Photo by Pete Nawrocky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sidemount Diver
Sidemount configuration training for alternative tank mounting on the sides versus back, improving trim, redundancy, and gas management through distributed cylinder carry. Teaches tank attachment, harness assembly, wing sizing, and horizontal trim optimization. Sidemount excels in tight wreck penetrations, long-distance dives, and technical applications; popular among both recreational and technical divers seeking better buoyancy and streamlined profiles.
Centres that teach this course
3 dive centres in the directory publish a price for this exact certification, checked Sep 2026. Each centre's own wording is shown beneath its name. Ranges cover whole-course prices only — where a centre charges per day or per dive, its rate is listed separately below, since a daily figure is not comparable with a course total.
- $600total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- MX$5,000per day
- THB 15,000total
These prices are not like-for-like. Two centres can charge very differently for the same certification because they include different things. One price may cover twinsets, stages, deco gas and cylinder rental for every training dive, a dedicated classroom for the theory, boat or transport to the site, and the agency's registration and materials; another may be tuition only, with all of that charged separately — or the other way round, with a centre bundling in extras the first leaves out. Class size, whether the course is one-to-one, and how many days are allowed for it move the figure too. Check what each centre's price includes before comparing them, and confirm with the centre before booking.
Consumables are usually extra. Sorb, helium, O₂ and other fills, park and cenote fees, certification fees and rental are commonly charged on top.
Packages combining several certifications, upgrades from an existing one, and open-ended day rates are excluded — none of them is the standalone price of this course, and including them would move the figures away from what a new student can actually book.
Prerequisites
IANTD Open Water Diver or equivalent; minimum 12-14 years old (Junior Diver with parent/guardian authorization), 15 years old (with parent/guardian authorization), or 18 years old independently
Standards
What a diver must demonstrate to pass this course — not always published by the certifying agency.
Sidemount harness assembly and rigging, cylinder attachment and bailout procedures, wing sizing and buoyancy control, horizontal trim optimization on sidemount, emergency procedures specific to sidemount configuration, gas management with distributed cylinders
Instructors Teaching This Course
Mexico
United States
Other locations
Dive Centres Offering This Course
Mexico
We're still building out the directory country by country, so this list isn't every instructor or dive centre teaching it in the world — more locations are coming soon.
Common questions about IANTD Sidemount Diver
How much does IANTD Sidemount Diver cost?
Published prices for IANTD Sidemount Diver range across 2 centres in the TecDiveTools directory — roughly US$440 to US$600 at current exchange rates. In each centre's own currency: $600 (1 centre) and THB 15,000 (1 centre). 1 centre charges by the day instead, which is not comparable with a course total. Prices differ mainly in what they include, so compare the inclusions before comparing the numbers. Prices were last checked in September 2026.
How long does IANTD Sidemount Diver take?
Between 2 and 3 days, based on the durations 2 centres publish for it. The time depends on the centre's schedule, weather, and how quickly the required skills are demonstrated — agencies set a minimum number of dives, not a fixed number of days.
What are the prerequisites for IANTD Sidemount Diver?
IANTD's standards require: IANTD Open Water Diver or equivalent; minimum 12-14 years old (Junior Diver with parent/guardian authorization), 15 years old (with parent/guardian authorization), or 18 years old independently.
What is the minimum age for IANTD Sidemount Diver?
IANTD's standards state: Minimum 12-14 years old (Junior Diver with parent/guardian authorization), 15 years old (with parent/guardian authorization), or 18 years old independently.
What does IANTD Sidemount Diver training involve?
According to IANTD's published standards: Sidemount harness assembly and rigging, cylinder attachment and bailout procedures, wing sizing and buoyancy control, horizontal trim optimization on sidemount, emergency procedures specific to sidemount configuration, gas management with distributed cylinders.
Where can I take IANTD Sidemount Diver?
33 dive centres and 54 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach IANTD Sidemount Diver, in Mexico and the United States. Each is listed further up this page.
Does the price of IANTD Sidemount Diver include gas and equipment?
Not always — it varies by centre. Certification fees, equipment rental and boat or site fees are commonly charged on top of the course price. Each centre's price list on TecDiveTools shows what it notes as included.