Has Anyone Dove Deep With a Sherwood Blizzard?

[Syd7890]

I'm considering getting a used reg that can be used for cold water diving. From what I understand the Blizzard is very reliable, but I wonder how it is at greater depths (100'-120'). I can't find a whole lot of info on these regs, which makes me wonder if I should be considering something else. Keeping in mind that I would be buying something used, do you guys have any suggestions or input?

 

[fisherdvm]

The blizzard and maximus are essentially the same except for the swivel and the adjustable seat. Do a search on arctic or ice diving, and you'll find both being utilized at depth and extreme temperature.

Diving Under Antarctic Ice

http://www.peterbrueggeman.com/nsf/diving/nedu.html

 

[fisherdvm]

Here is a chart of regulator performance from tests conducted by US
Antarctic Program from '89 thru '95. The data was accumulated by
Jeff Bozanic and Jim Mastro.

All dives were conducted in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Water temp
range -1.9C to -1.2C. All failures were due to free flow.

FFM dives were done in Dry Valley lakes. Water temp 0C.

Based on these tests, USAP now issues Maximus regulators. As
mentioned earlier, we have had NO failures for past two seasons
having made approximately 2000 dives on the regs during that time.

Hope the information is of value.

Rob Robbins
Scientific Diving Coordinator
US Antarctic Program

Regulator Type # Dives # Failures % Failure

Sherwood Maximus 1341 23 1.7%
Sherwood Blizzard 2 2 100.0%
Poseidon Cyklon 300 710 40 5.6%
Poseidon Odin 270 15 5.6%
US Divers RAM 259 45 17.4%
US Divers Arctic Supreme 7 4 57.1%
US Divers Pro Diver 3 2 66.7%
US Divers Conshelf Supreme 7 4 57.1%
Scubapro Mk10/G200 27 13 48.1%
Scubapro Mk10/D350 17 3 17.6%
Scubapro Mk200/G200 8 8 100.0%
Scubapro Mk10/D400 7 1 14.3%
Scubapro Mk10/Polar 6 2 33.3%
Scubapro Mk10/G250 1 1 100.0%
Dacor Extreme Ice 25 4 16.0%
Mares MR-3 2 2 100.0%
DSI EXO-26 FFM 106 11 10.4%
AGA FFM 12 0 0.0%
Totals 2989 178 6.0%





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



From: [email addresss deleted] (ROBBINS, ROB)
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 11:46 NZD
To: [email addresss deleted]
Subject: RE: Antarctic Regs


:This is impressive. Is there any consensus on why the Maximus performs so
:well? Though I have owned one myself, I would have had no specific reason
:to guess that the Maximus would be significantly better than any other in
:resisting freezing.

We think that the Maximus regs do so well because of the heat
transfer plates. There are fins that are in the mouth piece tube
that transfer heat from your breath to the second stage valve body.
There is also a plate in front of the exhaust valve that also
preforms this task. These do a lot. It is also very valuable to
be able to turn the air control valve down (or even off) to help
control any incipient free flow.

:My own diving is in water that is rarely colder than 4.0 - 5.0 C. If I were
:diving in sub-freezing water, I would consider using a FMM on *every* dive
:that did not require a gas switch.

We do not use FFMs for the most part because we are diving under a
ceiling and must be able to find the 4' diameter hole. If you DO
have a problem -and this used to be pretty common- and have to go
to the back-up reg, I don't want to lose my vision too. For most
of the season here the vis is several hundred feet and we do not
use a tether.....



Cheers-
Rob Robbins
Scientific Diving Coordinator
US Antarctic Program

 

[fisherdvm]

As you can see, the maximus/blizzard had a failure rate of less than 2%, quite impressive considering they did thousands of dives with the regs.

 

[jefffalcone]

I've had a blizzard down to 145 fsw. I didn't notice any difference in the breathing from the way it breathes at 15 fsw. That being said, it does have a tendency to breath wet at just about any depth, esp. upsidedown.

 

[fisherdvm]

I have not dove my blizzard down to any great depth. But I've taken its cousin, the magnum down to 90 - 100 ft, and had no problems. I've taken the unbalanced brut down to 90 ft as well... Of course, that wasn't as nice. The magnum is like the blizzard except without the metal fins that direct your mouth's heat toward to valve.

 

[do it easy]

[snip]
Regulator Type # Dives # Failures % Failure

Sherwood Maximus 1341 23 1.7%
Sherwood Blizzard 2 2 100.0%
Poseidon Cyklon 300 710 40 5.6%
Poseidon Odin 270 15 5.6%
US Divers RAM 259 45 17.4%
US Divers Arctic Supreme 7 4 57.1%
[snip]

As you can see, the maximus/blizzard had a failure rate of less than 2%, quite impressive considering they did thousands of dives with the regs.

I think you are getting your peanut butter mixed in with your chocolate.

 

[fisherdvm]

Sherwood Maximus 1341 23 1.7%
Sherwood Blizzard 2 2 100.0%

No goofus. What I meant is that - they are the same reg on the inside, except for the knob that control the valve seat adjustment.

Therefore, they perform the same (assuming the same valve adjustment)...... If you mess with the maximus, it might actually breath harder !!

Therefore, based on reliability of the design of the first stage, and the design of the second stage (SAME) - you can add the numbers together, and get 1.7%, which is less than 2%.

 

[treasurehunter]

I dive very often with my maximus between 100' and 130' with no problem breathing easy great reg. set up recommend 130%.

 

[do it easy]

Sherwood Maximus 1341 23 1.7%
Sherwood Blizzard 2 2 100.0%

No goofus. What I meant is that - they are the same reg on the inside, except for the knob that control the valve seat adjustment.

Therefore, they perform the same (assuming the same valve adjustment)...... If you mess with the maximus, it might actually breath harder !!

Therefore, based on reliability of the design of the first stage, and the design of the second stage (SAME) - you can add the numbers together, and get 1.7%, which is less than 2%.

If they are the same reg on the inside, except for the little knob on the outside, then why did one perform well enough to be used in the program and the other one had a 100% failure rate (which just so happens to be the one that the OP was asking about)?

I couldn't tell a Maximus from a Blizzard, but based on your data, I would recommend the Maximus, and not the Blizzard

Also, I could add the numbers of most those regs to the Maximus and get something less than 2%.