I 100% disagree with most of the comments above.
Any advanced training should be completed in the configuration you plan on diving. I absolutely believe in that even to the point of drysuit verses wet and somewhat, SM system specific. Classroom and theory stuff is nothing, it's the configuration, comfort and skills where this is important. Advance dive training is another block on your foundation of fundemental skills, and that block needs to fit - that is what you are paying for.
Bottle handling and placement is taught different ways - right rich, left lean is not gonna work when you pair up with a group that learned otherwise.
If you are diving SM, search out a SM instructor - you'll find them normally in a cave somewhere. Agency has little meaning UNLESS your long term intentions are something like GUE cave stuff, then you should get on that agencies path. An instructor that teaches the way you dive, the way you look to the future in diving is much more important than the agency.
ultimately i agree with the intention
but then what your saying is that a sidemounter is no better suited to a dive possibly with back mounters.
a good experienced team member, trained well, will handle a situation where they need to acquire a bottle.
In PADI you have one dive to show you have the skills before you start doing deco. You need to bring the skills to the class. Especially in side mount. I don't think other agencies are much different.
exactly,
and if you don't, expect to pay for extra days.
the outline is there, and there is no maximum allowed to teach, just sadly right this minute, most other bashings come from the photos.
example:TDI physically post what you will learn for detail on their webpage, Padi put in it the material/book, but you have to pay for that material.
Some will argue about QC requirements for this being posted, a good instructor will listen and future proof your level of diving and attitude.
The Tec side mount is intro to Tec for side mounters and so on.
These days it is well observed that DIR is the way and your attitude should be to safely exit the water with planned reserves.
if you see an instructor is trimmed out in their photos and clearly dives that way, you know youre on to a win with any dude, then it will be how much you learn or can afford to absorb.
