Your Opinion On My Equipment List

[johnny_bravo]

Hey WC.

I've used a Blizzard and an Avid for the last 3 years and I love them. Dove the Blizzard for several dive seasons in the Great Lakes and it's a great workhorse cold water reg.

The Avid is a good rugged rec BCD and the best feature is the double strap no tank is ever slipping out.

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[ReefHound]

I have a Sherwood Magnum and will echo the other comments. Stiff breathers but rock solid dependable and simple design any decent tech can handle. Not so stiff that it concerns me and mine breathes OK in all positions. I will sometimes go inverted horizontal (face up) just to watch the bubbles rise up to the surface.

I guess everyone has to learn for themselves but I could never recommend a jacket BC to anyone after going BP/W. At least get a back inflated BC if not BP/W.

I had (still do, not often used) a Genesis Resource Pro and it's a decent computer, simple to operate under water, clear displays. It's pretty liberal and I don't recall if it has a personal setting to make it more conservative. I much prefer my computers on my wrist and would not get another console computer.

I might get some flak over it but I think the hyper stretchie stuff is unnecessary if you simply get a properly sized and fitted wetsuit in the first place. People love their Hendersons but you'll pay for the name. I find better value in Bare and Tilos brands myself. Again, fit is the most critical aspect so buy based on fit, not brand name.

 

[EvaL]

Much depends on what type of dives (how deep, sw or fw, water temp) you do and your budget. Not biased against Sherwood, but their regs don't do too well IMHO at deeper depths (say 99 ft) than many others on the market. Check out some better regs from these tests at:
http://www.scubadiving.com/regulators
http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?section=1005
The computer and BCD are good if you can get a good price for them. I second Reefhound - do you really need the henderson (they are super expensive). I'd go for another brand (Bare, Bodyglove and many more) that are cheaper and use the savings on better regs.
Good luck shopping and dive safely.

 

[spectrum]

The Sherwood items are choices for recreational gear. For the $$ and reliability very had to beat. Why do I say so? Check my profile.

Pete