A Long Journey with Great Customer Service
Before I even get into the nuts and bolts of my review of the SR2, I need to describe the process I went through with their outstanding customer service. I originally received the SR2 to take on a Florida trip, where I would be testing a variety of regs.
Everything came, and I was excited to run my test. Well, the specific regulator I was sent did not perform to my standards. The piston whined the entire dive, and the cracking pressure (how hard I had to breath) was as bad as I’ve ever dealt with.
I immediately got in contact with Sherwood to explain my situation. They were both receptive and apologetic. Through our communication, we found that the most likely culprit was that the specific model I was using was a “demo” model that had been used various times prior, and had potentially been bumped around during shipping. With this information in hand I received a brand new SR2.
I tested it in my cold, local quarry down to 60 feet. I couldn’t tell a difference in the breathing performance, even approaching temperatures as low as 50 degrees. Both the first and second stage performed how I expected.
I also tested it to the limits of recreational diving in the Atlantic Ocean, where the currents can be temperamental and the salinity level is high. The balanced piston really came through for me. Kicking headlong into the current at almost 130 feet I felt no struggle to pull the air I needed.
The second stage is light enough to not weigh down your neck on long dives, yet sturdy enough to take the day in and day out abuse of deep Atlantic divers. The mouthpiece is soft and there is no jaw fatigue after a long dive.
This is a regulator almost everybody could benefit from using. It is simple enough for novice divers; it is high-performance enough for experienced divers; it handles nicely in cold waters; it is sealed for dirty-water divers; and it has a fifth low-pressure port, making it a great regulator for technical divers.
Spec Breakdowns & Features
The Sherwood Scuba SR2 features a balanced piston with great breathing performance. Attached to your hose is a pneumatically balanced second stage that includes a venturi switch and a fine tuning-dial, giving you the perfect amount of air per breath.
Weighing in right at three pounds for the first stage, second stage, and hose, the SR2 is relatively lightweight. Standard with a swivel turret and a fifth low-pressure port, the SR2 delivers not only great breathability, but also great accessibility for hose routing and various configurations.
Accessories
Sherwood Scuba has been manufacturing high-quality equipment for over 60 years. They produce everything from regulators to BCDs, fins, and masks. The first accessory you will want to have with your SR2 is the Sherwood octopus. You could choose between the SR2 octo, the Sherwood octo, The Gemini octo, or the Remora octo. One of their more popular masks is the Sherwood Cruz; read our review here.
Price/Quality Ratio
The Sherwood SR2 just barely inches its way into our high-end category, but not by much. If you could find it on sale it would definitely dip into the “mid-range” category. But it is definitely worth the money you will spend on it.
The design is very comparable to the ScubaPro MK 25 EVO, and your choice really depends on your diving goals. The MK 25 EVO is a top-of-the-line regulator, and, while the SR2 may not be quite as high-performance, it is relatively less expensive.
The price-to-quality ratio is nice for this regulator, and you get what you pay for—an above-average regulator that will work day in and day out for almost every diver at a decent price. The swivel turret and the fifth low-pressure port make it well worth the money.
Do we recommend the Sherwood Scuba SR2?
We do recommend the Sherwood Scuba SR2 regulator. It is a great everyday regulator. It may not be quite as high-performance as some other regulators, but it is still a solid piece of equipment that will suit the needs of most divers. Having a turret swivel and a fifth low-pressure port make it an excellent choice for divers who are starting out in technical diving or that wear a full-face mask along with a drysuit.
The second stage is light, sturdy, and breathes nicely. Being a balanced piston means you never have to worry about a change in performance regardless of how deep you are, how much air you have left, or how hard you are working.
Specs & Features
| Valve | DIN or yoke |
|---|---|
| First stage | Balanced piston |
| Second stage | Pneumatically balanced |
| Ports | Two high-pressure; five low-pressure |
| Max working pressure | 300 bar/4350 psi (DIN); 232 bar/3365 psi (yoke) |
| Weight | 3 lbs. |
