I have found these online courses to be invaluable in improving my sidemount diving. Sidemount is both skill and equipment intensive. So it is essential to spend a great deal of time in and out of the water to get it right. These courses break down sidemount diving into manageable chunks that really makes them easy to follow and the skills easy to replicate on... read moreI have found these online courses to be invaluable in improving my sidemount diving. Sidemount is both skill and equipment intensive. So it is essential to spend a great deal of time in and out of the water to get it right. These courses break down sidemount diving into manageable chunks that really makes them easy to follow and the skills easy to replicate on your own. I have just started to view his instructor series and am already noticing that his videos provide insights that it took me years as an instructor to learn on my own. This program will make better instructors, which will improve the sport. I'm definitely going to find time to take a course from him soon! read less

Great teacher! If you are back mount diver, you must try this.

Just completed the Sidemount Essentials course in Gozo. An intense, wonderful 5-day programme, professionally led by Steve, supported by Audrey Cudel at Gozo Technical Diving. The course perfectly matches the online video series. Highly recommended to all divers desiring to improve their knowledge & skills.

Amazing videos with a lot of details. Even as a experienced diver you can learn some nice tips and tricks

These videos are an excellent resource for sidemount divers at any experience level. So much of sidemount diving is managing equipment, and Mr. Martin’s step-by-step instruction videos do a tremendous job of transferring his considerable experience in sidemount instruction into digestible chunks that are easily replicated in real world diving. For the novice, Mr. Martin provides useful context and a building-block style of teaching that... read moreThese videos are an excellent resource for sidemount divers at any experience level. So much of sidemount diving is managing equipment, and Mr. Martin’s step-by-step instruction videos do a tremendous job of transferring his considerable experience in sidemount instruction into digestible chunks that are easily replicated in real world diving. For the novice, Mr. Martin provides useful context and a building-block style of teaching that is easy to follow. Moreover, Mr. Martin is full of tips and detail-oriented advice that are useful to experienced divers as well. There is so much here that as I continue to gain more experience with sidemount I find myself watching the videos again and again to better understand concepts that are relevant to my new experience level. Overall Mr. Martin has mastered the art of teaching by video, and I look forward to continuing my scuba education with him. read less

JUST GREAT !!!

The videos are very detailed and comprehensive. There is an endless amount of information and rewatching the videos always reminds me of something more I can do. Great value. Thanks Steve!

Very informative. Very useful to know.

  It is the best step by step online training for sidemount diving. I got many useful hints, how to mount tanks, witch have normal valves.
Thank you Steve and good look

Absolutely the best source of online training and information on different types of diving and equipment !

I love your videos, far more detailed than a training agency or manufacturer provides.

Due to where I live there are only a handful of sidemount divers living on Borneo island. And the instructor whom I took my sidemount course with is not even a seasoned sidemount diver himself… I did not enjoy diving it during the course and I blamed on the rented BC. It was a vendor who introduced me to check out Steve’s website when I... read moreDue to where I live there are only a handful of sidemount divers living on Borneo island. And the instructor whom I took my sidemount course with is not even a seasoned sidemount diver himself… I did not enjoy diving it during the course and I blamed on the rented BC. It was a vendor who introduced me to check out Steve’s website when I was making purchase of my Xdeep Stealth TEC during my visit to Australia last year. To be honest, I was feeling very reluctant to sign up for Steve’s online workshop at first, as it is very expensive for me especially when I have to convert from my super weak Malaysian Ringgit to British Pounds. It was a leap of faith for me, not knowing how much I could grow from this hefty investment that I have put on an online course. But then, magic started to happen my investment is returning as I have gone deeper and through every chapter. I have setup my harness and rigs as instructed in the video and I remember how I was eager to try it out in the pool. My biggest improvement I’ve took away from Steve’s workshop are my donning and doffing speed, tank trim and my backward finning.
3 months later, during our diving season has reopened, I remember the facial expressions my sidemount instructor had when he saw how efficient and effectively, I could get both my tanks done and jumped into the water waiting for him, and how I could get out of the water as soon as I have surfaced without going through the drama stowing the long hose on the surface. That was our first dive together after 3 months I have taken my sidemount course with him. Yes, my sidemount skills have surpassed my sidemount instructor in merely 3 months time, now how cool is that? 😁
So, if now you are to ask me if it is worth to sign up for Steve’s online courses? I will say F* yeah, don’t hesitate! 🤘🏻
Thank you Steve. C.W. read less

I have a great pleasure watching instructional videos from Steve. They do not replace the in-water training, but they add a great value of tips and hints and make you think more on your skills and how to be a better diver. Great value!

