Speaking Sidemount with Steve Davis

03/06/2026

🚨 NEW EPISODE OUT NOW 🚨

SIDEMOUNT 101: Philosophy & Equipment | Part 1 of 2

After 13 years diving sidemount exclusively, 10 years teaching it professionally, training with some of the world’s best sidemount and cave divers, and hosting over 100 episodes of Speaking Sidemount, I wanted to create the episode I wish I’d had when I started.

In this episode, I cover:
✅ Sidemount philosophy
✅ The equipment foundation
✅ XDEEP Stealth 2.0 setup
✅ Loop bungees & sliding D-rings
✅ Cylinder rigging
✅ Regulator configuration
✅ Fifth ports & hose routing
✅ The biggest mistakes I see divers making

The core message?

The right equipment foundation makes good fundamentals easier to develop.

Huge thanks to XDEEP for their ongoing support of Speaking Sidemount and the global sidemount community.

🎧 Watch or Listen now:

YouTube - https://youtu.be/LkN9mj7DjDA?si=18OfHRVl1Dmit_he

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/66PTjpS2Ec1buojfjsO2Sn?si=1e20b03df1d44d9c

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/sidemount-101-philosophy-equipment/id1430566498?i=1000770838685

Let me know what you agree with, disagree with, or would add from your own sidemount journey.

Have you ever watched really good sidemount divers underwater and w...

28/05/2026

NEW EARLY ACCESS EPISODE 🔥

Sidemount 101 Part 1 — Philosophy & Equipment is now live for patrons.

Brought to you with the support of XDEEP, this is probably the most comprehensive breakdown I’ve ever done on:

- sidemount philosophy,
- XDEEP Stealth 2.0 setup,
- cylinder rigging,
- loop bungees,
- sliding D-rings,
- regulator routing,
- and building the RIGHT equipment foundation for sidemount diving.

After years of refining my own system, teaching divers worldwide, and learning from cave explorers and elite sidemount instructors… this is my complete perspective on what actually matters in sidemount.

And honestly? Good sidemount is not about looking technical. It’s about building a system that feels effortless underwater.

Patrons can watch now before public release 👊

❤️ Support the podcast & get early access:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/sidemount-101-159424200?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Sidemount 101 | Philosophy & Equipment by Speaking Sidemount with Steve Davis on Patreon. Join Speaking Sidemount with Steve Davis's community for exclusive content and updates.

27/04/2026

Episode 119 is out, and I am not sure I should have ever shared this...

I got stuck inside a wreck I knew better than anyone.

Not jammed… not pinned… just unable to move.

My buddy was two metres away - and had no idea.

Episode 119, brought to you by XDEEP, is a breakdown of my own close call on HMNZS Canterbury. Not a dramatic rescue story… but something far more common:
👉 complacency
👉 familiarity
👉 and a series of small decisions stacking up

Even after years of experience and knowing the wreck inside out, I still got it wrong.

If you dive wrecks, caves, or any overhead environment, this one matters.

🎥🎧 To watch or listen, follow the links below:
YouTube - https://youtu.be/3dIsTKzwx2Q?si=xJsF-ZUViFArdcgl
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dv9Q1wMl7HBNuaZZgqX1g?si=bf201c67c6404085
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/stuck-in-a-wreck-the-moment-everything-went-wrong/id1430566498?i=1000763704875

Dive safe, Steve.

1 like. "Stuck in a Wreck | The Moment Everything Went Wrong"

20/04/2026

I got stuck inside a wreck I knew better than anyone.

Not jammed… not pinned… just unable to move.

My buddy was two metres away - and had no idea.

Episode 119, brought to you by XDEEP, is a breakdown of my own close call on HMNZS Canterbury. Not a dramatic rescue story… but something far more common:

👉 complacency
👉 familiarity
👉 and a series of small decisions stacking up

Even after years of experience—and knowing the wreck inside out, I still got it wrong.

If you dive wrecks, caves, or any overhead environment, this one matters.

Episode 119 - Now available on early release for patron supporters of the podcast.

🎥🎧 To watch or listen, follow the link below

Dive safe.

Get more from Speaking Sidemount with Steve Davis on Patreon

25/03/2026

If it wasn't for the tragic circumstances, I would say I loved producing this episode.

I have had a 45-year love affair with Leander-class frigates, starting with my first posting to HMNZS Canterbury in 1981 as a young apprentice engineer, to the pinnacle of my naval career, posting back to Canterbury in 1992 as the Marine Engineer Officer, to the many hundreds of dives I have done on the Canterbury Wreck, most below 3 Deck.

This is my reaction to Dom Robinson's interview with Adam Dent, the sole survivor of the 2021 double fatality dive. As I react, I analyse what went wrong, applying advanced wreck-diving practice, and drawing on my deep knowledge of Leanders.

Huge thanks to XDEEP for their support of this podcast and to the patrons of Speaking Sidemount - https://www.patreon.com/speakingsidemount

Special thanks to Dom for his compassionate interview and to Adam Dent for his bravery in sharing his story. There is much to learn from this incident.

https://youtu.be/0Ng3ZPBi5Q8

In this episode of Speaking Sidemount, brought to you by XDEEP, Steve Davis reacts to and analyses the 2021 wreck-diving tragedy inside the wreck of HMS Scy...

20/03/2026

I'm not a "reaction video guy", but this episode had to be made given my deep knowledge of Leander-class Frigates, hundreds of dives on Leanders, most to 3 deck and below, and as the author of "The Canterbury Wreck - A Diver's Guide... a book written in part to educate and try and avoid incidents such as this.

