Project Description
Prices
| Sidemount Diving Course | THB 13’500 |
Included
4 boat dives
- 2 day trips with our boat
- Full Scuba Diving rental equipment
Diving instructor
Certification, digital learning access
- Light breakfast, lunch, fruits, drinking water, coffee and tea (first day lunch and drinking water only)
- Round-trip transfer from hotels in Karon, Kata, Nai Harn and Rawai to Chalong pier (other areas on surcharge)
Excluded
Soft drinks and beer
Book your Sidemount Diving Course today with Aloha Diving
Give us a call to schedule your course
What is sidemount diving?
Basically sidemount diving utilises a different equipment configuration to standard (back mount) diving. As you can probably guess, the cylinders (usually two but can be just one) are worn on the side connected with clips and bungee cord. This means the diver is far more streamlined in the water, and has easy access to both tank valves. Also both cylinders can be unclipped from the bottom and brought in front of the diver (this is called ‘No Mount’) to allow the diver to fit through spaces that would be impossible in classic back mount.
With personalised training and taking enough time, we make sure you are truly comfortable under water with the skills and equipment you will use. In general, an Open Water Rebreather Diver course consists of 3 parts: Academics, Pool Training and Open Water Sessions.
Since then the world of cave diving has seen a huge surge in popularity (for understandable reasons), however in the 2000s sidemount diving has also been in the spotlight for recreational diving too, but the key question is, if I don’t cave dive, why should I dive sidemount?
Four reasons why you should start with sidemount diving
Sidemount diving is more comfortable:
Most divers who use sidemount will say it is far more comfortable than diving back mount, especially those who have back problems and find it is difficult to carry heavy scuba cylinders. Usually sidemount set up cylinders will be attached to the harness in the water, so the diver doesn’t need to carry any heavy equipment around on the boat.
Sidemount diving offers more redundancy:
Redundant gas supply has always been an important feature of technical diving, but recreational divers used their buddy’s alternate air source or a pony bottle as an emergency option. Having a second cylinder and regulator means even if one fails, you have a working back up for ascents.
Sidemount is more streamlined:
Wearing the cylinders on your side, tucked under the armpits is far more streamlined than the classic back mounted system. This means less energy is required to propel yourself through the water, which in turn means less air is consumed. Most divers will argue that buoyancy control and good body positioning is easier using sidemount than it is with back mount.
Sidemount diving is more fun:
Ok so this is not such an important benefit, but it doesn’t make it not true. There isn’t much out there that isn’t more fun than un-clipping one or both of the tanks, bringing them in front of you and pretend you are flying like superman! Also divers who continue with their diving education feel more satisfied with the sport as learning new skills keeps things fresh!
Remember the best way to get more out of your diving career is to keep taking on new challenges and never stop learning.
