Scuba Lab First Look: March 2008

Sherwood Scuba SR1 Regulator

Sherwood regulators have long enjoyed a reputation for durability, but with the new SR1, the company plans to show the world it can compete in the realms of innovative design and high performance, too. The first stage is polished chrome over brass with five low-pressure ports on a turret and co-molded yoke knob. It houses a unique, balanced, flow-through piston inside a dry-sealed spring chamber, in essence offering the best of both worlds: the reduced corrosion benefits of a diaphragm reg, with the performance and durability benefits of a piston reg. But the goodies don't stop there. At the other end of the SR1's low-pressure hose, the plastic second-stage body has an almost velvety texture to it and an attractive chrome trim ring. Eye-catching stuff to be sure, but what makes this pneumatically balanced breather really interesting is the adjustment knob that simultaneously controls both the venturi effect (to avoid free-flows at the surface) and spring tension (to regulate breathing resistance at depth). According to Sherwood, combining the two functions makes for a more user-friendly reg and, based on our test dives, we'd have to agree. The SR1 also comes standard with an oversized exhaust valve to reduce exhalation resistance and an external adjustment fitting that allows your shop's reg tech to keep the second stage tuned to peak performance.

All these features come together to make one sweet-breathing regulator. In standard swimming and head-down-in-a-lobster-hole positions, air delivery is dry and effortless. The flexible full-face purge provides a forceful blast of air, and the low-profile exhaust tee does a good job of deflecting bubbles. Bottom line: This is a solid breather. We can't wait to give it a full review in our upcoming evaluation of new regs, due out in the July issue.

MSRP: $640. Contact: www.sherwoodscuba.com.

Scubapro Everflex Steamers

For both comfort and thermal efficiency, it's hard to beat Scubapro's Everflex line of 7/5, 5/4 and 3/2 Steamers. These wetsuits are made of Everflex high-stretch, non-petroleum-based neoprene with a Heliospan fleece-weave lining in the chest and back areas. The external seams are glued and double-thread blind-stitched for strength and durability, while internal seams are single-thread blind-stitched. This technique provides a lower-profile stitch that's much easier on bare skin. A thick underflap helps minimize water entry through the zipper and doubles as a spine pad. All seals are Glideskin and individually designed to minimize water entry: the neck seal is adjustable; the wrist seals reach halfway up the forearm; and the zippered ankles (on the 7/5 and 5/4 suits) allow feet to easily slip through with the help of a nylon lining, then fold under to achieve a Glideskin seal that gets snugged down with the zipper. Anti-abrasion shoulder patches keep BC straps from slipping, and the flexible Tatex thermoplastic rubber kneepads cover a lot of leg area. Available in seven men's and seven women's sizes.

MSRP: $396 for the 7/5, $395 for the 5/4 (shown), $313 for the 3/2. Contact: www.scubapro.com.

Aeris Velocity XP

A cool combination of thermoplastics and rubber compounds is used to make the Velocity XP, a split fin with semi-rigid blade battens and rubber flex channels, flanked by beefy side rails that add rigidity and control water flow. It's a mix of materials that gives the fin a balance of stiffness and flexibility for both power and maneuverability. The split blade has a slight downward rake that Aeris says improves its angle of attack. The comfortable foot pocket has soft rubber on top and a substantial heel plate on bottom. The nonskid pattern is effective, and while the buckles are generic, the heel strap is made of thick rubber and offers a large finger loop for easy donning and doffing.

MSRP: $189.95. Contact: www.DIVEAERIS.com.

Cressi-sub Back Jac

Fans of back-buoyancy BCs will like the Italian-made Back Jac. Constructed of a combination of 500 Cordura and 420 denier nylon to keep the weight down for air travel (it's about a pound and a half lighter than comparable full-featured BCs), this is a very comfortable and well-balanced BC. The shoulders are contoured and the cummerbund and elastic sternum strap are both depth-compensating. The rear bladder is fitted with expansion bands so, whether inflated or deflated, it stays snugged against the backpack. Cressi's new Lock-Aid mechanical-weight system loads easily, even when wearing the BC. Weight pouches lock with a distinctive snap and ditch with a simple pull of the molded handles. Storage pockets on many BCs get eaten up by these types of weight systems, but on the Back Jac, a pair of large, roll-down pockets are positioned beneath the weight pouches, out of the way until you need them. In the water, this BC provides excellent stability. Its Euro-style, low-profile power inflator allows for pinpoint ascent control, and all the exhaust valves stay ahead of wide-open inflation. We could do without its three pounds of inherent buoyancy, but otherwise, this BC is a winner. Available in five sizes with 30 to 57 pounds of buoyant lift.

MSRP: $599.50. Contact: www.cressi.it.

Aqua Lung Airsource 3

Straight out of the box the sleek lines of the new Airsource 3 from Aqua Lung challenge your notions of what an alternate inflator reg can be. In the water, its smooth breathing performance changes them entirely.

While we weren't able to strap it to a breathing simulator in time for this “first look” review, we did dive it alongside another top-performing inflator reg, and in head-to-head breathing tests, the Airsource 3 was our hands-down winner. This new inflator reg breathes smoother than many primary regs. As a power inflator, the Airsource 3 delivers total ascent control. The deflate button is wider and taller than the inflate button, which makes it easy to tell the two apart by touch. Button action is responsive, allowing for minor adjustments in buoyancy. The pull-dump is also efficient, and it's designed so you can vent air while using the Airsource 3 as a regulator. This is accomplished through the use of a reinforced hand-hold, called the Trim Grip, that's positioned about midway down the rather long corrugated hose. When ascending, you grab and pull down on the Trim Grip to activate the exhaust valve, all without having to remove the reg from your mouth. Another cool feature: The Airsource 3 low-pressure hose uses a permanent connection to the regulator that allows better airflow and keeps corrosive sand, salt and moisture from getting into the second-stage mechanism. An in-line shut-off valve replaces the traditional quick-disconnect fitting for emergency control in a stuck-inflator scenario.

So how do you separate the Airsource 3 from the BC for cleaning or storage? Pop the hose from its keeper, give the lower half of the corrugated hose a quarter turn and it separates at the Trim Grip. The top half of the corrugated hose stays with the BC, the rest of the unit goes with your regulator. The Airsource 3 will fit on all Sea Quest and Aqua Lung BCs, and by spring 2008, Aqua Lung plans to offer adapter rings that will allow the Airsource 3 to mount on all major BC brands.

MSRP: $230 sold separately; $150 if installed on a new Aqua Lung or Sea Quest BC. Contact: www.aqualung.com.