You’ve bought the harness. You’ve set up the cylinders. Now comes the part that actually makes you a sidemount diver.In Part 2 of the Sidemount 101 series, brought to you by XDEEP, Steve Davis takes you from equipment setup into the water, covering the skills that transform sidemount from a configuration into a diving system. We’ll explore entries and exits, cylinder donning and doffing, weighting, trim, buoyancy control, propulsion techniques, regulator management, emergency drills, and the path to becoming a relaxed, stable and efficient sidemount diver. If you’ve ever wondered why experienced sidemount divers look so comfortable and effortless underwater, this episode explains the principles and practice behind it. From achieving “relaxed static stability” to refining frog kicks, back kicks and buoyancy control, this is the roadmap to comfort, confidence and control in sidemount diving. In This Episode:✅ Sidemount entries and exits✅ Donning and doffing cylinders✅ Technical diving posture✅ Proper sidemount weighting✅ Trim, balance and stability✅ Buoyancy control techniques✅ Frog kick, helicopter turns and back kick fundamentals✅ Regulator switching and gas management✅ Essential emergency drills✅ How to choose a quality sidemount instructor✅ Continuing your development after training Resources Mentioned:📘 Sidemount Fundamentals eBook🌐 Sidemount Pros: https://www.sidemountpros.com/store📘 Steve Martin Sidemount Training Materials🌐 https://www.sidemounting.comFirst-time purchasers contact me for 15% Discount Code🎥 Sidemount Secrets Series🌐 https://www.youtube.com/@SidemountPros🎥 Propulsion Techniques Video🌐 https://youtu.be/tNOVh0j5ABs📸 Darkside Divers Frog Kick Demonstration🌐 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMGHUkBx_jD/Thanks To Our Sponsors:❤️ This episode is proudly supported by XDEEP and the patrons of Speaking Sidemount, whose support makes this content possible.Support The Podcast:❤️ Become a Patron and get early access to every episode:https://www.patreon.com/speakingsidemountConnect With Steve🌐 https://www.sidemountpros.com📸 Instagram: @nzsteved

Have you ever watched really good sidemount divers underwater and wondered how they make it look so effortless?Meanwhile, your cylinders float, your trim feels unstable, hoses are everywhere, and it feels like you’re constantly fighting your equipment?In episode 120 of Speaking Sidemount, Steve Davis breaks down the complete philosophy and equipment foundation behind exceptional sidemount diving after:

• 13 years diving sidemount exclusively
• 10 years teaching sidemount professionally
• Nearly 2,000 sidemount dives
• Training with Tom Steiner, Edd Sorenson, and Patrick Widmann

Interviews with many of the world’s best sidemount divers, cave explorers, and instructors.This is not another random gear video.This episode explains WHY good sidemount works — and how the right equipment platform combined with strong diving fundamentals creates calm, efficient, streamlined diving.Steve walks through his complete modern sidemount philosophy including:✅ Why sidemount over backmount✅ The XDEEP Stealth 2.0 setup philosophy✅ Loop bungees explained✅ Sliding D-rings explained✅ Cylinder selection for different environments✅ Steel vs aluminium sidemount cylinders✅ Proper sidemount cylinder rigging✅ Valve positioning and cylinder trim✅ Rotating turret and fifth port regulators✅ Long hose vs short hose debate✅ Streamlining and hose routing✅ Building a stable sidemount platform✅ Common sidemount mistakes divers makeThis episode is Part 1 of a 2-part Sidemount 101 series. This episode will help you build a cleaner, more efficient and more enjoyable sidemount system.In Sidemount 101 Part 2, Steve will move on to putting it all in the water:📘 SIDEMOUNT FUNDAMENTALS eBOOKThe companion eBook for this episode and course manual for Steve's Sidemount Fundamentals course:https://www.sidemountpros.com/store🌍 Learn more about XDEEP:https://www.xdeep.euSidemount Pros:Website: https://www.sidemountpros.com📸 Follow Steve:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzsteved/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzsteved/❤️ Support the Podcast:Become a Patron of Speaking Sidemounthttps://www.patreon.com/c/speakingsidemount👍 If you enjoyed the episode:Like the videoSubscribeLeave a commentShare with your dive buddies

I got stuck inside a wreck I knew better than anyone. This is the story of my close call on HMNZS Canterbury — and how complacency nearly cost me my life.

In this solo episode of Speaking Sidemount, brought to you by XDEEP, I break down a real close call during a wreck-penetration dive on the HMNZS Canterbury in New Zealand.

Despite years of experience, deep familiarity with the wreck, and even writing a dive guide for it, I made a series of small decisions that led to an entanglement in a confined space — just metres from my buddy, who had no idea I was in trouble.

This episode is not about a dramatic rescue — it’s about how complacency, narcosis, configuration, and team separation can quietly stack up and put even experienced divers at risk.

If you dive sidemount, wrecks, caves, or any overhead environment, this is a must-listen.

🔑 What you’ll learn:

• How experienced divers get into trouble.

• The real risk of complacency in familiar environments,

• How narcosis subtly influences decision-making

• Why configuration matters in wreck penetration

• The importance of team positioning and discipline

• How to slow down and make better decisions underwater

👍 Like this episode? Please Share — it really helps grow the show and support future content.

💥 Powered by XDEEP → www.xdeep.eu

📘 Purchase "The Canterbury Wreck - A Diver's Guide"

New Zealand → www.sidemountpros.com/store

Rest of World → https://a.co/d/0iduWFAh

📘 Grab Steve's "Sidemount Fundamentals" eBook → www.sidemountpros.com/store