Sidemount Course | 14 h 4 min split over 90 videos Admin - SteveSeptember 6, 2016 If you purchase any of these packages you will get access to the “Sidemount” course videos. Course Information Categories: NEW Package 1, NEW Package 2, NEW Package 3 Course Instructor Admin - Steve Author New Lessons 2023 Small RIB / Boat Entry and Exits – 18.5 min This is one of our new styles of online training videos, it covers small RIB / boat entry and exits. We show you actual students with instructor during their Sidemount Essentials training course. You will see briefing, instructor demonstration, students’ performance with live critique plus debrief and video review after dive. This video will give you an insight into exactly what you will do during an in-water course with us. Setup Advice For Hollis SMS 75 – 11 min If you have a Hollis sidemount system or thinking to get one then you should definitely watch this video. You will get several tips on how you can improve it. More on Trimming A Diver – 9 min We clarify what diver trim really is and explain why divers must learn to relax, plus why moving your lead weights sometimes do not work. We also explain the issue with feeling like you are falling to the side and how to correct it. Valve Shutdowns – How Long Should It Take – 6 min We discuss the unnatural fears we see students having, regarding the time pressures they feel when completing the valve shutdown exercise. We also talk about prioritising problems and why we do real environment testing. Will My Sidemount Harness Work In All Locations – 5.5 min We discuss which systems you need and if you really need lots of lift capacity. Also if you need safety clips and entry and exit difficulties and our advice Do You Need A Butt Plate And Heavier Tank Issues – 14 min We discuss if sidemount divers really need a butt plate and why we believe divers feel they need to use one. We also discuss loop bungee problems when using heavy steel tanks and the best place for you to mount your canister lights Using Drysuit Correctly In Sidemount Configuration – 9.5 min Based on our years of experience, we answer if you should use your drysuit as a primary buoyancy device or not and what role it and your BCD play. We also go into LP hose routing issues impact this has on rescuing an unresponsive diver underwater. Cylinder Setup Different Types of Cylinder Valves – 4 min I explain the different types of cylinder valves and how we can use each for sidemount diving Cylinder Hardware Explained – 23.5 min Comprehensive workshop on how to make and use each piece of cylinder hardware for side mount New Technique For Sizing Your Cylinder Band Height – 4 min We have a new way to size up your sidemount cylinder band height, this improves setup no matter what cylinder hardware you have available. Rigging your Sidemount Cylinders – 11 min Detailed step by step workshop covering how to correctly setup your side mount cylinders Side Mount Diving | Single Cylinder – 16 min Complete workshop for single cylinder side mount divers, equipment setup and underwater skills Regulator Setup Right to Left Reg 2nd Stage Conversion – 3 min Workshop video covers how to convert an Apeks XTX 2nd stage from right to left handed Regulator Configuration Workshop – 22 min Complete step by step workshop covering every part of my side mount regulator setup BCD LPI Hoses and Hats – 2.5 min I show what length custom LPI BCD hoses work best and two types of hose hats, makes for easy disconnects Regulator Bungee Necklace – 4 min Regulator Breakaway Boltsnap – 6.5 min Regulator Setup for Fixed 1st Stages – 7 min If your regulator 1st stages don’t have swivel turrets, then this video is a must watch Regulator Setup for Standard Valves – 11 min If you don’t have modular or handed side mount valves, just standard valves then watch this video Regulator Setup for Solo Diving – 8.5 min If you plan to solo dive and not going to use a 2 metre long hose, this video covers the setup you need BCD Setup Side Mount System Setup | Part 1 – 33 min Step by step complete SM harness setup, 1st of 2 parts covering sizing and fitting for all body shapes Side Mount System Setup | Part 2 – 22 min 2nd part goes through the step by step fitting of your BCD/wing system to the harness xDeep Stealth TEC Harness Setup – 11.5 min I cover the additional changes and modifications I make when setting up Stealth TEC and REC harness Donning & Doffing Your System – 10.5 min My step by step guide makes it easy to donn and doff your sidemount system Razor 2 | SM System Modifications – 22 min Complete guide covering all the changes I make to the Razor system; adding loop bungee, sliding d-rings etc Dual Bladder Systems | Our Thoughts & How To Use – 11 Min We discuss in detail the use of dual bladder / redundant sidemount systems, we show you how to setup and manage your regulator configuration to best deal with a primary bladder failure. We cover all options for divers using wetsuits and drysuits. Making a Continuous SM Bungee – 8 min I show you how to make a continuous bungee, can be useful