Buying a BCD, Sherwood AVID

A BCD (buoyancy control/compensator device) is a necessity. There are a few big ticket items you absolutely need when scuba diving and they can vary from person to person but a BCD, tank, regulators, and gauges/computer are the main four that come to mind.

Just like any sport there are many products/services offered through numerous companies all dedicated to providing goods to you but which one do you choose? My decision was to purchase the bulk of my gear through Sherwood and AKONA in part because the dive shop I was most associated with was a retailer of these brands.

When I first decided to purchase my own personal diving equipment I had little idea of what I would need but one thing was certain I would be investing in a BCD. The Sherwood AVID was my first large investment towards my scuba diving hobby. One way to ease the issue of picking out that perfect fit for you is by talking with various dive shops and asking fellow divers of their opinions on gear. When I was researching and prospecting for gear I ended up hopping from one dive shop to the next, probably checking out half a dozen before I finally decided.

What I've noticed is that in the three years that I've owned a Sherwood AVID it has been reliable and a worthwhile purchase. In the fifty plus dives that I've used this BCD I never had a problem with the system and with regular annual maintenance I hope that that BCD will last me ten more years.

Traveling Abroad with Gear

Chances are you don’t live in a tropical paradise that offers full-time access to amazing diving opportunities, but don’t let that deter you from traveling to such places. I personally don’t live anywhere near half the places I've dreamt of diving so I pack up my gear and go to them.

Living in Piedmont North Carolina has its perks but when it comes to scuba diving there is slim pickings. Unless you enjoy zero visibility diving in muddy lakes then where I live is perfect but otherwise you’ll need to get in a car, train or plane and hightail it elsewhere for that great dive vacation.

In five years of diving I've only dove outside of the United States twice, only transporting gear once. The notion of leaving thousands of dollars of scuba gear in the faithful hands of the airport can seem a bit daunting which is why many people choose to rent gear when traveling abroad. In the case where I dove in Costa Rica I decided it would be best to rent equipment rather than dealing with the hassle of transporting gear. Even though I chose not to bring along all of my gear I did bring the necessities, my mask, snorkel, boots and dive camera.

If you feel comfortable enough to bring all of your gear then there are a few recommendations I have. Obviously, don’t carry on a dive knife or anything that may be deemed as a weapon (spear-gun). I’m sure you can get it cleared but with the cost of specialized equipment I wouldn't want to risk having it confiscated. There is no need to transport your own weights or tank. It just adds extra pounds that you will have to pay for.

What I have determined from traveling by plane is that it is best to bring the bare necessities. Personalized equipment such as a mask and boots are invaluable because when scuba diving you want to be comfortable. If you need to bring along the other stuff then just consider what is worth packing, it may just save you a pretty penny.