I had been diving sidemount for about a year before I watched any videos from Steve and when I subscribed I basically started over on my gear set up per Steve’s directions and it was such a huge improvement. I allowed myself six months of video training and practice at home before I met Steve in Mexico for my full cave class. This... read moreI had been diving sidemount for about a year before I watched any videos from Steve and when I subscribed I basically started over on my gear set up per Steve’s directions and it was such a huge improvement. I allowed myself six months of video training and practice at home before I met Steve in Mexico for my full cave class. This helped me prepare so much and allowed me to focus on the in water skills. The training is not just to complete the minimum requirements, Steve pushes you to be the best you can at all skills to make you a safer and more competent diver in all your diving adventures. Without a doubt this was one of the hardest things I have ever done but it was so worth it and I can see a huge difference in my skills that I gained throughout this process.
I can not recommend Steve and his training enough! read less

There are so many good reviews here, why would adding another one make a difference? Well, it might not, but this review is from a technical dive instructor who had already been diving sidemount for some time. I didn't really need to take this online course, and as an educator (professor,) I am quite familiar with teaching strategies, methodologies and pedagogy. However, these aspects of... read moreThere are so many good reviews here, why would adding another one make a difference? Well, it might not, but this review is from a technical dive instructor who had already been diving sidemount for some time. I didn't really need to take this online course, and as an educator (professor,) I am quite familiar with teaching strategies, methodologies and pedagogy. However, these aspects of education are not always effectively transferred to online courses, especially in dive courses, which is a physical activity that needs to be practiced where there is no access to a video - underwater. Yet, Steve manages to turn his online program into a simulated face to face one. There is so much information here that even in a face to face situation, this material would take months to cover, and more to absorb (especially for the beginner.) The benefit of a video course like this is that rather than taking notes, the student can watch the information over and over. Steve breaks down the information into simple ideas and concepts, and then demonstrates pretty much most of the possibilities, slowly and comprehensively. This series is as effective for the teacher of diving, as it is for the student of sidemount. Of course, as has already been mentioned, it is not designed to be a complete sidemount course that doesn't require a good instructor to work with, and Steve will not certify a diver who finishes this online series unless Steve actually gets in the water with that candidate, but the program is an incredibly informative resource for any hands on course with a good instructor, and it is of the highest quality educationally that I've seen in the diver education market. Thanks Steve! read less

Steve's online videos are a great value and a resource that I regularly use. Steve is a leader in diver education, and he has spent countless hours developing and testing the techniques and equipment presented in his online videos. The video presentations are clear and comprehensive. I wholeheartedly recommend Steve's online videos, and I am certain that viewing them has made me... read moreSteve's online videos are a great value and a resource that I regularly use. Steve is a leader in diver education, and he has spent countless hours developing and testing the techniques and equipment presented in his online videos. The video presentations are clear and comprehensive. I wholeheartedly recommend Steve's online videos, and I am certain that viewing them has made me a better diver. read less

Thank you, I upgraded to the instructor series 😉. Sadly, I learned much more in your online courses than in my “live” sidemount course with a SDI/TDI instructor in Egypt. With your latest tutorials it's now much better (especially as you have included more “cold water” details, and I live in Tirol/Austria, where cold water / drysuit is the “normal” setup). Keep going! Günther

I bought the videos even though having a couple hundred sidemount dives under my belt, mainly because I was curious since I was always diving the same system and methods since I started and most people I dive with do so as well.
The material is well structured and contains a load of information for sidemount beginners. Even for seasoned sidemount divers there are a few... read moreI bought the videos even though having a couple hundred sidemount dives under my belt, mainly because I was curious since I was always diving the same system and methods since I started and most people I dive with do so as well.
The material is well structured and contains a load of information for sidemount beginners. Even for seasoned sidemount divers there are a few interersting points to take away.
However if you already experienced the material is a bit slow going and could be more condensed. Some parts could be explained better as to WHY a specific setup is used. read less