PADI Sidemount Diving Course for Team China

Posted November 28th in Diving Courses

Pictured: Team China preparing their sidemount diving rigs

Team China’s Instructor Blake is busy running sidemount diver training here at Simple Life Divers.

Sidemount diving involves a different equipment configuration to conventional scuba diving. Rather mounting cylinders on the back of the BCD or wing, instead cylinders are attached along the torso of the diver.

Originating from cave diving, side-mounting cylinders offers a number of advantages, particularly for technical diving applications. Divers are able to see and easily access valves for gas switching or emergency shut down. It’s also easier to remove or attach cylinders for staging. Single cylinders are usually much more readily available than twin sets with manifold and it’s easier to transport single cylinders across challenging terrain rather than carrying a heavier, bulkier twin set. Plus aligning cylinders along a divers torso allows a smaller profile, so in the case of cave diving allows penetration of smaller restricted spaces.

Interested in furthering your dive training? PADI scuba diving courses in Koh Tao, Thailand