Buying gear, need advice! Thanks.

[George_ORH]

Hello everyone,
I have been reading along (no posts until now) for about the last
6 months. I am looking to buy my last dearly needed pieces of equipment
so I don't have to rent any longer.
This is what I am looking at getting-- I need good/bad opinions on each.
And can anyone tell me a good place to purchase it all from, online.
Sherwood Avid BC (small in size)
Sherwood Maximus Regulator
Sherwood Minimus Backup Regulator
Sherwood Wisdom Computer/Compass

Thanks!
George

 

[Boogie711]

Why Sherwood?

 

[jonnythan]

My suggestions would be:

1) The reg choice is fine... but not my first choice. The dry air bleed on the Sherwood first stages annoys me. I prefer a completely sealed first stage design, so I don't have to worry about my air slowly leaking out if I leave the system pressurized for a little while.

2) You might want to reconsider your octopus idea. In an OOA situation, you're really going to want a regulator that you *know* can deliver you the air you need. The Sherwood Minimus is a pretty hard breathe, and it can add tension to an already tense situation. Many divers use the same second stage for their primary and backup. For instance, I have an Apeks regulator setup... one DS4 first stage and two TX40 second stages. I highly recommend it, but obviously it's not the only good choice.

3) Most people who try out a wrist-mounted computer never go back. Also, most people who get rid of a huge clunky console keep it that way, too. So here's my suggestion: Buy a fairly simple wrist mounted computer (Suunto Viper, Aeris Atmos 2, etc). Instead of using a console, use *just* an SPG. It's much more convenient, and I think you'll like it.

4) A BC is more or less a BC, I guess. I prefer back-inflate, and prefer my backplate and wing even more than that. I'd highly recommend the backplate idea, it's really everything they say it is. It's so simple and stable you forget it's there. It's also very easy to set up and dive with.

 

[George_ORH]

Why sherwood? From reading it looked like a very good brand, that's pretty much it. You see I live in a rural area, and the ONLY place to rent from has only aqualung equipment (the lower end stuff), and I almost feel like I am flying blind trying to figure out what to get. I finally am in the financial situation to where as I can buy these things, but am just "lost".
I really just need advice... I will be a recreational diver, NO coldwater (live in alabama),
want to make my first purchase the right one ( I don't want to buy junk then upgrade later--my life depends on this stuff so it better be good)...

I had no idea that sherwood reg leaked air like johnnythan said.

I do agree on the secondary reg, buy something that will perform great in a bad situation....

I would like to have a wrist computer, that shows depth, temp, has wireless air monitor (comments on this?), dive time and so forth. And just not have that dangling
gauge console at all.

As far as a bc, I want something that doesn't squeeze alot when inflated, good quality material that will last. I am pretty sure I want a bc that has a weight system so I can loose this weight belt...

Thanks so much for the info so far, please let me know on all of this... I really want to make the right choices..

And I have read on here where alot of people recommend your lds but I'm sorry, Mine is wanting approximately $200 more for a regulator than what I can get it for online. I understand they need to make money BUT good grief, their prices on everything is a HUGE difference from the online stuff. And I am not rich by no means, I'm barely middleclass (doubt i'm that)... And I will make sure I get EXCELLENT equipment, I'm picky about my life,,,and If that means I have to go online to do it, well...then so be it....Pheww.. Not trying to preach, just trying to give some insite on my thinking.


George

 

[Gator Diver]

I did my OW class on Sherwoods...overall they are durable, easy
to maintain, but to me breath a little hard

I went with Apeks because they seemed to breathe better
for me....

My advice, try as many as you can....go with a reg within
your budget and that you can get serviced easily in your area
unless you are going to service the reg yourself....

If you are going to stick with strictly recreational, a Sherwood
would be fine. I plan to go into some advanced diving,
so I wanted something that work for me down the road as well.

 

[mempilot]

The Avid is actually a pretty good BC for the money if you shop around, and it gets good reviews. There are a lot of eBay dealers selling Sherwood Avids. My first BC many years ago was a Sherwood Magnum. The Avid is much better and has integrated weights if you so desire. BTW, I have a excellent condition (50 dives) Oceanic Probe QLR size small jacket BC that I replaced with a backplate and wing. I'm going to be selling it. It would be a step up from the Avid, and I would sell it to you much cheaper.

The Sherwood regs are not the best for the money. I actually have a Minimus Octo that I used for 10 dives. It breathes fine above 60', but does breath a little bit hard below 60'. I'll sell it to you cheap if you are only doing shallow dives, but you can do better on the reg choice. Check out Mares for decent regs for the money without going all tekkie. Diver Direct seems to have good prices on Mares. BTW, the Aqualung Titan is a decent recreational setup for the money.

