PADI Sidemount Diver Course in Thailand
Discover a Different Way to Dive
The PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty Course teaches you to dive with your cylinders mounted alongside your body rather than on your back.
Originally developed for environments where flexibility and streamlined equipment were important, sidemount has become increasingly popular with recreational divers. You don't need to be a cave diver or technical diver to enjoy sidemount. For many divers, it offers excellent trim, flexibility and easy access to their cylinders and valves.
At Professional Diver Training Thailand, we teach recreational sidemount with an emphasis on correct equipment configuration, buoyancy, trim and practical diving skills.
Why Learn Sidemount Diving?
Sidemount isn't simply about moving your cylinders from your back to your sides. A correctly configured sidemount system can provide a comfortable, streamlined and highly adaptable way to dive.
During your training, you'll learn how to configure the equipment for your body and your diving, rather than simply copying somebody else's setup.
Advantages of sidemount diving can include:
- Excellent horizontal trim and streamlining
- Easy access to cylinder valves and regulators
- Greater flexibility in equipment configuration
- The option to enter the water without cylinders attached where conditions allow
- Easier handling of individual cylinders compared with traditional back-mounted doubles
- Independent gas supplies when diving with two cylinders
- A strong foundation for divers considering technical or cavern diving in the future
And, of course, sidemount diving is simply an enjoyable way to dive.
What Will I Learn?
The PADI Sidemount Diver course introduces you to the equipment, techniques and procedures required to dive safely and comfortably using a recreational sidemount configuration.
Training includes equipment setup and adjustment, cylinder attachment and removal, buoyancy and trim, propulsion and positioning, gas management, regulator procedures and dealing with potential problems while diving sidemount.
A major part of the course is getting the equipment properly adjusted. Small changes to cylinder position, attachment points and harness configuration can make a significant difference underwater.
Our aim isn't simply to get you through the course. We want you to finish your training with a sidemount configuration that works and with the skills to continue developing as a sidemount diver.
Who Is the Course For?
The course is suitable for recreational divers who want to explore sidemount diving for comfort, flexibility or simply because they want to learn a new diving style.
It is also an excellent starting point if you are considering progressing into more advanced forms of diving.
If your primary objective is technical diving, talk to us before booking. Depending on your experience and future plans, a technical sidemount training pathway may be more appropriate.
Recreational Sidemount vs Technical Sidemount
It's important to understand that PADI Sidemount Diver and PADI Tec Sidemount Diver are different courses.
Recreational sidemount teaches you to use sidemount equipment within recreational diving limits. It is ideal if you want to enjoy sidemount on normal recreational dives or develop your skills before moving on to more advanced training.
Technical sidemount adds the equipment, procedures and skills required for technical diving and can form part of a pathway towards courses such as PADI Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50.
If you're not sure which route is right for you, contact us and we'll help you choose based on where you want your diving to go.
Sidemount Training in Thailand
Professional Diver Training provides sidemount and technical diving instruction in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao, Thailand.
Khao Lak is best known as the gateway to the Similan Islands, but it is also a great base for developing more advanced diving skills. We can combine sidemount training with further recreational or technical diving depending on your experience and objectives.
Training is focused on quality rather than rushing through skills. Good sidemount diving comes from correct configuration, practice and understanding why your equipment is set up the way it is.
Continue Your Training
Recreational sidemount can be a course in its own right or the beginning of a much bigger diving journey.
Further training available through Professional Diver Training includes:
Develop your sidemount skills for technical diving.
PADI Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec 50
Progress into staged decompression and deeper technical diving.
Develop overhead-environment awareness and cavern diving skills.
Combine sidemount, technical and cavern training into a structured programme.
Book Your PADI Sidemount Diver Course
Whether you want a more flexible way to recreational dive or you're taking your first step towards technical diving, the PADI Sidemount Diver course provides an excellent foundation.
Train with Professional Diver Training in Khao Lak, Thailand, and learn to configure and dive a sidemount system properly from the beginning.
Contact Course Director Ed to discuss dates, prices and training options.