I took the leap into the online courses having looked at the quality of the free course on Steve’s sidemounting.com pages, and of course, YouTube. I was blown away at how useful they are; how much content there is; how useful as a reference they will be continuing forwards. Although my subscription is coming close to its end, I will be renewing it without hesitation,... read moreI took the leap into the online courses having looked at the quality of the free course on Steve’s sidemounting.com pages, and of course, YouTube. I was blown away at how useful they are; how much content there is; how useful as a reference they will be continuing forwards. Although my subscription is coming close to its end, I will be renewing it without hesitation, as I know others have done. Divers I know locally seem to ponder how best to set their sidemount rig up, for say a third cylinder – not me, I just reference Steve’s content and get a solution backed with years of thought and experience – simples!

After watching a bunch of hours of content I started to wonder about how I could fit in a Gozo-based Sidemount Essentials course; thinking "maybe one year in the future sometime". I explained it to my wife and she was hugely positive...! This year in September I completed Sidemount Essentials with Steve, enjoyed every minute, and am looking to go back next year for what has been hands-down the best training I have had since first placing a reg in my mouth. read less

Update.. I went to Egypt / Soma Bay in September and did some more sidemount dives. Enjoyed it so much. Everything went well, the different entry types, finding the correct weights, regulator setup on standard valves etc. all thanks to your in-water training and online videos. I am so glad that I was able to receive some lessons from you in June. At the moment... read moreUpdate.. I went to Egypt / Soma Bay in September and did some more sidemount dives. Enjoyed it so much. Everything went well, the different entry types, finding the correct weights, regulator setup on standard valves etc. all thanks to your in-water training and online videos. I am so glad that I was able to receive some lessons from you in June. At the moment I am thinking of buying a new drysuit, so that I can dive more often in Germany, we will see 🙂 read less

Hi Steve, First I watched most of your free videos 🙂 Then decided to buy package 2. It's excellent! Very impressed with your thoroughness, and precise explanations. Definitely worth the investment!

I'm a relatively new recreational SM diver, and have benefited tremendously from subscribing to sidemounting.com, a treasure trove of online training resources for SM divers. While my SM instructor was fantastic, it was a lot of info to absorb in a few days. Being able to reference videos and other perspectives has proved to be very valuable. I have no affiliation to the site other... read moreI'm a relatively new recreational SM diver, and have benefited tremendously from subscribing to sidemounting.com, a treasure trove of online training resources for SM divers. While my SM instructor was fantastic, it was a lot of info to absorb in a few days. Being able to reference videos and other perspectives has proved to be very valuable. I have no affiliation to the site other than being a paying member. read less

Sidemounting.com online training is a critical component for all recreational and technical divers. I consider the start of my technical training sidemount essentials, which I did with Joe Seda in Florida, even though I had completed a Tec 40 / sidemount class prior to starting my training with Joe. The online training allowed Joe to focus on the in-water skills development, which was the foundation... read moreSidemounting.com online training is a critical component for all recreational and technical divers. I consider the start of my technical training sidemount essentials, which I did with Joe Seda in Florida, even though I had completed a Tec 40 / sidemount class prior to starting my training with Joe. The online training allowed Joe to focus on the in-water skills development, which was the foundation for cave training and all other technical training including trimix with Vas Proud. The online training shows what all divers should expect from high quality in-water training, and it expedites in-water skill development. My daughter, who is just starting her journey into diving, has watched the backmount diving videos prior to starting open water training, and I am reviewing the instructors videos to make sure I'm the best 'buddy' I can be for her through her training process. I cannot stress enough the importance of these training tools in the safe development of recreational and technical divers. Daniel Glynn (father and cave diver) read less

I have never tried sidemount before but from studying his online video training, I knew that Steve was the perfect man to teach me and be confident about it. ...And I wasn't wrong! It was truly a life experience week!!! The Sidemount Essentials course has far exceeded my expectations. Steve is a great teacher, has a lot of patience and puts a lot of time... read moreI have never tried sidemount before but from studying his online video training, I knew that Steve was the perfect man to teach me and be confident about it. ...And I wasn't wrong! It was truly a life experience week!!! The Sidemount Essentials course has far exceeded my expectations. Steve is a great teacher, has a lot of patience and puts a lot of time and effort in everything he does with his students. Everything is planned and worked with great detail. I found it a memorable and a rewarding experience. The Sidemount Essentials Course transformed my diving. My awareness and skills level under water raised where I never expected in such a short period of time. Everything is in the right place... the harness set up, the weight amount and position, the cylinder trim and your balance in the water. This makes you feel very relaxed, confident and experience the true sidemount set up... and no back pain!!! 🙂 The course was very demanding yet very enjoyable. Every day starts with a theoretical and planning session and ends with a video review about our drills in the water where everything is discussed in great detail. We drained our cylinders every time we went into the water and that's why our learning curve is so high! Everything was done in a relaxed and secure atmosphere yet with extraordinary professionalism. Don't think twice about taking this course with Steve. If you are truly engaged in Sidemount and want to be a great diver, Steve will help you to achieve more than you ever expected! read less