The Sherwood Wisdom is very expensive. If you want a descent computer for the money, check out Aeris. You can get a console or wrist mount.

None of the products mentioned are top of the line, but I'm assuming your not looking to spend your bank account.

This board has a mix of tech vs. rec members. I fall somewhere in the middle, but tend to go high-end now on equip due to the depths I dive. If you are going strictly recreational in you diving, then you won't have any problems with any of the equip mentioned in this thread. If the company has been around for some time and isn't going into bankruptcy, then their equip is selling and people aren't getting killed because of inferior equip. You'll probably outgrow anything you buy over time, and everyones opions, needs, and impressions of equip are different. There is a lot to be said for serviceability from your local dive shop. If you buy from the internet, beware of warrenty issues. Ask questions.

Hope this helped,

 

[Boogie711]

George... let's put it this way...

There are a lot of people who advocate Apeks regulators, along with a BP/Wing system for recreational diving. Why?

It's not because the DIR folks tell them to. I'm not DIR. But I have dove with a jacket BC - never again. I like the fact that I've gone from close to 30 lbs on my belt to 6, by moving to a BP/wing. I like the ease in trim, and yes, ease in establishing better bouyancy control. There's no squeeze, and heck - it's Stainless Steel... it's durable as heck.

The wing itself makes a big difference as well - I started with a wing that would have been better for doubles, and got a dedicated singles wing (oxycheq, but Halcyon makes great stuff as well.)

If I were you - get an aluminum or SS backplate with a 30 lb Oxycheq single wing from COVCI - Chris at COVCI is an awesome guy who will do you right. He'll answer any questions you have and is really friendly. COVCI isn't a fulltime job for him, so he may take a day or two, but he's great.

Then I would look to www.diveinn.com (aka Scubastore) and look at getting a set of Apeks regulators... if you're only diving warm water, you can probably just get an ATX20 with an ATX20 backup. The 40's are nice, too... I dive 50's, and I honestly can't tell the difference between that and an ATX200. They are fantastic, high performance regulators. They're also owned now by Aqualung, so you shouldn't have a problem getting them serviced. Another option I'm not too familiar with, but that many people around here seem to like are Scubapro regulators... I've dove with a few, but I would think an MK25 would be too much for what you're doing. I would also recommend getting a long hose and setting your backup on a bungee necklace around your neck... tons of threads on here explaining why it makes sense.

DiveInn can also set you up with a Vyper wrist computer, although there are a lot of other wrist mounted types out there... I dive an M1 from Mares, for example, but most of the time I just use it as a Bottom Timer. I wouldn't bother getting air integrated - if you get a BP/Wing, you can clip your SPG off to your left D-Ring nice and neat, out of the way. Air Integrated adds many $$ and you're pooched if it dies.

Don't accept the argument that this is "techy-gear." It's not. It's modular, high-performance, and comparatively low-cost gear. I think people disparage it as "techy-gear" because they're jealous.

 

[mempilot]

Don't accept the argument that this is "techy-gear." It's not. It's modular, high-performance, and comparatively low-cost gear. I think people disparage it as "techy-gear" because they're jealous.

Ah, come on Boogie! I'm not jealous. I dive an OMS SS backplate, harness, and wing, with a PST steel tank, SP Jets, and a Zeagle Expedition GS drysuit, and Apeks regs. Tekkie? The other people on the boat would say yes. Me? I'm with you, not really.

My equip cost, can you say Mastercard.

It's hard to appreciate this kind of equip until you have some experience, but if he can get good instruction/advise where he lives on this kind of rig, then go for it. Otherwise, stick to what he can get, get serviced, and learn to use properly.

I'm with you mate, but he may not be with us. )

 

[ScubaRon]

Overall I think your choices are good ones:
- I have not dived the Avid, but tried it on at a local LDS and it looked like an excellent BC. A friend that owns one is very pleased with it.
- The Sherwood regs are good performers, easy to maintain and very reliable. Don't let Johnnythan's comments about the dry bleed scare you: you will not notice it and it is works very well. I used Sherwood regulator's for over a decade and never had any issue with them.
- The Minumus is fine too. The octopus is primarily for a buddy running out of air and the key issue is to have air available. If that reg is a little harder to breath, he/she will never notice. And chances are that you'll never use it. In 14 years of diving I have never even see anyone use an octopus other than for practise/training.
- I'm not familiar with the Wisdom, so won't comment.
ScubaRon

 

[cyklon_300]

'squeeze,' then the BP/W will definitely be something to look at...won't happen with that setup. Plates are a tossup for the most part, and I have both Halcyon and Oxycheq wings, either is good.

I'd rec the Apeks or SP regs over the Sherwood, too.

Buying ONCE and not having to upgrade is a good goal, but in reality....hardly happens...