Survey Results: Sidemount Diving

Who scuba dives with a sidemount diving configuration, why, and how?

We conducted a scuba diving industry survey on sidemount diving to help us understand how prevalent sidemount diving has become (or not) and who are the divers using a sidemount configuration.

InDepth Magazine and the Business of Diving Institute collaborate on a series of scuba diving industry surveys to better understand where we stand on dive industry issues, identify workable solutions, increase awareness of opportunities, and, most notably, fuel discussions among dive professionals.

We thank the following scuba diving industry leaders for directly supporting this initiative: Shearwater, DAN Europe, and GUE. We also thank all of you who took part in these surveys and studies.

This post is part of our Dive Industry Compass series by the Business of Diving Institute and Darcy Kieran, author of:

TL;DR Overview

The sidemount market, currently dominated by highly experienced technical divers—with 78.9% of users being certified tech divers and 57.0% certified cave divers—shows significant potential for growth among the wider diving community.

Instructors and dive shop owners should note that 65.6% of non-sidemount divers are currently considering or planning to adopt this configuration.

The primary motivations driving adoption are functional and safety-related: current divers value better access to valves (69.4%), the ability to pass small restrictions (61.1%), better trim (57.8%), and flexibility (56.4%). Key logistical advantages that should be emphasized in sales and marketing include the ease of transporting gear long distances (49.1%) and the convenience of easily finding single cylinders for rent while traveling (26.8%).

For instructors, specialized training remains the primary gateway into this segment, as 69.3% of current sidemount divers obtained their skills through a certification course. There is also a recognized need for dedicated training related to specific environments: 74.2% of sidemount divers have used the configuration off a dive boat, and 49.5% of those surveyed believe that specific training is required to safely dive sidemount off a boat.

Furthermore, professionals should monitor the niche yet highly committed sidemount rebreather segment: 46.6% of current sidemount divers who use rebreathers already use a sidemount rebreather, and 31.9% are considering it, with the configuration primarily serving as a primary Closed-Circuit Rebreather (94.6%). Even among non-sidemount rebreather divers, 40.9% are considering the sidemount rebreather configuration.

First, let’s look at current sidemount divers. Then, we’ll look at non-sidemount divers.

A total of 908 scuba divers answered the sidemount diving survey. 84.9% of them were sidemount divers.

Answers by Sidemount Divers

Is sidemount your preferred dive configuration when diving with open-circuit equipment?

Yes: 61.3%
No: 14.6%
Sometimes: 24.1

How did you get trained to dive with a sidemount configuration?

Certification course: 69.3%
Coaching/Mentoring/Friend: 15.9%
Self-trained (incl. online, DIY): 14.9%

Have you ever dived with a sidemount configuration off a dive boat?

Yes: 74.2%
No: 25.9%

Do you believe that training specific to using a sidemount configuration off a dive boat is required to safely and properly dive sidemount off a dive boat?

Yes: 49.5%
No: 50.5%

Did you, at one point, get specific training for diving sidemount off a dive boat?

Yes — Part of my sidemount diving certification course: 26.3%
Yes — From coaching/mentoring/friend: 13.4%
Yes — Self-trained (incl. online, DIY): 18.0%
No: 42.3%

Where did you dive with a sidemount configuration? Select all that apply.

Wrecks: 62.9%
Caves: 57.7%
Mines: 18.4%
Open Water: 89.8%

What type of cylinders do you predominantly use when diving sidemount?

Steel: 54.1%
Aluminum: 45.5%
Carbon: 0.4%

Which brands of sidemount diving gear do you currently use? Select all that apply.

Xdeep: 60.0%
Apeks: 20.3%
Dive Rite: 19.1%
Razor: 15.5%
Hollis: 15.2%
Halcyon: 8.5%
Tecline: 5.3%
Toddy Style: 3.3%
OMS: 3.1%
Mares: 2.9%
232 Bar Alien: 0.8%
Scuba Force: 0.8%
Armadillo: 0.8%
Dtd: 0.6%
1st Dolphin: 0.2%

What are the reasons you dive with a sidemount configuration? Select all that apply.

Better access to valves: 69.4%
Ability to pass small restrictions: 61.1%
Better trim: 57.8%
Flexibility: 56.4%
Ease to get in and out of the water: 52.9%
Stability: 51.3%
Balance: 49.3%
Easy to transport long distances: 49.1%
Possibility to donate a full cylinder when gas sharing: 31.6%
Easy to find single cylinders when renting while traveling: 26.8%
Bad back issues: 23.5%

Among those who indicated they do rebreather diving as well as sidemount diving: Are you considering sidemount rebreather diving?

I already dive with a sidemount rebreather: 46.6%
Yes, I am considering it: 31.9%
No: 21.5%

Among those who indicated they already dive or are considering diving with a sidemount rebreather: Please indicate the type. Select all that apply.

Sidemount Rebreather as a Primary CCR: 94.6%
Sidemount Rebreather as a Bailout CCR: 30.9%

The Profile of Sidemount Divers

Are you a certified rebreather diver?

Yes: 38.7%
No: 61.3%

Are you a certified cave diver?

Yes: 57.0%
No: 43.0%

Are you a certified tech diver (excluding cave, rebreather & sidemount)?

Yes: 78.9%
No: 21.1%

In which region do you reside?

Western Europe: 43.9%
United States (incl. AK & HI): 22.0%
South Pacific, Indo-Pacific, Other Tropical Asia-Pacific Region: 6.8%
Canada: 6.4%
Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic: 6.3%
Australia, New Zealand: 5.9%
Other region: 8.7%

In which region do you predominantly dive?

Western Europe: 42.4%
United States (including AK & HI): 20.7%
Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic: 10.3%
South Pacific, Indo-Pacific, Other Tropical Asia-Pacific Region: 7.9%
Canada: 6.9%
Australia, New Zealand: 5.4%
Other region: 6.4%

What is your age group?

18–24: 1.5%
25–34: 7.3%
35–44: 30.2%
45–54: 36.1%
55–64: 21.0%
65+: 3.9%

What is your gender?

Male: 88.7%
Female: 11.3%
Other: 0.0%

What is the main ethnicity to which you associate?

White Heritage: 85.6%
Asian Heritage: 5.9%
Middle Eastern Heritage: 1.5%
Mixed or Multiple Ethnic Groups: 1.4%
Black, Caribbean or African Heritage: 0.0%
Other: 5.5%

Answers by Non-Sidemount Divers

Do you plan or consider diving with a sidemount configuration in the future?

Yes: 65.6%
No: 34.4%

Note of caution: It is fair to assume that the non-sidemount divers who voluntarily answered the sidemount diving survey were more likely to be interested in sidemount diving than the overall pool of scuba divers. As you will see below, a disproportionate number of cave, rebreather, and technical divers responded to this survey.

Among those who indicated considering sidemount diving: What are the reasons you consider diving with a sidemount configuration? Select all that apply.

Ability to pass small restrictions: 39.7%
Flexibility: 36.2%
Ease to get in and out of the water: 34.5%
Better trim: 29.3%
Easy to transport long distances: 29.2%
Better access to valves: 27.8%
Easy to find single cylinders when renting while traveling: 25.9%
Bad back issues: 22.5%
Stability: 22.4%
Balance: 19.0%
Possibility to donate a full cylinder when gas sharing: 17.2%

Among non-sidemount divers who are already diving with a rebreather: Are you considering sidemount rebreather diving?

Yes: 40.9%
No: 59.1%

Profile of Non-Sidemount Divers Who Answered The Sidemount Diving Survey