Sidemount Diver Specialty Course
Experience greater comfort, flexibility and streamlining by mastering sidemount diving in Taganga with expert instruction and relaxed practical training dives.
Price range: $ 1.575.000 through $ 1.665.000
Indicated price only applies to cash payments.
Important
Indicated price is our promotion price which only applies when paying in cash. For card payments, original price applies. To be eligible for the cash discount:
- Reserve your spot with a deposit online
- Upon arriving, pay with cash at the counter
VAT: Colombian residents +19% (not included in price). Foreign tourists are exempt. Cash discount available.
PADI 5 ★ IDC Resort
Professional teaching for all levels
6 languages
English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian & French
Small Groups
Personalised teaching with individual focus
Secure credit card payments with Bancolombia's Wompi
Overview
Discover a completely different way to scuba dive with the PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty Course in Taganga.
Instead of carrying your cylinders on your back, sidemount diving positions them alongside your body, offering excellent streamlining, balance, equipment accessibility and gas redundancy.
You’ll learn how to configure a sidemount system, manage independent cylinders, improve your trim and buoyancy and handle sidemount-specific procedures.
It’s an exciting recreational specialty and an excellent foundation for divers interested in more advanced or technical diving.
Course Itinerary
Duration: 3 days – includes equipment configuration, confined-water training and 4 open-water sidemount dives.
Before Arrival – PADI eLearning
Complete your PADI Sidemount Diver eLearning before arriving whenever possible.
Equipment & Confined-Water Training
Your instructor will help you correctly configure and adjust the sidemount system before practicing:
- Cylinder attachment and removal
- Weighting and equipment positioning
- Regulator switching
- Gas management
- Buoyancy and horizontal trim
- Streamlining
- Sidemount-specific emergency procedures
Four Open-Water Training Dives
Across your open-water training, you’ll progressively apply and refine your sidemount skills while becoming more comfortable and efficient with the configuration.
Requirements
- PADI Open Water Diver or qualifying equivalent
- Minimum age: 15 years
- Medically fit for diving
What’s Included
- PADI Sidemount Diver eLearning & digital materials
- Equipment configuration workshop
- Confined-water training
- 4 open-water sidemount training dives
- Complete sidemount equipment configuration for training
- PADI Sidemount Diver certification after successful completion
- Certified PADI Instructor
- Small-group, personalized instruction
- Personalized feedback throughout your training
- High-quality full scuba equipment throughout the course
- Boat transportation
- Tayrona National Park diving when conditions and park access allow
- Drinking water and fresh seasonal fruit
Add-Ons & Extras
Underwater Photographer – 110,000 COP/person: Professional, fully edited high-resolution photos and videos of your sidemount training delivered via Google Drive. Group discounts available.
Underwater Camera Rental – 65,000 COP/day: All raw files delivered directly via Google Drive. Camera use during training is subject to instructor approval.
Daily Scuba Diving Insurance – 15,000 COP/day: Available for divers without active specialized dive insurance. Coverage is subject to policy terms.
15L / 100 cu ft Large Tank Upgrade – 10,000 COP/tank: Additional gas capacity for divers with higher air consumption. Subject to availability and suitability for your sidemount configuration.
Dive & Stay: Combine your training with accommodation at our ocean-themed on-site hostel. Check out our current Dive & Stay packages here.
Flying & Altitude After Diving
Wait at least 18 hours after your final dive before flying or traveling to significant altitude after multiple dives.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Online Deposit: Reserve with a deposit and pay the remaining balance at check-in.
PADI eLearning & Digital Materials: Once assigned to your PADI account, the digital material portion is non-refundable.
Standard Cancellations: Cancellations at least 48 hours before the course may receive a refund of the remaining refundable deposit.
Late Cancellations / No-Shows: Cancellations within 48 hours, no-shows, late arrivals preventing participation and voluntarily stopping the course after starting are non-refundable.
Ocean Lovers Cancellation: Training cancelled because of unsafe ocean conditions, port closures or other safety concerns will be rescheduled whenever possible. If completion is not reasonably possible, refundable course payments will be returned, excluding assigned PADI materials.
Health & Fitness to Dive: Contact us immediately if illness or a medical issue prevents participation. Last-minute cancellations are normally non-refundable, but we’ll help reschedule whenever reasonably possible.
Regular Environmental Park Closures – #RespiraTayrona
Tayrona National Park closes February 1–15, June 1–15 and October 19–November 2.
Sidemount training continues at suitable dive sites around Taganga, Santa Marta and outside the official park boundaries.
Why Book With Ocean Lovers Taganga?
PADI 5-Star IDC Dive Resort
Learn sidemount in a professional training environment with instructors experienced in continuing diver education.
Small Groups Matter
Sidemount is highly dependent on proper equipment configuration, weighting, trim and technique. Personalized instruction gives you time to fine-tune the system for your body and diving style.
Real Caribbean Training
Develop your sidemount skills across varied Caribbean dive sites rather than simply learning the configuration in confined water.
Personalized Feedback
Your instructor observes your trim, equipment positioning, gas management and movement throughout the course and helps refine each element.
Continue Your Development
Sidemount can be combined with Nitrox, Deep Diver and other advanced specialties, and provides valuable experience for divers interested in technical training.
Dive & Stay
Stay right next to the dive center and make your training part of a complete diving experience in Taganga.
Dive Differently
Experience the balance, flexibility and equipment accessibility of sidemount diving.
Book your PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty Course in Taganga.
| Package Options | Course + Dives + Stay, Course + Dives |
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