PADI Sidemount Diver Course in Komodo
Two cylinders at your sides, a perfectly flat trim and twice the gas: the PADI Sidemount Diver specialty changes how you move underwater. Learn it in our private training pool, then put it to work on three dives in Komodo National Park.
PADI 5★ IDC Dive Resort · Resident Course Director · Labuan Bajo
Sidemount in Komodo at a glance
Pool, then the park
Configuration and skills in the pool on day one, three ocean dives on day two.
In Komodo National Park
Plus one confined-water session, as per PADI Sidemount Diver standards.
Open Water Divers
Open to any certified diver from 15 years old. No deep or technical experience needed.
Divers per instructor
Time to adjust your harness and repeat every drill until it is clean.
How the PADI Sidemount course works
Knowledge development, one confined-water session and three open-water training dives.
Sidemount means carrying your cylinders along your sides instead of on your back. Each cylinder has its own regulator, so you get full redundancy, easy access to both valves, a lower profile and a trim that stays flat with no effort. You can also attach the cylinders in the water, which spares your back on the boat.
In Komodo the configuration pays off quickly: a streamlined profile in current, more gas for the long drifts at Castle Rock or Batu Bolong, and the exact set-up accepted for the PADI Tec 40 course if you want to go further.
Knowledge development
The why and how of sidemount, reviewed with your instructor.
- Advantages and limits of the sidemount configuration
- Harness, bungees, clips and cylinder rigging
- Gas management between two independent cylinders
- Planning sidemount dives in Komodo conditions
Confined-water session
In our private training pool, before any ocean dive.
- Fitting and adjusting your harness and wing
- Attaching and removing cylinders at the surface and underwater
- Trim, buoyancy and propulsion: frog kick, back kick, helicopter turn
- Valve drills and switching between regulators
Three open-water training dives
On the daily boat, on sites chosen for your level and the conditions.
- Descent, trim and gas switches in real current
- Managing gas across both cylinders during the dive
- Emergency procedures: regulator failure, gas sharing
- Certification as PADI Sidemount Diver
Your two sidemount days
Day one at the resort, day two on the boat in Komodo National Park.
From the pool to the park in two days
Times and sites may change with tides, conditions and instructor assessment.
Already comfortable in sidemount? Tell us when booking and your instructor adapts the pool session to the skills you still need.
PADI Sidemount Diver price
One price with the sidemount configuration and the Komodo National Park fees included.
PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty
Knowledge development, confined-water session and 3 open-water training dives
- Knowledge development with your PADI Instructor
- Confined-water session in the private training pool
- 3 open-water training dives in Komodo National Park
- Komodo National Park fees for the dive day
- Sidemount configuration rental: harness, wing, two cylinders and regulators
- Standard equipment and dive computer
- PADI Sidemount Diver certification on completion
Accommodation is not included; rooms at the resort can be added with any course. Bring your own sidemount rig if you prefer — we check it with you on day one.
What's included
2 days · 3 dives
Everything you need to dive sidemount
- Knowledge development
- Pool session
- 3 open-water dives
- PADI Instructor
- Sidemount harness and wing
- Two cylinders and regulators
- Dive computer
- Komodo National Park fees
- Lunch and snacks on board
Who can take the Sidemount course
One of the most accessible PADI specialties: you only need an Open Water certification.
Certification
PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent from a recognised agency. Bring your card or digital certification.
Age
15 years or older.
Recent experience
If you have not dived for 12 months or more, add our one-day Scuba Refresher before the course.
Medical and insurance
Complete the diver medical form honestly; a doctor's clearance is required when indicated. Dive insurance (DAN or equivalent) is strongly recommended, never mandatory.
Why learn sidemount with Dragon Dive Komodo
Dragon Dive Komodo is a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Resort in Labuan Bajo, led by resident PADI Course Director William Baillet. Sidemount configurations are in stock, the confined-water session takes place in our private training pool, and the three training dives are made on real Komodo sites, in current, with a maximum of 4 divers per instructor.
Sidemount is also the configuration accepted for the PADI Tec 40 course we teach: learn it here, then take it into technical diving at the same resort.
After your Sidemount course
Sidemount opens the door to longer, deeper and more independent dives.
PADI Tec 40
Your first decompression dives to 40 metres, in sidemount or backmount doubles.
PADI Self-Reliant Diver
Redundancy, gas planning and self-rescue — a natural match for a sidemount diver.
PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox)
More bottom time on the long Komodo drifts, and a prerequisite for Tec 40.
FAQ — PADI Sidemount in Komodo
What is sidemount diving?
Sidemount means carrying one or two cylinders clipped along your sides instead of on your back. Each cylinder has its own regulator, which gives you full redundancy, easy access to both valves, a lower profile and a naturally flat trim.
What are the prerequisites for the PADI Sidemount Diver course?
PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent, and 15 years or older. No deep or technical experience is required. If you have not dived for 12 months or more, a one-day refresher before the course is recommended.
How long is the course and how many dives?
Two days: knowledge development and a confined-water session in our private training pool on day one, then three open-water training dives in Komodo National Park on day two.
Do I need my own sidemount equipment?
No. Sidemount configurations — harness, wing, two cylinders and regulators — are in stock at the resort and included in the course price. If you own a rig, bring it and we check it with you on day one.
Is sidemount suitable for Komodo's currents?
Yes. A streamlined profile and a flat trim make current easier to handle, and two cylinders give you more gas for the long drift dives. Your instructor chooses the training sites according to the conditions and your level.
Can I use sidemount for the PADI Tec 40 course?
Yes. PADI accepts both backmount doubles and sidemount for Tec 40 and Tec 45, which we teach at the resort. The Sidemount Diver specialty is the best way to arrive at Tec 40 already comfortable with the configuration.
Are Komodo National Park fees included?
Yes. Komodo National Park fees for the dive day are included in the published price, as for all our courses and day trips. The price covers the training, the equipment, the dives and the certification.
Ready to dive sidemount in Komodo?
Send us your dates and your certification level. We confirm the course, reserve a sidemount configuration for you and plan the two days around your stay.
