HELP! Sherwood or Tusa?

[a.mckelvey]

I am getting a regulator and my two choices for my price range and what my LDS carries are a Tusa X-pert or a Sherwood Magnum. I know that there are many differences between these two but I really don't know what to pick. My LDS owner says that he would go with Tusa, but I also talked to another Dive shop and they said that they would not ever let anyone dive a Tusa.

I know that the x-pert is a balanced diaphragm and that the magnum is a balanced piston. And that the Sherwoods are usually described as pullet proof but I've tried researching the x-pert and have not been able to find anything at all about it, good or bad...

So I just need some help with info about both of them so that I can make a good, educated decision. It would be really great if I could get some input from people that have dove both.

THANKS!

 

[RAWalker]

I'd go with the Sherwood. In my area there are a lot more Sherwood dealers and this would make it easier to get service. Besides the fact that they are bullet proof.
And my first reg was a Sherwood Oasis which I still have as a backup.

 

[Captain Larry]

Ditto on the Sherwood as far as being more likely to find a supporting dealer. Sherwoods are especially popular in the caribbean where they are known for being very reliable and easy to repair should your dive travels take you there.
Sherwood also gives you free overhaul parts kits for your first two overhauls.

 

[martzak]

There are so many regulators out there to chose from...why are you limiting yourself to Sherwood or Tusa? Have you looked at Oceanic, Aeris, Zeagle, to name a few off the top of my head? You would be doing yourself a favor by looking at other regulators besides Sherwood or Tusa.
By the way, unless you're gonna dive deep >150ft, or dive in really cold water, <40F, either regulator will work great for you.

 

[a.mckelvey]

I have looked at other regs but again, as I stated before, the tusa x-pert or the sherwood magnum are the two that fit my price range OF THE PRODUCTS MY LDS CARRIES. Thanks for the comments so far but keep the coming! please and thanks!

 

[martzak]

In that case go with the Sherwood for reasons stated by Captain Larry. I don't own any Sherwood regs but I have heard only positive things about their classic-piston-design regs. Besides, their regulators are environmentally-sealed, practically speaking. There is a tiny trickle of air coming from the first stage creating a pocket of air inside which does not allow any water in, but you might already know that. I just think it's a really clever design.

 

[Twistedarts]

I own and dive the Magnum. As others have stated it is bulletproof. I have had it down over 100 feet, salt water, fresh water, cold and warm water and never a problem, it just breathes (smoothly). for what you pay for it, a better reg may be difficult to find, but I'm sure there are those on this board that will contest that. Bottom line, if that is what your shop has and you can afford, go for it. You can get it serviced anywhere. Also if you go with the Sherwood, use the extended exhaust T, it really gets the bubble out of your field of vision. Good Luck and dive safe!

 

[Dockmaster]

I used a Tusa reg 10 years ago for my OW pool and checkout dives, so I had nothing to compare them to. They worked fine and had no issues in 52 degree water.

After being certified, I bought a Sherwood Blizzard and have dove it ever since without any problems. I've had it down to 95 feet several times and always felt that I've had enough air. On one dive in 42 degree water, a buddy's U.S. Divers reg froze up just as he took his first few breathes underwater, but I was fine.

Like everyone else has said, Sherwoods are known for their reliability and ease of service. Their dry bleed piston is a tried and true design. It's great to hear that you're supporting your LDS.

 

[Couv]

Hello A.McKelvey,

Whichever you choose, avoid the dive shop that said, "he would never let anyone dive Tusa." He/she is an idiot, a cheat or both.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Couv

 

[Dutch552]

My first reg was a used Sherwood Oasis and it was a tank. It was used in a busy LDS rental fleet for 5 years prior to my purchasing it and it was a great breather that always delivered. On my trips to the Carribean I always like to see what the LDS and dive operators carry in the way of spare parts and service kits and there is Sherwood support on all of the islands I've been to, can't say the same for TUSA. Something to think about if you travel a lot.