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June 20, 2026Sidemount Diving in Tioman: Why This Configuration Is Growing in Malaysia
Sidemount diving mounts your tanks beside your body (not on your back), using twin tanks attached to a specialized harness. It's growing rapidly in Malaysia because of better buoyancy control, easier travel logistics, and natural extension into technical diving. The PADI Sidemount Diver specialty (1-2 days, RM 1,500 at TDB) teaches the gear setup, swimming techniques, and safety drills. Open Water certification minimum required.
Key Takeaways
- Sidemount: tanks on sides of body (not back) using a harness system
- Growing popularity: better buoyancy, easier travel, tec progression
- PADI Sidemount Diver specialty: 1-2 days, RM 1,500 at Tioman Dive Buddy
- Open Water certification minimum prerequisite
- Used by both recreational and technical divers
- Tioman has expert sidemount instructors
What Is Sidemount Diving?
Traditional scuba diving uses a single tank mounted on your back via a BCD. Sidemount diving mounts two tanks alongside your body — one on each side, clipped via a harness to your hip and shoulder.
The configuration looks unusual at first but solves several traditional diving problems:
- Better buoyancy — tanks alongside your body create natural trim
- Easier on the back — no heavy tank on your spine
- Easier travel — gear stows flatter for transport
- Redundancy — two independent tank systems
- Penetration diving — sidemount fits through tight spaces (caves, wrecks)
Why Sidemount Is Growing in Malaysia
Sidemount started in cave diving (it's the standard configuration for cave divers). It's now spreading to:
Recreational divers seeking better trim and buoyancy Photographers wanting stable shooting positions Travel divers preferring smaller gear bags Tec divers transitioning from twinset configurations Older divers with back issues Petite divers who struggle with heavy back-mounted tanks
In Malaysia specifically, sidemount popularity has exploded since 2022. Reasons:
- Tioman + Sipadan — both destinations have sidemount instructors
- Online community — Malaysian sidemount divers form active groups
- Cave diving tourism — Malaysia's growing technical diving scene
- Gear availability — sidemount BCDs and harnesses now widely available
What Is the PADI Sidemount Specialty?
The PADI Sidemount Diver course is a 1-2 day specialty that teaches:
Knowledge development:
- Sidemount equipment design and selection
- Gas management with two tanks
- Trim and buoyancy in sidemount configuration
Confined water:
- Tank setup and attachment
- Donning and doffing the harness in water
- Switching gas regulators
- Emergency procedures
Open water dives:
- 2-3 dives demonstrating sidemount competence
- Real-world buoyancy and finning techniques
- Trim adjustment with full and near-empty tanks
After certification, you can dive in sidemount configuration globally.
Prerequisites
- PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent) — minimum certification
- Some advanced training recommended — many sidemount students have AOW
- Age 15+ (junior students with adult buddy)
- Comfortable with twin-tank concepts (helpful, not required)
Sidemount vs Twinset (For Tec Divers)
Both configurations carry two tanks, but they're different:
| Feature | Sidemount | Back-mounted Twinset | |---|---|---| | Tank location | Sides of body | Back | | Setup time | Longer (water entry) | Faster | | Buoyancy | Better trim | Less neutral trim | | Travel | Easier (stows flat) | Bulky | | Cave/wreck penetration | Easier (slim profile) | Difficult | | Cost | Higher initial gear | Lower |
For technical diving, both work. Sidemount is the standard for cave/wreck penetration; twinsets are common for open-water tec.
Cost at Tioman Dive Buddy
PADI Sidemount Diver Specialty: RM 1,500 (1-2 days)
Includes:
- Course materials and e-Learning access
- Sidemount BCD and harness rental during course
- 2-3 training dives with certified instructor
- PADI certification fee
- Onsite gas refills
Excludes:
- Accommodation and meals
- Own sidemount BCD (RM 8,000-15,000 if purchasing)
Should You Try Sidemount?
Try sidemount if:
✅ You want better buoyancy and trim ✅ You're considering tec diving (great transition) ✅ You have back issues with traditional gear ✅ You're a frequent traveler (easier packing) ✅ You enjoy precision diving and skill-building
Skip sidemount if:
❌ You're happy with back-mounted gear ❌ You only dive once or twice a year ❌ You're not willing to invest in additional training ❌ Cost is a major concern
How to Get Started
- Talk to a sidemount instructor at your dive centre
- Try a demo dive — many centres offer 1-tank intro sessions
- Take the PADI Sidemount specialty if you decide to commit
- Practice locally before booking dive trips
The Sidemount Community in Malaysia
Active sidemount divers in Malaysia form groups via:
- Facebook groups (Malaysian Sidemount Diving Community)
- Instagram hashtags (#SidemountMalaysia, #SidemountTioman)
- Local dive shows and exhibitions
- TDB community events
Connecting with the community accelerates learning — sidemount is one of those skills better learned alongside experienced practitioners.