Dedicated Equipment Specialties

Recreational Sidemount Diving

Intent

The SSI Recreational Sidemount Diving program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to safely and comfortably dive with a single- or two-cylinder sidemount equipment configuration.

Minimum Instructor Rating

An active status Recreational Sidemount Diving Specialty Instructor may conduct the Recreational Sidemount Diving specialty program.

Student Prerequisites

Minimum age: 12 years old.

Have the following SSI certifications or equivalent from a recognized training agency:

Referral Diver

Note | SSI Referral Divers may enroll in SSI specialty programs and complete all academic and pool/confined water sessions. Open water training dives for all specialties cannot be combined with open water training dives for entry-level programs, and must be conducted after completion of all in-water training for the Open Water Diver program.

Duration

Recommended hours for completion: 10-15.

Depth Limitations

Maximum open water depth limit: 30 meters.

Maximum open water depth limit for 12- to 14-year-olds: 18 meters.

In-Water Ratios

The student-to-instructor ratio is 4:1.

Proximity

During in-water skill evaluations, the students must remain under direct supervision of the SSI Professional so that physical contact can be made at any time.

Requirements For Completion

Complete all academic sessions and assessments outlined in the instructor manual for the Sidemount Diving program.

Complete the program’s final exam.

Complete at least one (1) pool/confined water session as outlined in the instructor manual for the Sidemount Diving program.

Complete at least three (3) open water training dives as outlined in the instructor manual for the Sidemount Diving program.

Sequence

A pool/confined water training session is mandatory prior to any training dives in open water.

The purpose of this session is to assess the general skill level of the student, and to train them in the use of the specialty equipment prior to any open water training.

Certification

Upon completion of all academic and in-water requirements, the SSI Professional may issue the program’s digital certification card.

Certified SSI divers can dive with an equally- or more-qualified buddy in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limits of their certifications.

Students younger than 15 years old will be certified as an SSI Junior Diver in the applicable program, and can dive under the direct supervision of a dive professional, or with a certified adult, in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limits.