What is the difference between TDI and SDI Sidemount

[InWay2Deep]

I would suggest contacting your instructor and asking them what the difference in the course would be. I took the TDI one and we did 3 days and handled 4 tanks (2 SM and 2 stages) don/doff, etc along with all the other aspects of learning sidemount. It was explained to me that we were taking TDI version but might only get the SDI card if the skills were not preformed up to standards. I would say if you only plan to dive Sidemount recreationaly then SDI version is find, but if you plan on doing any technical diving you will want the TDI version so you get some instruction in bottle rigging/handling/rotating.

 

[tursiops]

For some reason whenever I go through the TDI website, it takes me to the SDI side mount course but when I go through your link, it takes me to the TDI side mount course

There is a butin at the top of the page to select which course you want.

 

[LFMarm]

Which card you get doesn’t matter much. I didn’t have either one as I went through all cave and CCR classes. I would specify to the instructor what you want to learn so that you get the right focus (equipment setup, stages, different tank materials, etc)

I would also make sure that the instructors dives exclusively or predominantly in sidemount otherwise you may learn very little.

 

[ToneNQ]

......snip........ worst case scenario I do SDI side mount, but I would prefer to do TDI side mount because it is more in depth

The SDI card is 15 with parental consent, all TDI courses are 18+. The right instructor might give be happy you the TDI in-depth experience, but they cannot give you a TDI card.

An SDI card changes nothing, if tech diving is your goal they'll bundle it all up together and certify you as TDI SM when you complete your AN and DP certs for your 18th birthday. They might make you do an extra shake-out dive to assess your SM skills and work on a tidying up you gear stowage and techniques to set you up for deco tank rigging. Its a few extra skills, depending on how slick you are in 3yrs time, they probably won't charge you anything for it.

 

[VikingDives]

I was wanting to do for my 15th birthday worst case scenario I do SDI side mount, but I would prefer to do TDI side mount because it is more in depth

Find an instructor who teaches the TDI sidemount course and talk to them.

My SDI sidemount course is generally the same as the TDI course, and I'd teach it like a TDI course if asked, but it's really going to be up to your instructor. Be prepared to pay for a good course though. My minimum course is 5 days long, but I'd say the average is 7.

Steer away from anyone who offers tech courses for a set fee. That's a clue that you're going to get a course that doesn't cover much. A good tech instructor will charge you by the day.

 

[Tigerpaw]

For my tech SM course I had 3 tanks, the 3rd being an AL40 and I had to drill removing it, staging it and reattaching. I also did a LOT of simulated deco, including using that AL40 as a simulated O2 tank and I also did a LOT of SMB deployment.

All that being said, l would also recommend talking to the instructor, maybe have them evaluate you to determine which one you should take. I mention that because my instructor told me most divers take the SDI Rec course first, then if interested will take the TDI Tec later. Since I took Intro to Tech, I decided to take TDI Tech but do what's best for you and your skill/comfort zone. Good luck and happy diving.

 

[lsmike]

For my tech SM course I had 3 tanks, the 3rd being an AL40 and I had to drill removing it, staging it and reattaching. I also did a LOT of simulated deco, including using that AL40 as a simulated O2 tank and I also did a LOT of SMB deployment.

All that being said, l would also recommend talking to the instructor, maybe have them evaluate you to determine which one you should take. I mention that because my instructor told me most divers take the SDI Rec course first, then if interested will take the TDI Tec later. Since I took Intro to Tech, I decided to take TDI Tech but do what's best for you and your skill/comfort zone. Good luck and happy diving.

Mine was also with 3 tanks, but the 3rd was a standard AL80 as a stage in preparation for the eventual path to tech.
IMHO, using stages (1 or even 2) should be the standard for the TDI course as it is "tech oriented".

 

[Tigerpaw]

Mine was also with 3 tanks, but the 3rd was a standard AL80 as a stage in preparation for the eventual path to tech.
IMHO, using stages (1 or even 2) should be the standard for the TDI course as it is "tech oriented".

Yeah I think using stages is part of the TDI Tech SM course, from the responses it seems like it varies whether it's an AL40 or AL80.