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PADI Sidemount Diver
Streamline your gear and improve your dive efficiency with the PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty Course at The Diving Academy. Perfect for divers in Reading, Swindon, Oxford, and Bristol looking to advance their diving comfort and flexibility.
Course Type: Continuing Education
Fees From:
£285.00
Booking Information: If you are unable to find a date that works for you please contact us and we will be able to tailor a booking to your needs.
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PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty – Dive Streamlined, Dive Smart
The PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty Course at The Diving Academy introduces a new level of freedom and flexibility underwater. By configuring your tanks along your side rather than on your back, sidemount diving offers improved balance, reduced strain, and more accessible equipment—making every dive more enjoyable and efficient.
Why Train with The Diving Academy?
At The Diving Academy, we provide expert instruction and flexible training across top dive sites in Reading, Swindon, Oxford, Bristol, and surrounding regions. Whether you’re looking to improve air management, reduce gear bulk, or prepare for technical diving, our experienced instructors tailor your training to fit your goals and experience level.
What You Will Learn
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Benefits and challenges of sidemount diving
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Proper equipment setup and configuration for sidemount systems
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Techniques for trimming, streamlining, and buoyancy control
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Gas management and emergency procedures with independent cylinders
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Water entries, exits, and underwater movement with sidemount gear
Course Requirements
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Minimum age: 15
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PADI Open Water Diver certification or equivalent
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Basic comfort in the water and good health
Who Should Enroll?
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Divers seeking greater comfort and flexibility underwater
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Individuals with back or shoulder strain from traditional setups
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Divers preparing for cave, wreck, or technical diving
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Anyone wanting a fresh, streamlined approach to scuba
Enhance Your Dive Experience
Completing the PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty Course at The Diving Academy empowers you with new diving skills and configurations. Whether you dive locally in Berkshire or plan to explore more technical environments worldwide, sidemount diving adds versatility and control to every underwater adventure.
Prerequisites
The PADI SIdemount Diver Course prerequisites:
- PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification)
- Must be 15 years old
Course Medical Requirements:
Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a physician before diving.
Avoid disappointment, download and review the Diver Medical form to ensure you won’t need a physician’s approval to dive before enrolling in a scuba course. Instructors, divemasters and dive shop staff are not physicians and should not be asked for medical advice; only medical professionals can give medical clearance to dive.
If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN).
Next Steps
Study
Step 1 – PADI eLearning
PADI eLearning makes it easy to fit scuba lessons into a busy schedule. Complete the independent study part of your course whenever, wherever it’s convenient for you.
Work at your own pace, online or offline, using a computer or mobile device. Connect with your instructor for inwater training, or whenever you have a question.
- eLearning time commitment: 2-4 hours
At The Diving Academy
Step 2 – With Your Instructor
First, you’ll make a confined water dive to become familiar with sidemount diving equipment. Your PADI Instructor will also teach you sidemount diving skills including: frog kicking, attaching and removing scuba tanks as you enter and exit the water, unclipping a scuba tank and swimming with the tank in front of you, and how to switch second stages and manage your breathing gas when wearing two scuba tanks. When you’re comfortable with these skills, you’ll make three open water dives where you’ll practice your new skills, buoyancy control and problem solving.
What’s Included
What’s Included
- Your course tuition fees for the dates you have booked.
- Your PADI eLearning or Manual
- Equipment hire
- Air Fills for the pool. (If required)
- PADI eCertification Card
Additional Costs
- Dive site entry from £15- £25 per day. (If required)
- Transportation for you to the dive centre, pools & dive sites.
- Subsequent air fills at Open Water sites payable directly to venue.
Course Locations
Dive Centre
Diving Academy – Dive Centre, Sunfield Business Park, New Mill Road, Wokingham, RG40 4QT
Pool Training Sites
Wokingham – The Forest School, Robin Hood Lane, Winnersh, Wokingham, RG41 5NE
Yateley – Yateley School, School Lane, GU46 6NW
Hagbourne – Hagbourne School Pool, Main Road, East Hagbourne, OX11 9LR
Swindon – Halo Highworth Recreation Centre, The Elms, Highworth, Swindon SN6 7DD
Open Water Training Sites:
London – Wraysbury Diving Lake, Station Road, Wraysbury, Berkshire, TW19 5ND
Radstock – Vobster Quay, Upper Vobster, Radstock, BA3 5SD
Leicester – Stoney Cove, Sapcote Road, Stoney Stanton, Leicester, LE9 4DW
Join the PADI Master Scuba Diver Challenge
Want to reach the pinnacle of scuba diving? Hone your dive skills, build your confidence, and become part of the world’s elite 2% of divers with the PADI Master Scuba Diver™ rating.
