The PADI Sidemount Instructor Course equips you with the skills to teach divers how to use sidemount configurations for greater flexibility, balance, and extended dive times. As an instructor, you’ll guide students in proper equipment setup, trim and buoyancy control, and emergency procedures, helping them gain confidence in this increasingly popular diving style. With sidemount diving becoming essential for technical and cave divers, adding this specialty to your portfolio enhances your career opportunities.
What You’ll Learn
How to Teach Sidemount Diving: Train students in sidemount setup, gas management, and streamlined movement.
Trim & Buoyancy Optimization: Help divers refine their body positioning for maximum comfort and efficiency.
Equipment Configuration & Maintenance: Guide students on harness adjustment, tank mounting, and weight distribution.
Emergency Procedures & Gas Redundancy: Teach problem-solving techniques, including air-sharing drills and valve management.
Course Combinations: Learn how to integrate this specialty with Self-Reliant Instructor and Wreck Instructor for enhanced diving applications.
Marketing & Sales Strategies: Gain insights on how to promote sidemount diving as a valuable skill for recreational and technical divers alike.
Why Become a Sidemount Instructor?
- Expand Your Teaching Portfolio: Offer a specialty that appeals to both recreational and technical divers.
- Improve Diver Comfort & Safety: Sidemount reduces back strain, improves mobility, and enhances gas redundancy.
- Boost Career Opportunities: Many technical and cave diving programs require sidemount as a foundational skill.
- Differentiate Yourself as an Instructor: Stand out by offering a course that provides unique advantages over traditional backmount configurations.
Prerequisites
- Be a certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) or higher.
- Be a certified PADI Sidemount Diver.
Want to expand your sidemount training offerings?
Consider adding Wreck Instructor to provide divers with additional skills for exploring overhead environments safely.
