DevonDiver
N/A
So looking at the pics in your article okay, nothing was even remotely close to that and the instructors form/trim in the water is perfect. Quite possibly it's just me expecting more. Thanks for the input.
I run two versions of the 'basic' sidemount course. 2-days and 4/5 days. Obviously, you can expect a lot more over 4/5 days (8-10x 90 minute dives) than you could from 2 days (4 dives).
What do you get 'more'? A fully comprehensive equipment workshop... building your (if you bring your own) rig from scratch, looking at different options for configuration, bungees, bands, hoses, routing etc.... Look at customizations and tweaks to 'off-the-shelf' sidemount BCDs. Looking at different rigs and features - for diving steel or aluminum cylinders (British vs American design heritage etc).
In water, there's a lot more fundamentals development... so that goes well beyond 'learning to dive a sidemount BCD'... and much more about 'becoming a very proficient sidemount diver'. We do a lot more drills and skills... developing the capacity to undertake every function, protocol and skill without deviation in trim, buoyancy or degradation to situational awareness. We work on proper communications and develop team diving procotols. We refine ascent and stop techniques. We do precision dive planning, gas management and SAC calculation. Lessons are filmed, reviewed and debriefed on GoPro footage. We work propulsion techniques, including back-kick, frog-kick and helicopter turn. Emergency protocols and equipment familiarity is drilled until fingers bleed.. even using a black-mask to enable a degree of higher finger/hand manipulation. We look at carry lights (primary and back-up), equipment pockets, kit stowage and use, DMSB deployment.
In contrast... a basic 2-day course is really just an introduction.... lots of principles and a 'road map' to your future self-development. A lot more chatter than "10 minutes" theory though... normally a half-day of theory and kit configuration on each day.
It really depends what the student wants to get out of it.... and how much expertise the instructor has to share.