Open Water Tech Sidemount
This course is designed to teach certified divers how to safely utilize side-mounted primary cylinders as an alternative to the traditional back-mounted configuration. This course can be combined with other TDI courses such as: Decompression Procedures, Extended Range, Trimix, Advanced Trimix and Advanced Wreck. If combined, the standards for both courses must be met.
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in sidemount diving activities without direct supervision, so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- Safety and decompression stops as appropriate or necessary.
- Planned dives do not exceed diver’s current certification level.
BOOKING
Reservation confirmations require a 50% deposit. We accept bank transfer, credit card or PayPal. Full payment must be settled in Mexican pesos at the daily USD exchange rate or in cash prior to the start of your dive activity. Deposits for reservations are non-refundable, in certain circumstances, such as unforeseen medical issues or emergencies, the course or dive activities may be rescheduled. Any cancellation less than 24 hours prior to your first day of diving will be charged in full.
SCHEDULE
You can customize your course or dive trip according to your preferences and schedule throughout the year, we are open for training and diving seven days a week. The schedule can be adapted and subject to change due to weather conditions.
What will you learn?
Topics
Gas matching procedures to include dissimilar volumes.
Gas management utilizing independent cylinders.
Psychological considerations.
Equipment considerations.
Proper communication.
Problem solving.
- Gas-sharing.
- Gas hemorrhages.
- Light failure.
- Loss of visibility.
- Entanglement.
- Self rescue.
Tight spaces.
Conservation.
Difficult water entries.
S-Drills; specific to sidemount.
Pre-dive drills
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).
Stress analysis and mitigation.
Water skills:
Demonstrate various propulsion techniques: frog kick, modified frog kick, modified flutter kick, backwards kick, helicopter turns, and hand pulling if appropriate for the environment.
Demonstrate adequate buoyancy control; ability to hover at fixed position in water column without moving hands or feet.
Demonstrate adequate trim; ability to maintain proper position during the descent, bottom and ascent portion of the dive.
Demonstrate the ability to perform the following exercises while maintaining trim and buoyancy in the water column:
- Unclipping and attaching sidemount cylinders.
- Perform gas switches with and without a mask.
Included throughout the course:
Private instructor.
Classroom sessions.
Transport to the cenotes or boat from the shop.
Single, CCR, Sidemount and Doubles tanks.
Weights.
EAN 32 fills.
Certification card.
Water and snacks.
Not included:
Cenote entrance fee (x day between US$ 10 15).
Diving gear
Manual or elearning.
Mezclas de Nitrox o Helio.
Lunch.
Seguro de buceo.
Additional Services
Equipment rental and/or sale
Diving gear
Rental US$ 5 each x day (Wetsuit, Mask, Boots, Fins)
GASES Example
EAN 50, 80 CUF. US$ 21 por tanque
O2 100% 13 CUF. US$ 25 por tanque
Trimix 21/35 80 CUF. US$ 85 por tanque
Cave Equipment
Sidemount Harness (Rental US$ 20 x day).
Sidemount Regulator Set (Rental US$ 25 x day).
Twinset Wing / Backplate (Rental US$ 20 x day).
Twinset Regulator Set (Rental US$ 25 x day).
Stage Regulator and Rig ( US$ 15 x day).
Cave Primary Light (US$ 20 x day).
Backup Light (US$ 5 usd x day).
Scrubber
EAC Cartridge US$ 85 (4-5 hours scrubber approx.)
Sofnolime 8 - 12 US$ 12 x lb.
Important Information:
Plan carfully your trip to minimize your enviromental impact, please avoid sunscreen / mosquito repellent or other skin products for all water activities. Whenever possible, choose rechargable batteries and aviod to carring things like disposable razors, plastic bags, plastic water bottels, etc. We are in a very fragil and pristine enviroment and is our responsability to keep it that way.
We will do our best to improve your skills and knowledge, also we will set the best training plan according to the skills and experience of each diver to help them to succeed in the course but consider sometimes we need extra days to achieve the goals with a classroom or water sessions and we apply extra rate if is necessary. We strongly recommend to the students plan at least two extra days just in case.
Notes:
Please bring change of clothes & towels for cenote training days.
All courses are available in English or Spanish.