Description

eLearning, a session with setup, gear configuration, and theory. And training dives in open water.

To enroll in the course, you must be at least 18 and hold a minimum Open Water Scuba Diver certification.

During the course, you can learn about gas matching procedures, gas management with independent cylinders, psychological considerations in technical diving, and equipment considerations such as cylinder options, regulator options, buoyancy compensator/harness options, proper weighting, and equipment configurations.

You will also learn about communication techniques, problem-solving in a sidemount configuration, diving in tight or confined spaces, conservation, water entries/exits, and specific S-drills for sidemount diving.

You must demonstrate various propulsion techniques, buoyancy control, trim, gas switching, gas management, conservation, awareness, and back referencing techniques and deploy a dSMB.

Once you complete the course, you’ll be a certified TDI Sidemount Diver. You can go sidemount diving without supervision,

The course is available in multiple languages: English, Português, Français, Español, and Deutsch.

From SDI standards:

Topics

The following topics must be covered during this course:

1. Gas matching procedures to include dissimilar volumes

2. Gas management utilizing independent cylinders

3. Psychological considerations

4. Equipment considerations a. Cylinder options b. Regulator options c. Buoyancy compensator/harness options d. Proper weighting, e. Equipment configurations 54 Version 0123TDI Standards and Procedures Part 2: TDI Diver Standards

5. Communication a. Hand signals b. Light signals

6. Problem-solving a. Gas-sharing b. Gas hemorrhages c. Light failure d. Loss of visibility, e. Entanglement f. Self-rescue

7. Tight spaces

8. Conservation

9. Difficult water entries

10. S-Drills; specific to sidemount

eLearning 

The first step is to work through the eLearning and quizzes.

Required Skill Performance and Graduation Requirements

The following land drills must be covered during this course:

1. Land drills may be performed at the instructor’s discretion
Pre-dive drills 1. Use START before every dive *START is an acronym for S-drill (Out of Gas drill and Bubble Check), Team (buddy equipment checks), Air (gas matching), Route (entry/exit and planned path underwater, Tables (depth, duration, waypoints, and schedule)

2. Stress analysis and mitigation

The student must perform the following in-water skills during dives:

1. Demonstrate various propulsion techniques: frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, backward kick, helicopter turns, and hand pulling if appropriate for the environment

2. Demonstrate adequate buoyancy control; ability to hover at a fixed position in the water column without moving hands or feet

3. Demonstrate adequate trim; ability to maintain proper position during the descent, bottom, and ascent portion of the dive

4. Demonstrate the ability to perform the following exercises while maintaining trim and buoyancy in the water column: a. Unclipping and attaching sidemount cylinders b. Perform gas switches with and without a mask Version 0123 55TDI Standards and Procedures Part 2: TDI Diver Standards

5. Demonstrate the ability to manage gas in independent cylinders safely

6. Demonstrate conservation, awareness, and back referencing techniques

7. Deploy lift bag

8. Carry additional cylinder(s);

optional To complete this course, students must:

1. Perform all land drills and dive requirements safely and efficiently

2. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution

3. Maintain an appropriate level of awareness and respect for the environment

4. Log all dives