Tech course.
The instructor may use their discretion regarding the recommended prerequisites.

Course duration

• Classroom theory sessions 3×4 hours
• Confined water pool sessions 2×3 hours
• Open Water Dives – 6 dives with at least 2 deeper than 30m

Course Content
The following areas are covered in the combined course;

• Physics
• Physiology
• Oxygen Toxicity
• Formula work
• Equipment considerations
• Dive Computers
• tables and planning
• Gas blending considerations and typical techniques
• Deco stops
• land drills and in water drills

Required Equipment

• Twin cylinders with Isolation Manifold
• Stage cylinder
• Wing and harness with suitable lift for diving conditions
• First stage for each cylinder
• 2^nd stage per cylinder
• SPG for twins and stage cylinder
• long hose
• 2x timer
• 2x depth gauge
• Lift bag and reel
• john line
• 2x cutting devices
• suitable exposure suit for depth and environment.

Future Opportunities
Once you complete the course, you will have opportunity to practice your skills on our regular tech only trips.
These are held throughout the year with divers of all tech levels taking part.

Related Pages

• Sidemount BCD
• Shearwater Predator Computer
• Scubapro Jet Fin
• Sea and Sea YS series Strobes

Tara tech'ed up at Middle Arch / Photograph by Andrew Simpson

The TDI (Technical Diving International) Intro to Tech course is the perfect course for divers who have heard about technical diving and want to find out more about this exciting branch of advanced recreational diving.

This course walks students through the special techniques, planning procedures and skills that set technical diving apart from traditional sport diving.

It will show them how to improve their dive planning methods, in-water skills and streamline their existing gear configuration, in a non-threatening and fun learning environment.

The specific skills this course will highlight are:

• Advanced Buoyancy Control
• Gas Management
• Situational Awareness
• Trim
• Gear Configuration and Selection
• Many More!

TDI’s Intro to Tech course is a useful stand-alone course for the diver who wants to become a more skilled, more proficient diver regardless of if he intends to move on to technical diving.

The course may also be used as an introduction to the TDI Advanced Nitrox course and the TDI Decompression Procedures course.

And finally, it is also a good refresher for certified technical divers who may want to refresh their skills or have them re-evaluated by a TDI technical instructor.

Andrew has written a Dive Blog entry on the Intro to Tech course and we are pleased to have some dates already scheduled!

I can honestly say the Intro to Tech course is a fantastic idea for anyone interested in extending their dive training.We cover details such as equipment configuration for twins, how twins work, in water buoyancy skills plus more advanced dive planning considerations such as gas management as well as using tables and computers to efficiently plan a dive.

The course is an ideal way to determine whether you wish to extend your diving beyond Sport diving, or simply to improve your skills.

The course is run over two evenings and one weekend. Self study is completed before the first class session, followed by a pool session where we practice the in water skills. The final Open Water dives are then completed on the weekend.

>> Read more from Andrew on his “Intro to Tech” Dive Blog Post

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TDI Intro to Tech Course Timetable

:  Please check our Training and Events Schedule for the latest course times and costs.

Related Pages

• TDI Intro to Tech Course
• TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver and TDI Decompression Procedures Diver
• Trip Report : Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Procedures
• TDI Advanced Trimix Divers

When I signed up to do these two TDI (Technical diving International) courses conjointly, I was expecting to spend days learning about 100 % oxygen, incorporating lots of redundancy into Dive Plans,

Richie and Pete / Photograph by Rachel Agnew

repeating alot of Dive Physiology in the classroom and doing six dives showing that you can maintain good buoyancy and on each dive deploying a marker buoy (which I had secretly hated doing).

I had heard mixed reports from people who’s advice I respected, telling me that the course was very hard to very simple and not worth doing.

Simply put this was the best course I have done and some of the most rewarding dives I have had without a camera.

Pete’s style of teaching takes you past the scope of the course. It’s not a case of learning something that you can repeat in an exam, but he helped to give a true understanding of the material which led to answering questions that had been in the back of my mind for along time that I did not know how
to ask.

As a photographer I pride myself on good buoyancy, but in the water Pete pushed my skills past a level I thought I could reach, The dives were by know means easy but man were they rewarding, leaving me a much more confident and conscientious diver.

This course may not be suited for everyone, but I would certainly recommend it to everyone who is ready to take the step into Technical Diving or looking for a challenge that will improve their diving skills 100%.

Related Pages

• Global Dive’s Poor Knights Liveaboard Weekend & Advanced Open Water
• PADI Rescue Diver
• PADI Divemaster
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver