SDI Sidemount Diver

Learn to dive sidemount with better balance, comfort, and gas management

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SDI Sidemount Diver Certification in Nanaimo

Improve balance, streamline your profile, and learn one of the most versatile diving configurations available.

Sidemount diving gives you better trim, freedom of movement, and easier access to your cylinders. It is a popular choice for both recreational and technical divers, and this course teaches you how to dive sidemount safely, comfortably, and confidently.

Training with Nanaimo Dive Outfitters means learning sidemount in real cold-water conditions, where proper weighting, configuration, and trim make an even bigger difference than in warm water. Whether you want a more comfortable gear setup or are planning to move toward technical diving, sidemount is a powerful skill set to add to your training.

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Who should take the Sidemount Diver course?

The SDI Sidemount Diver course is designed for certified divers who want to:

    • Learn to dive using sidemount cylinders instead of traditional back-mounted gear
    • Improve balance, stability, and buoyancy through a horizontal trim position
    • Explore a configuration commonly used in advanced and technical diving
    • Gain better access to valves, hoses, and equipment for improved safety and comfort

Minimum age for participation is 18, or 15 with parental consent, and all students must hold an SDI Open Water certification or equivalent.

What to expect in your Sidemount Diver course

We run this specialty throughout the year, selecting local sites and pool sessions that allow you to practice trim, buoyancy, gas management, and equipment drills in controlled environments.

A typical schedule includes:

    • Classroom session covering sidemount principles, configuration, gas management, and safety procedures
    • Land-based equipment workshop where you assemble, adjust, and tune your harness, cylinders, and regulators
    • Confined-water training to develop trim, weighting, cylinder handling, and propulsion
    • Open-water sidemount dives where you apply all core skills under instructor supervision

This structure gives you the time to dial in equipment, refine your trim, and build confidence before taking your sidemount system into open water.

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Skills you’ll build in the Sidemount Diver course

The SDI Sidemount Diver course has three main phases:

#1. Knowledge development

You’ll complete SDI eLearning and review key topics, including:

    • Gas management with independent cylinders
    • Harness and BCD options for sidemount
    • Cylinder rigging, regulator routing, and weighting strategies
    • Communication and hand signals specific to sidemount
    • Planning dives within your current certification limits

#2. In-water training

In confined water and shallow sites, you’ll learn and practice:

    • Attaching and removing sidemount cylinders in multiple environments
    • Managing gas between independent tanks
    • Streamlining hose routing and equipment placement
    • Refining buoyancy, balance, and horizontal trim
    • Performing S-drills and emergency procedures
    • Executing controlled descents, ascents, and safety stops

#3. Open-water sidemount dives

You’ll complete open-water sidemount dives at local Nanaimo sites where you will:

    • Plan and execute your sidemount dives under instructor supervision
    • Demonstrate independent gas management
    • Navigate while maintaining trim and buoyancy
    • Perform gas switches safely
    • Handle real-world entries and exits from both shore and boat environments

These dives give you practical experience managing sidemount equipment in cold-water conditions.

Gear requirements for the Sidemount Diver course

You’ll use a full sidemount setup during training, including:

    • Mask, snorkel, fins
    • Sidemount harness or BCD
    • Two independent cylinders and regulators
    • Cutting devices, spools, and accessories required for sidemount
    • Dive computer and appropriate weighting
    • Exposure protection suitable for local temperatures

Most divers use a drysuit in Nanaimo’s 8°C to 10°C waters. Our team will help ensure the configuration works smoothly with your sidemount harness and overall profile.

Better balance, better confidence

British Columbia’s cold-water diving gives you a significant advantage when learning sidemount. Once you can maintain trim, control buoyancy, and manage independent cylinders in cold water, sidemount diving in warm tropical conditions becomes even easier. Your SDI Sidemount Diver certification is recognized globally and forms a strong foundation for future training, including wreck, deep, and technical diving pathways.

What’s included

    • SDI Sidemount Diver eLearning
    • Equipment workshops and configuration sessions
    • Confined-water training
    • Open-water sidemount dives
    • Use of sidemount harness and specialized equipment if needed
    • Small class sizes for personal instruction

Student perks: You’ll receive discounts on gear purchases and are welcome to join our club dives once certified.

Coming from out of town?

If you’ve already begun your Sidemount Diver training elsewhere, we can complete your certification through a multi-agency referral. Many divers travel to Nanaimo specifically to learn sidemount in cold-water conditions, where trim, weighting, and configuration matter most.

Whether you’re visiting Vancouver Island, here for work, or planning a dive trip, we offer flexible scheduling and access to ideal local training sites. Contact us for details and availability.

Sidemount Diver Course FAQ

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Are you ready to start your journey into sidemount diving?