Course Overview
Want to perfect your buoyancy, reduce back strain, and enjoy longer dives? The PADI Sidemount Diver course is the answer for anyone seeking greater flexibility and comfort. Originally developed for cave diving, this configuration has revolutionized recreational diving.
Why sidemount? Your advantages at a glance:
Perfect trim & hydrodynamics: The lateral position of the bottles allows you to lie as flat as a board in the water. Your water resistance decreases, your efficiency increases.
Maximum comfort: Never again heavy tanks on your back! Sidemount diving is ideal for divers with back problems and makes entering the water (e.g. from a boat) much easier on the back.
Increased safety: You have direct access to your valves and regulators. Furthermore, two cylinders double your gas reserve for extended exploration trips.
Flexibility: Whether it's narrow passages or technical diving – with sidemount you're ready for any scenario.
What you will learn in the course
1. Equipment configuration & setup
Sidemount diving is very individual. You'll learn how to perfectly adjust the harness and wing system to your body. This includes correctly positioning the tanks (bungees and clips) so they lie perfectly streamlined at your sides.
2. Perfect buoyancy and trim
One of the biggest advantages: You'll learn how to achieve a horizontal body position ( trim ) in the water, which is almost impossible with a back-mounted tank. We'll work on your fine-tuning so you glide effortlessly through the water.
3. Gas management with two bottles
Since you'll be diving with two independent air sources, you'll learn how to correctly switch between regulators . The goal is to keep the pressure in both cylinders even throughout the dive to maintain a balanced body position in the water.
4. Safety procedures & problem solving
You will train specific techniques that are important in sidemount diving:
Valve management: Since the valves are located directly under your arms, you will learn how to close them extremely quickly yourself in case of a blow-off.
Out-of-Air Scenarios: How to give gas to your buddy or receive gas yourself in this configuration.
Bottle handling: Putting the bottles on and taking them off in the water (practical for boat launches or shallow shore areas).
5. Advanced finning techniques
The improved trim allows you to use techniques like the frog kick or the backwards kick much more effectively, which is a huge advantage, especially near sensitive reefs or in narrow passages.
Duration
2 days
Theory
eLearning
Dives
4
Our offers
PADI SIDEMOUNT COURSE
Inclusive
Prerequisites: PADI Open Water Diver
Duration: 2 days
Included: eLearning, diving equipment, licensing fees
Price
€420.00
DISCOVER SIDEMOUNT
Inclusive
- 1 dive
- Sidemount equipment
- PADI Dive Instructor
Price
€90.00
Course schedule
Theory
You can complete the PADI Sidemount Diver theory course from the comfort of your own home. On-site, we'll then review the most important points together and answer any remaining questions.
Underwater
The PADI Sidemount Diver course consists of one dive in confined water and two dives in the ocean.
Course schedule
Your PADI NITROX Course:
Theory:
In theory, you learn above all the effects of nitrogen and oxygen on our body. As you surely have from the theory of your PADI Open Water Diver course, nitrogen is responsible for the so-called decompression sickness. Diving without NITROX is known to be done with a gas mixture of approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. And this is where diving with EAD comes in. EAD stands for Enriched Air Diving and means; diving with enriched oxygen. So that we can reduce the gas nitrogen, a mixture is added to our bottle which contains more oxygen than nitrogen. Example: EAN31 = 31% oxygen / 69% nitrogen. So our body absorbs less nitrogen and we can extend our non-stop time. So why not 100% oxygen? You will learn this in the theory part of the course.
Dive:
Here we show you how to check your gas mixture and what to look out for. We also plan this dive thoroughly. Then we go diving with NITROX for the first time and enjoy the underwater world.
Daniel discovered his passion for diving here in Cyprus at the age of 19. Since 2020, when he and Tamara took over the Cyprus Diving Centre, he has mainly dedicated himself to professional dive training.
In March 2026, Daniel reached the highest level of recreational dive training with PADI, successfully completing the Course Director course in Kota Kinabalu.
In addition to his professional training focus, Daniel is also a passionate sidemount and technical diver, and he is strongly committed to marine conservation around Cyprus through the Project Xenios initiative.
Ben began his career with us in 2024 by completing his Divemaster course followed by an internship. After this intensive period, he travelled to Honduras, where he successfully completed his PADI IDC over the winter. For the 2025 season, he has returned to the team as a fully qualified PADI Instructor and passionate technical diver.
Thanks to his exceptional theoretical knowledge, patience, and contagious enthusiasm for diving, Ben is a highly valued point of contact for our dive students.
Mi-Sin joined our team in 2025. As an experienced diving instructor, she was already familiar with Cyprus and many of its most beautiful dive sites - and has since enriched our team in every respect. She gained extensive experience during three years on Lombok, where she taught and dived under demanding conditions.
When teaching, Mi-Sin enjoys guiding her students step by step, watching them grow and helping each individual reach their full potential. Her passion for diving is unmistakable—and truly contagious.
Whether in the air or underwater, Jan feels at home everywhere. His passion for diving began with a “zero to hero” journey: after visiting us as a guest, he completed both his Divemaster and Instructor courses with us in 2025.
Jan impresses with his dedication, motivation, and his genuine enjoyment in helping others. With his enthusiasm for diving and his positive attitude, he is a great addition to our team, and we are excited to have him on board for the upcoming season as well.
Get started with PADI eLearning
With the PADI eLearning® system, you can start the theoretical part of the course right away and work at your own pace. This convenient, interactive learning option allows you to learn anytime, anywhere you have an internet connection.
After completing your eLearning program, you can start the practical part of the course directly with us (or at any other PADI dive center worldwide). We will deduct the amount you paid for the practical part from your course fee.
