Join the Side Mount Revolution!

The UTD Side Mount Mini class is a crossover class for you, the certified diver, to introduce you to Side Mount diving. This class is designed for divers who have taken the UTD Essentials of Rec or Essentials of Tech class or equivilant.

The Side Mount Mini is designed to cross you over to side mount diving at your current level of certification. The certification limitations of the class, once completed, are based on your current level of certification.

The goals of the UTD Side Mount Mini are to:

• To develop your practical knowledge and understanding of side mounting diving.

• To enable you to setup, organize and safely conduct side mount dives at their current level of recreational certification.

Prerequisites

• Must meet UTD General Course Prerequisites as outlined in Section 1.6 or the UTD Standards and Procedures

• Minimum age of 16

• Completed UTD registration process

• UTD open water certification or higher

• Standard gases are used. Nitrox and/or Helium certification required if breathing any gas with higher O2 content than 22% and/or using a helium based mix.

Course Content

This class requires a minimum of two hours of academics, two hours of dry runs and at least hours in-water. Additional training and dives are at the discretion of the instructor and are based on the level of training the student is seeking.

Course Limits

• General Training Limits as outlined in Standards and Procedures Section 1.4

• All dives are to maintain a working PO2 of no greater than 1.4

• UTD Z-System

• Instructor to student ratio maximum 6:1 in the class

Online Classroom Courses and Text

• Online Classroom Materials - Side Mount Mini Online Classroom

• Side Mount Recreational Gas Planning Worksheet

• Essentials of Side Mount Diving DVD is recommended

Academic Topics

• UTD organization

• Side Mount Diving Principles

• Diving proficiency with in water skills

• Streamlining and equipment configuration

• Air sharing and valve procedures

• Gear configuration

Land Drills and Topics

• Setup and Configuration of the Z-System or equivalent for recreational side mount diving

• Equipment fit and function

• Pre-dive drills

Required Dive Skills and Drills

• All skills requirements of requested crossover level as outlined by UTD Class structure

• Emergency out of air management

• Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim

• Familiarization with Side Mount configuration and equipment

Equipment Requirements

Side Mount equipment configuration is designed to be simple and efficient. To get the most from your class it is advisable that you take the course in a complete UTD Side Mount system.

Required Equipment

• All equipment noted in Standards and Procedures 3.0

• Z-System or equivalent for Side Mount diving