Hi Steve, I really enjoyed your Sidemount Essentials course in Gozo! Have probably never spend my money on anything better. It made so much fun and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Seeing your dedication and experience is simply amazing. You pay attention to the smallest details and you are always striving to improve things even further. I also love your enthusiasm to capture... read moreHi Steve, I really enjoyed your Sidemount Essentials course in Gozo! Have probably never spend my money on anything better. It made so much fun and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Seeing your dedication and experience is simply amazing. You pay attention to the smallest details and you are always striving to improve things even further. I also love your enthusiasm to capture all those details, new equipment, new methods, hints etc. with the camera to be able to include them in upcoming videos to the benefit of everyone. Speaking of your online training videos I must say that they are a class of its own. They definitely get you well-prepared for the things you need to know during the in-water training and I think that exactly this concept is the key to the steep learning curve because the time underwater can be used efficiently. Thank you so much for everything Steve! Cheers, Nils read less

I met Steve, a little over 10 years ago when he came to Portugal to teach our staff to Sidemount (at the time it was the early days of Sidemount). I could immediately see his level of enthusiasm, technical ability, and professionalism. That moved to an all-different level with his new website and online training. The contents are so complete either for someone starting, someone... read moreI met Steve, a little over 10 years ago when he came to Portugal to teach our staff to Sidemount (at the time it was the early days of Sidemount). I could immediately see his level of enthusiasm, technical ability, and professionalism. That moved to an all-different level with his new website and online training. The contents are so complete either for someone starting, someone experienced and instructors alike. Thanks for all the effort to make sidemount a known and easy way to dive. read less

First of all, let me say how much the content you have made available has improved my diving and my instruction to other students! I would like to upgrade my online course subscription to Package 1, which includes the instructor material. I'm always looking for other techniques to improve my students' experience when they take training with me. Thank you!

I just want to say, your online training is top notch. I learn something every time I log in. The fact that you go above and beyond to engage with your subscribers only adds to the already incredible value we get from your site. Thank you very much for your time.

Your work is greatly appreciated, started sidemounting with your online videos, completed a speciality course on it and just finished my UTD cave 1 a couple of days ago. Learning from your videos made a massive difference, so hats off Sir. Keep the great content coming 🙂

Hi Steve, I just saw the new chapters you are adding into your online courses. Really like them. Especially helpful, when reviewing videos and searching for just a part in a video. I starting using them as soon as I noticed them. Cheers, Timo

I'm sure you get this all of the time, but I really do appreciate your online videos. I have used them to get my sidemount set up much better, and as an instructor, I have also been able to diagnose student issues and remedy them much more quickly. So, I want to thank you very much for that

Thanks so much to you Steve, and to Vas for your mentoring. Not asking questions and exploring options, tends to put a stop to the progression of safety and growth in diving. I have studied in depth your online teachings for 2 years now and counting. I have practiced and trained muscle memory but most importantly never kept my mouth shut if other divers ask... read moreThanks so much to you Steve, and to Vas for your mentoring. Not asking questions and exploring options, tends to put a stop to the progression of safety and growth in diving. I have studied in depth your online teachings for 2 years now and counting. I have practiced and trained muscle memory but most importantly never kept my mouth shut if other divers ask me. The results are incredible as they now see a better way. I must also say that in my 2 years of learning, you were always kind enough to explain, or give me an idea for improvement!!! There is always an opportunity to ask, learn, teach, discuss, and grow. In diving there should be no stupid questions. I’m sure I will open my mouth in future to ask another question!! Lol read less

Steve/Vas, your instructor series is phenomenal. Please let me be the first to say you are correct in what you say. One can teach themselves how to SM just by watching the videos as I have done. However, I did compromise/sacrifice my learning curve without one of you (SM essentials instructor). It took me almost one year to get pretty good with AL80s. I then... read moreSteve/Vas, your instructor series is phenomenal. Please let me be the first to say you are correct in what you say. One can teach themselves how to SM just by watching the videos as I have done. However, I did compromise/sacrifice my learning curve without one of you (SM essentials instructor). It took me almost one year to get pretty good with AL80s. I then took the first level of tech diving a year after that and told my tech instructor I was doing it in SM configuration. I had to tell him I taught myself which he responded with “you most likely will have to take a SM workshop with me depending on how I do on dive one”. After the first dive he said “there is no reason for you to take a class with me”. So your online training is spot on but if I had it to do all over again I would see your guy Joe Seda first. I will, in the future, take the course with him so I can be the best I can be. Regards Tony read less

Hi Steve, Your tutorials are amazing and are a valuable addition to any instructor’s toolbox. I teach PADI in Cyprus, and I took a few courses trying to master this type of diving that although came from cave diving, became very popular among recreational divers . But I found that only using your technique , I am certifying capable and confident sidemount divers , which... read moreHi Steve, Your tutorials are amazing and are a valuable addition to any instructor’s toolbox. I teach PADI in Cyprus, and I took a few courses trying to master this type of diving that although came from cave diving, became very popular among recreational divers . But I found that only using your technique , I am certifying capable and confident sidemount divers , which , I know, will not be a nightmare for any dive boat and/or Dive guide by using up double the space and needing double the time to kit up. I also know that they will look streamlined underwater and be safe. And it is all due to your structured approach in explaining every aspect of sidemount diving , where configuration is crucial. I would not hesitate to recommend it to any instructor teaching sidemount! Thank you very much ! read less

Thank you for your great work, it is a huge help for everyone getting into the Sidemount world. I recently did a cave sidemount crossover course with Natalie Gibb in Mexico and could join her Training well prepared due to your online resource.

Please send me a renewal code for the Package 1 - Instructor Course. I look forward to enjoying my 5th year with Sidemounting.com. You and your team continue to be a great source of inspiration and guidance! All the best! Scott