SDI Sidemount Diver
Why Get Your SDI Sidemount Diver Certification
If you’ve ever wanted more freedom, comfort, and control underwater, sidemount diving is the next step in your evolution as a diver.
By carrying your tanks at your sides instead of on your back, you’ll experience a more natural swimming position, improved trim, and better streamlining through the water.
At Blue Ribbon Dive Resort in Anilao — the center of the center of marine biodiversity — you’ll explore stunning reefs while mastering the balance and precision that make sidemount such a joy to dive.
This setup also gives you greater safety and redundancy, with fully independent air supplies that let you handle gas issues and perform self-rescue procedures more effectively.
It’s especially popular with underwater photographers and videographers, who appreciate the effortless stability and freedom of movement that sidemount provides.
Whether you’re exploring coral gardens, hunting for rare critters, or refining your buoyancy control, sidemount diving opens up a smoother, more streamlined way to enjoy the underwater world.
Who Is Sidemount For?
The SDI Sidemount Diver Course is designed for certified divers who want to take their diving comfort and control to the next level.
It’s ideal for those who want a more streamlined, balanced configuration — whether for longer dives, easier gear handling, or simply a new challenge that improves overall diving technique.
This course is perfect for:
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Recreational divers who want to improve trim, buoyancy, and efficiency underwater.
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Underwater photographers and videographers who can get absorbed in the moment — sidemount provides better redundancy and easier gas access, adding a valuable layer of safety while you focus on your shot.
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Divers who enjoy precision and self-sufficiency, learning to manage two independent air sources safely and confidently.
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Anyone preparing for more advanced training, such as technical or overhead-environment diving, where sidemount is the preferred configuration.
If you’re ready to enhance your control, comfort, and safety — and experience a whole new way of diving — sidemount is the perfect step forward.
What Skills Will You Learn?
The SDI Sidemount Diver Course combines hands-on equipment workshops, confined-water practice, and open-water dives to help you master the techniques that make sidemount diving efficient, safe, and enjoyable.
You’ll learn how to:
Configure and adjust your sidemount harness and BCD for a perfect, streamlined fit.
Attach, remove, and stow cylinders at the surface and underwater with ease.
Plan and manage gas from two independent cylinders safely and efficiently.
Perform regulator switches smoothly and monitor your pressure and time.
Refine trim, buoyancy, and propulsion techniques for effortless movement in any position.
Practice problem-solving and self-rescue drills, such as gas-sharing or managing a regulator malfunction.
With every session, you’ll develop greater awareness, comfort, and precision — skills that not only make you a better sidemount diver, but a more capable diver overall.
What Are Scuba Classes Like?
Your SDI Sidemount Diver Course at Blue Ribbon Dive Resort blends classroom theory, hands-on setup, and real-world diving in Anilao’s crystal-clear waters.
You’ll begin with an interactive eLearning session, covering the concepts of gas management, sidemount configuration, and the physics behind balance and buoyancy. Then, on land, your instructor will help you fine-tune your harness, weight placement, and hose routing until your system feels like a natural extension of your body.
In the water, you’ll start in confined conditions to practice attachments, regulator switches, and trim control before progressing to open-water dives on Anilao’s stunning reefs. Each dive builds your confidence as you refine your buoyancy, master gas management, and develop smooth, controlled movements.
Training is flexible, personal, and safety-focused — whether your goal is comfort, independence, or preparing for future technical courses. By the end, you’ll move effortlessly underwater, balanced and streamlined — diving sidemount with skill, confidence, and complete control.
READY TO GO SIDEMOUNT?
Discover a new way to move through the water — balanced, streamlined, and completely in control.
The SDI Sidemount Diver Course at Blue Ribbon Dive Resort in Anilao isn’t just another certification — it’s a chance to refine your skills, increase your safety, and unlock a whole new level of freedom beneath the surface.
Here in the center of the center of marine biodiversity, every dive is a chance to master something new — from precision buoyancy to effortless gas management — surrounded by instructors who care about your growth and passion for the ocean.
Ready to dive smarter, safer, and smoother?
Send us a message below or connect with us on social media — your sidemount journey starts here.