This program is for the cave diver who wants to swap his back mounted twin set for a sidemount system. The configuration change is beneficial for many reasons, but the most common and historically relevant is to pass major restrictions.

The Protec team is convinced that sidemount is the way to dive in caves. Let us teach you how to properly set up equipment, configure a stage tank, master your trim and become confident in your execution of emergency procedures.

18 Years old
IANTD Cave Diver or equivalent
50 Logged dives

Theory
Land Drills
Confined and Open Water Training
Cave dives are performed under different conditions such as zero visibility
Final Exam

Minimum 3 days
8 Hours theory
4 Cave dives
1 Training dive in shallow water

Depth allowed by student’s certification
PPO2 of 1.4 ATA at depth and 1.6 for decompression
IANTD Oxygen CNS% Clock and OTU’s
2 Students per instructor

2 Individual tanks, at least 11 L / 80 cf
2 Independent regulators, with separate pressure gauges
Side Mount System
Wetsuit
Mask and fins, no snorkel
Line cutter
1 Safety reel with a minimum of 30m of line
1 Primary reel with a minimum of 120m of line
2-3 Gap reels with a minimum of 15m of line
1 Primary light
2 Backup lights
Dive computer, or timer and depth gauge
Writing board or wet notes
Waterproof diving table or backup dive computer
3 Directional arrows
6 Non-directional markers (Cookies)