Lets talk about being a Technical Sidemount Instructor

The Last Deco Stop

Life Below the Line: Being a Sidemount Technical Diving Instructor

Sidemount isn’t just a gear configuration. It’s a philosophy — one rooted in control, efficiency, and a deep respect for the environment we move through. As a sidemount technical diving instructor, I don’t just teach divers how to clip tanks to their sides — I teach them how to think, move, and breathe differently.

For many, sidemount starts as a curiosity. For some, it becomes a passion. For me, it became a career.

Why Sidemount?

Sidemount diving was originally born out of necessity — cave divers needed a way to navigate tight restrictions and still carry ample gas. But over time, it evolved into one of the most streamlined, adaptable, and ergonomically favorable diving styles available. Add in a technical edge — like decompression procedures or mixed gas — and it becomes a powerhouse configuration.

As an instructor, sidemount offers a level of precision and teaching satisfaction I never quite found in backmount. Every session is a chance to troubleshoot, fine-tune, and help students develop true underwater awareness.

What It’s Like to Teach Sidemount at the Technical Level

Teaching sidemount at the technical level is not about running through a checklist of skills. It’s about mentorship. It's about creating divers who can problem-solve under pressure, make independent decisions, and remain calm in complex environments.

From the outside, it may look like I'm just adjusting harness straps or demonstrating tank trims — but what I'm really doing is helping divers build confidence and competence under increasing complexity.

A typical course might include:

• Configuration & Equipment Workshops: Streamlining gear for function, redundancy, and accessibility

• Dryland Drills: Practicing gas switches, valve drills, and emergency scenarios before ever hitting the water

• Confined Water Control: Mastering buoyancy, trim, and gas management

• Open Water Technical Dives: Applying theory in real dive scenarios — staged decompression, team communication, and emergency handling

Every diver brings something different — body type, learning style, mindset. And that’s what keeps it interesting. No two courses are ever the same.

Challenges of Being a Sidemount Tech Instructor

• Gear Setup Time: Sidemount requires a lot of fine-tuning — no two setups are ever identical

• Student Readiness: Many divers underestimate the discipline sidemount demands. This isn’t a shortcut — it’s an upgrade

• Constant Adaptation: As gear evolves, so do techniques. Staying current is part of the job

• Logistics: Teaching technical diving requires detailed planning, dive site selection, gas logistics, and safety protocols that go far beyond the recreational scope

But for all the challenges, the payoff is huge: watching students become skilled, self-reliant divers ready to explore caves, wrecks, or deeper ocean realms with confidence.

The Rewards of the Role

Being a sidemount technical instructor is deeply fulfilling. I get to see divers evolve — not just in skill, but in mindset. I help them go from “just getting through the dive” to “mastering the environment.” They finish the course standing taller (even after hours in a harness), with newfound respect for their gear and themselves.

And there’s nothing quite like watching a diver who once struggled with trim now glide effortlessly at depth, perfectly streamlined, calm and in control.

Sidemount Is More Than a Specialty — It’s a Lifestyle

If you’ve ever wanted to take your diving to the next level — both in terms of technical skill and personal mastery — sidemount is a path worth taking. And if you're already a dive pro looking to grow, becoming a sidemount instructor is one of the most challenging and rewarding journeys you can choose.

Because once you’ve felt what true balance feels like underwater, everything changes.