What the Sidemount Diver course costs (and is it worth it?)
Sidemount moves your tanks from your back to your sides — better trim, gas redundancy and easier kit handling. But it's gear-heavy. Here's the honest cost breakdown and whether it's worth it.
Sidemount diving takes your cylinders off your back and clips them to your sides, and once divers try it, many never go back. It started in cave and technical diving but has become hugely popular with recreational divers chasing better trim, gas redundancy and a kinder time on their backs and knees. The Sidemount Diver course teaches you to set up, balance and dive this configuration safely. It's the most gear-heavy course on the specialty list, so the honest question is whether the comfort and redundancy justify the rig. Here's the picture for 2026.
Why divers switch to sidemount
Sidemount isn't just a different way to carry tanks — it changes how the dive feels. Because the cylinders sit alongside your body rather than behind it, your trim flattens out and you sit more horizontally in the water, which improves buoyancy and reduces drag. You carry two independent cylinders with two independent regulators, so a failure on one side still leaves you fully gassed on the other — genuine redundancy. And you don't walk to the water wearing heavy tanks; you clip them on in the shallows, which is far gentler on backs and knees.
The main draws
- Better trim and streamlining, which many divers find more comfortable and efficient.
- True gas redundancy from two independent cylinders and regulators.
- Easier surface handling — you don't carry tanks on your back to and from the water.
- A natural stepping stone toward cave and technical diving, where sidemount shines.
What the course covers
Sidemount is more involved than most recreational specialties because it's a whole new equipment system. Expect classroom theory plus several dives, usually three or more, focused on rigging the harness, balancing and trimming two cylinders, clipping and unclipping tanks in the water, managing two separate gas supplies (switching regulators, monitoring both), and handling valve and hose routing. There's genuinely more to learn here than in a single-skill specialty, which is part of why it takes a bit longer.
Both PADI and SSI offer equivalent recreational sidemount courses, and several technical agencies offer their own versions for those heading toward cave or tech. The recreational course is the right starting point for most divers.
The gear is the big number
Sidemount is gear-heavy, and that's the honest cost. The configuration needs a dedicated harness and wing built for side-mounted tanks, plus the rigging that goes with it. You can usually rent a complete sidemount rig for the course, which is the smart way to try it, but owning the setup is a real investment if you commit.
- A sidemount harness and wing (BCD) designed for the configuration: roughly €400–€900+.
- Bungees, bolt snaps, regulators routed for sidemount, and short/long hoses.
- Two cylinders rather than one, usually with appropriate valves, often rented locally.
- Time and fiddling — sidemount rewards a well-tuned, personalised setup.
Rent the rig for the course
Don't buy a sidemount setup before you've dived one. Most centres rent complete rigs for training, and fit and personal rigging preferences vary a lot. Try it, take the course, then invest in your own configuration once you know you love it and how you like it set up.
What it costs
Specialty and configuration courses typically run €150–€350 each depending on region and agency, and Sidemount sits at the upper end because it's longer, gear-intensive and usually includes rig rental. Budget hubs are cheaper than Western Europe, but rig rental is the variable that moves the total most.
| Course tuition (budget hubs) | €220–€320 |
| Course tuition (Western Europe) | €300–€420 |
| Sidemount rig rental for the courseharness, wing, rigging | €40–€120 |
| Owning a full rig later (optional)if you commit to sidemount | €400–€900+ |
| Plan all-in (course + rig rental) | €260–€540 |
What the headline price hides
Sidemount quotes sometimes show tuition only and add rig rental separately. Ask whether the harness, wing, regulators and a second cylinder are included, because the rig rental is what separates a cheap-looking sidemount course from the real all-in price.
Is it worth it?
Reasons to do it
- Many divers genuinely prefer the trim, comfort and reduced back strain.
- Two independent cylinders give real gas redundancy on every dive.
- It's the gateway configuration for cave and technical diving.
- Easier kit handling at the surface, especially for shore dives.
Reasons to skip or wait
- If back-mount works fine for you, sidemount adds cost and complexity you may not need.
- The rig is a significant purchase if you go beyond rental.
- Some destinations and boats aren't set up well for sidemount cylinders.
The DiveCost take
Sidemount is worth it if you've felt the limits of back-mount — sore backs, fiddly trim, or a pull toward cave and tech — and want redundancy and comfort. It's not a casual tick-box: it's a configuration change with a real gear cost. Rent the rig, take the course somewhere cheap with good conditions, and only buy your own setup once you're sure it's how you want to dive.
If you're chasing comfort and trim more than a new configuration, solid buoyancy from the Advanced Open Water course helps first, and the Deep Diver specialty pairs well since sidemount redundancy shines on deeper dives.
Warm, easy hubs to try sidemount affordably include Koh Tao and the calm shore diving of Dahab. Always check live verified prices on DiveCost before booking.
Bottom line: the Sidemount Diver course is worth it for divers who want better trim, real gas redundancy or a path toward cave and tech — but it's the most gear-heavy specialty, so the rig is the real decision. Rent first, learn the system properly, do it somewhere cheap with calm conditions, and only invest in your own setup once you know sidemount is for you.