for backup sidemount cylinder bungee Reviews of Different SM Systems Review of Multi-Use SM Systems – 9.5 min I talk about the history of sidemount systems and the problems with multi-use systems Razor 1 and MSR Bladder Review – 3 min Talk on my first sidemount only harness system, which used a hydration bladder for buoyancy Razor 2 | Fitting to Students – 7 min Video shows me adjusting and correcting the mistakes with x2 students Razor harness configurations xDeep Systems Comparison Review – 7 min In depth review of the xDeep sidemount systems with a side by side comparison Review of Apeks SM System – 12.5 min After fully testing I give an in depth review of the Apeks WSX-25 sidemount system Review of AGIR SM System – 4 min After getting close up with AGIR SM harness, this video covers my review of the system Review of Ultimate SM System – 2 min A Mexican developed sidemount harness, this video is my review of the system Analysis – Loop, Band and Bungee Loop Bungee Size Testing – 4 min I test sidemount loop bungee lengths in increasing and decreasing 5cm increments, to find the best length Loop Bungee – Part 1 | Retainers and Position – 10 min This is the first of 2 new videos, that go into further detail on your loop bungee. We show you all the fine details of setting it up and we test the floating loop and fixed loop bungee methods with live underwater demos. We also cover using your fin loop bungee to fix a failed loop bungee and more. Loop Bungee – Part 2 | Types and Techniques – 7 min This is the second of 2 new videos, that go into further detail on your loop bungee. We show you a new technique for accessing your bungee and some pre-dive checks to avoid problems plus we discuss the different types of bungee and how they can affect you. Cylinder Band Height Testing – 4 min I test cylinder band height in increasing and decreasing 5cm increments, to find the optimal length Cylinder Band Position Testing – 4.5 min I test cylinder boltsnap positions with 4 tests at 45° increments, to show you the effect this has on your cylinder Weight Checking and Safety Equipment Weight Check Testing – 11 min I break down all equipment to show you actual weights in and out of the water and how this effects you Surface Weight Check Procedure – 13.5 min My comprehensive guide to setting the weight you need to dive, accurate to within 1KG of weight required End of Dive Weight Check Procedure – 10.5 min The most accurate weight checking test procedure, I take you through it step by step Drysuit Weight Check Procedure – 10 min If you plan to use a drysuit make sure you also watch this weight check video Steel Cylinders and Drysuit Weighting Cold Water and Florida Cave Diving Advice – 24 min I share tips and tricks I learnt from my experience diving in Florida’s cave country. Contains useful advice for all cold water drysuit and steel cylinder divers. LP and HP Steel Cylinder Comparisons | Florida – 16 min This video goes into great detail comparing the difference between the commonly used LP and HP steel cylinders in Florida, plus how to choose the correct cylinders. Weight Checking For Steel Cylinders and Drysuit – 15 min This video covers a step by step procedure for correctly weighting yourself in a drysuit with steel cylinders, plus how cave filling and equipment effects your weighting. Cylinder Donning and Doffing Cylinder Donning and Doffing – 22 min Step by step guide explaining how to donn and doff your cylinders, what order and which hand does what Drysuit Cylinder Don and Doff – 9 min Additional advice for drysuit divers on donning and doffing their sidemount cylinders Donning Cylinders for Solo Diving – 3 min If using my solo regulator configuration these are the additional steps to donn your cylinders De-Kitting a Student Tips – 2.5 min Advice on donning and doffing cylinders for another person, useful for instructors Entrance and Exit Techniques Update on Entry And Exit Techniques – 22 min Based on your questions and feedback on our current training series, we put this video together to address everything you wanted answering on entry and exit techniques. Sometimes it is the really small details that matter. Carrying Side Mount Cylinders – 3.5 min Advice an tips on how to safely carry your side mount cylinders Donning Cylinders | Standing – 2.5 min This is a demonstration showing a possible variation for donning cylinders with limited space Entrance & Exits with Ladders – 5 min Workshop covering several techniques and advice for entering and exiting from ladders using sidemount When to use Safety Clips – 3.5 min Demonstration and explanation of when to use safety boltsnaps on cylinders for entries and exits Preparation for Underwater Exit – 9 min I cover an underwater cylinder preparation technique you do after safety stop, enables efficient exit Boat Diving Entry Techniques – 20 min Comprehensive workshop covering sidemount entry techniques for different styles of dive boats Boat Diving Exit Techniques – 9.5 min Comprehensive workshop covering sidemount exit techniques for different