TDI Sidemount
Why Anilao?
World-Class Marine Life From Your Very First Dive
Anilao is the center of the center of marine biodiversity — even beginners get to see vibrant reefs, colorful fish, and amazing critters on their very first breath underwater.
Calm, Shallow Training Sites Perfect for First-Timers
Anilao has sheltered bays and sandy slopes with excellent visibility, making it safe, comfortable, and ideal for learning basic scuba skills.
Easy Access, Big Adventure
Just a short trip from Manila, Anilao offers world-class underwater experiences without long travel times — ideal for a quick getaway dive adventure.
WHY CHOOSE BLUE RIBBON?
Real Sidemount Instructors, Real Experience
Train with instructors who actually dive sidemount every day — not just for courses. Proper configuration, trim, hose routing, and mindset from the start.
Premium Gear & Proper Setup Support
From harness fitting to cylinder setup and weights, we dial in your configuration so you start with a comfortable, streamlined, correct sidemount system.
Earn your certification, you don’t just get given one
We focus on real mastery — trim, buoyancy, gas management, and equipment handling — so when you pass, it’s because you genuinely earned it.
What You Learn
Advanced Gear & Gas Management
Get trained on sidemount setups, learn proper gas management and buddy-gas matching, and handle independent cylinders safely.
Trim, Buoyancy & Propulsion Skills
Develop advanced buoyancy control, horizontal trim, and efficient finning / propulsion techniques — essential for stable and efficient diving.
Dive Planning & Situational Awareness
Learn to plan dives carefully, manage gas consumption and dive-time, and develop situational awareness and decision making akin to technical diving standards.
Safe Dive Conduct, Signals & Problem-Solving
Practice safety protocols, hand & light signals, gas switching, S-drills, emergency procedures, and underwater problem solving under guided conditions.
Course Structure
Before You Arrive – TDI eLearning
Get ahead on the theory so everything clicks the moment you arrive — meaning less confusion, faster progress, and more time focused on in-water skills.
Equipment Workshop
Build, adjust, and trim your sidemount setup until it fits perfectly.
2+ Open Water Training Dives
Run through gas management, trim, buoyancy, propulsion, and emergency skills.
Course Prerequisites
Must be 18 years old (or 15 with parental consent)
Must be an Open Water diver or equivalent
Provide proof of 25 logged open water dives.
You need to complete a Medical Form to make sure you are safe for diving, please review it prior to your course
Meet Your Instructor
Jonathan Venn
Jon is the founder of Blue Ribbon Dive Resort in Anilao, Batangas, established in 2010. With over two decades of diving experience, he specializes in technical diving instruction and professional-level SDI/TDI courses.
A passionate explorer and dive educator, Jon is known for discovering new dive sites around Anilao and beyond. He enjoys deep-water exploration and the challenge of spotting elusive pelagic species rarely seen by recreational divers. Whether teaching advanced courses or leading technical expeditions, Jon’s focus is always on safety, precision, and adventure beneath the surface