This is my reaction to Dom Robinson's (https://www.facebook.com/DeepWreckDiver) interview with Adam Dent, the sole survivor of the double fatality incident. Huge thanks to Dom for doing a great job and to Adam for sharing his story so that we can learn from it.

The episode is out early for patrons via Patreon. Check it out via the link below.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/naval-officer-153527984?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

27/02/2026

🎧 New Episode 117: The Sidewinder 2 is here, brought to you by XDEEP... And Patrick Widmann is telling the full story.

Why did it take so long? What nearly stopped it? And how did it finally get CE approved? Patrick shares the untold story behind the KISS Rebreathers Sidewinder 2 — We go deep into the real story of this rebreather’s development — a journey filled with challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons from the sharp end of diving.

If you’ve ever wondered what it truly takes to bring a next-generation rebreather to market, this is the inside scoop from someone who lived it. Let’s get wet!!

📺 Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/qbDqzZX3yu0
👉 Hit Like, Subscribe, and Share — it really helps grow the show and support future content.
🎧 Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.
💥 Powered by XDEEP
📘 Grab my free eBook → sidemountpros.com/store
🙌 Support the show → patreon.com/speakingsidemount

The Sidewinder 2 is here — and the story behind it is wild.In episode 117 brought to you by XDEEP, Patrick Widmann joins me to share the real journey behind ...

17/02/2026

Patron Drop Alert February 20, 0300 NZ Time - Out on early release for patron supporters of Speaking Sidemount. Follow the link below for access to watch or listen.

Episode 117 - The Sidewinder 2 is here — and the story behind it is wild!!!

In this episode brought to you by XDEEP, Patrick Widmann joins me to share the real journey behind the years-long development of the Sidewinder 2 rebreather. From design struggles, manufacturing setbacks and testing fails, to finally achieving CE approval in January 2026.

Please sit back and enjoy this behind-the-scenes look from inside the project, showcasing the incredible drive and ambition of the entire KISS Rebreathers team that has brought us to this point.

Huge thanks to Patrick Widmann, KISS Rebreathers Training Director, for sharing some time from his busy schedule.

Steve

Get more from Speaking Sidemount with Steve Davis on Patreon

26/01/2026

🎧 NEW EPISODE IS LIVE — Meet Tavo PC of Darkside Divers, Mexico, in Episode #116 of Speaking Sidemount out Now!

Huge thanks to our show sponsor XDEEP🙂!!

From snowboarding fails in Canada to sidemount and cave diving mastery in Mexico, Tavo shares his raw and inspiring journey into cave diving.

We talk:
✅ The real path to becoming a cave diver
✅ What Into Earth revealed about mindset and mentorship
✅ Starting Darkside Divers with Laura
✅ Why “meeting the standards” isn’t enough
✅ KISS Rebreathers - Sidewinder (Of course!!)

Tavo’s story is full of inspiration for anyone looking to go deeper in diving.

📺 Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/GUwqG6cMnpQ?si=9ZfxhpS4mtRRz_Nw

🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/2IhWqRt0zSWEzq8l5yoQif?si=d07ad8480dbf42fc

🎧 Listen to the Podcast - Spotify | Apple | Google — search Speaking Sidemount Podcast

💙 Support the show and get early access → https://www.patreon.com/c/speakingsidemount

📘 Sidemount books: https://www.sidemountpros.com/store
🤿 Train with Steve: https://www.sidemountpros.com/courses
📸 Follow Steve on Instagram:

🛠️ Thanks to:
XDEEP - https://www.xdeep.eu
Tavo PC Darkside Divers

Facebook: Darksidediversmx
Instagram:
Email: [email protected]
Into Earth – Mick Friis’s video with Tavo: INTO EARTH - https://youtu.be/sxp5on6jnHY?si=sITA6eqKVRKfcX7M

In Episode #116 brought to you by XDEEP, Steve Davis is joined by Gustavo “Tavo” Padilla-Pohjanen of Darkside Divers, Mexico. From a rocky start in snowboard...

19/01/2026

Hugely exciting to see the long-awaited KISS Rebreathers, Sidewinder 2 pass CE! From Patrick, this unit will be available for a period of time for KISS Sidewinder instructors to build hours and experience before becoming available for Sidewinder training and cross-overs.

I have been featuring the KISS Sidewinder in (it feels like) nearly every episode of Speaking Sidemount from my initial training in 2019. We've had a couple of episodes on the Sidewinder 2, so look back at my chats with Patrick (Episode 84) and Jacek (Episode 97). I'll do my best to bring more updates and an episode on the SW2 Launch as soon as I can :)!!

Today marks a major milestone in the history of rebreather diving. After months of extensive work with the DEKRA team, the long-awaited CE approval of SIDEWINDER 2 has officially become a reality.

Certification was only the final step of a long and exceptionally complex project, encompassing not only the design phase but also the implementation of a set of sophisticated technologies, each of which alone would have been a demanding task. We are even more pleased that SIDEWINDER 2 required no design changes to meet the requirements. Although the evaluation process took much longer than initially expected, every test was completed smoothly on the first attempt.

SIDEWINDER 2 is not just another rebreather on the market. With its unique modularity, outstanding cold-water capabilities, exceptional scrubber endurance time, and ruggedness, combined with ease of diving and the signature KISS simplicity, SIDEWINDER 2 will become for CCR diving what XDEEP STEALTH 2.0 is for sidemount: a system that sets a completely new standard and becomes a reference point for all other units.

Come and visit us at boot Düsseldorf - hall 11 / K23, where you will not only be able to see SIDEWINDER 2, but also meet the people behind it.

Piotr Czernik | Patrick Widmann