styles of dive boats Using an Equipment & Gear Line – 5.5 min If water conditions are suitable, equipment lines from a boat can be extremely useful Exiting Problems and Advice – 3 min Over the years, I have seen a lot happen here is some additional advice on various problems Skill Refinement and Reviews Sliding D-Rings And Useful Equipment Update – 20 min This video lesson will bring you up-to-date with all the sliding d-rings we have tried and tested in 2020. We also share with you many more tips and tricks on dealing with and fixing common problems like broken mask / fin straps and we show plus review new useful equipment we have come across. Don’t Be That Sidemount Guy – 3.5 min We discuss how you avoid being the person using sidemount configuration that always seems to be the slowest to get in or out of the water Why You Need Good Skills – 5 min I cover general tips and advice, why skills diminish overtime and how you can avoid this SM Restrictions and Why Training – 9 min I cover why you need training for advanced styles of side mount diving, i.e. diving in restrictions Underwater Training Skills Equipment Match | Full Scan – 7 min Complete head to toe, step by step equipment checking sequence; pre-dive equipment check Using your Side Mount BCD – 5.5 min I cover horizontal and vertical use of your BCD with how to handle common problems Gas Awareness and SPG Checking – 5.5 min My guide to how often you should check your pressure gauges and how to know gas without looking Regulator Switching Procedures – 10.5 min I cover tips and tricks to regulator switching and how to always know what your breathing from SM Diver Trim Check Exercise – 13 min I cover what trim is and how you can test and to get perfectly balanced using side mount configuration Cylinder Trim Check & Sliding D-Rings – 11 min I review different types of sliding d-rings and show how to keep cylinders streamlined throughout your dive Advanced Buoyancy Control – 14.5 min I cover lung volume holds and how to breathe, with special buoyancy games to test and master your skills Diver Orientation and Positioning Drills – 4 min I explain how to test and develop your underwater awareness by doing my special drills and tests SM Valve Shutdown Exercise – 10.5 min Complete step by step procedure for making a side mount valve shutdowns including challenges and fixes Freeflow Regulator Drills – 9 min I show step by step how to handle a free-flow regulator with either switch and close or manual driving the gas SMB Deployment and Use – 14 min Comprehensive video covering how to use different types of delayed surface marker buoys and ascent tips BCD Over-Inflate Exercise – 7.5 min My 3 step training procedure for dealing with a BCD over-inflate emergency Emergency Drills | Air Sharing Out Of Air Sharing | Step 1 – 5 min Step 1 covers exactly how to quickly respond to an emergency and hand off the correct regulator every time Out Of Air Sharing | Step 2 – 16 min Step 2 covers how to deploy and restow your 2m long hose both with & without team mates assistance Out Of Air | Restowing Problems – 6.5 min I show additional long hose restowing techniques and prove why they are not as efficient as my Step 2 way Out Of Air Sharing | Step 3 – 8 min Step 3 covers team air sharing; positioning, swimming and how to make air sharing ascents Sidemount System Failures Cylinder Band Failures – 3 min If you have any problems with your side mount cylinder bands, this video shows exactly how to fix them Bungee Failure | Continuous Bungee – 5 min If your side mount bungee breaks, this video covers how you can fix using a continuous bungee Bungee Failure | Safety Clips – 2 min If your side mount bungee breaks, this video covers a simple fix using safety boltsnaps Accessories, Pouch and SMB Handheld Lights And Alternate Canister Hose Routing – 8 min You asked the questions and we answer. We talk about handheld and canister lights types routing options and discuss the difference between lights with tight signal beams and lights with wide video beams and how you can and should use each for different types of diving disciplines. Making and Using a Prusik Loop – 6 min A prusik loop is a removable attachment point, that divers will find useful for securing their cylinders too Helmet Use and Light Holder – 2 min I discuss mounting and using helmet lights and why have a removable light holder for your primary light Making a DPV Towing Handle – 6 min Step by step making and using a diver propulsion vehicle emergency towing handle and guide to use Drysuit Diving in Sidemount Drysuit Tips for Sidemount Divers – 4.5 min I discuss drysuit features, like pocket and drysuit inflator valve locations, plus accessories like pee valve systems Canister Light & Drysuit Inflation System – 9 min I cover several locations for mounting and securing both your canister light and drysuit inflation system Donning SM System | Over Your Drysuit – 3 min Demonstration showing a step by step procedure for putting on your sidemount harness, easily over any drysuit and under layer combination.