Like a Hug From a Familiar Friend
It’s funny to look back at all the diving I’ve done and all the teams I have been a part of, and what gear I wore for those dives. I have my personal setup for teaching and fun dives, and another for technical dives.
In all the diving I’ve done, I have spent the most time in Sherwood Scuba gear, including using their regulators, fins, and BCDs. Sherwood Scuba is the equipment we used and trusted at the aquarium I used to work at, including the Avid CQR 3 BCD.
So I was super excited to try the Sherwood Scuba Avid Phantom BCD, not only because I knew any Sherwood BCD would be tough and durable, but also because I had never worn the Avid Phantom.
The Avid Phantom performed exactly as I expected it would underwater. For starters, it was absolutely comfortable. The soft back pad and cushioned neck roll made both walking to the dive entry and diving a pleasure.
The overall design, in addition to the Sherwood Power Inflator, made finding neutral buoyancy easy. I was able to maintain a nice trim position for the entire dive. When I say it felt like a hug, I mean it. The adjustable shoulder, waist, and chest straps made it easy to find my perfect fit.
While the pockets are a little hard to reach—I feel that way about a lot of jacket style BCDs—they are a decent size. If pockets aren’t your thing, the Avid Phantom comes with six stainless steel D-rings.
The integrated weight pockets are both stable and easy to manipulate. With an audible click, divers know their weights are secure. The handles are easy to reach and are oversized enough to dump in case of an emergency, even while wearing thick cold-water gloves.
Made from 1000-denier nylon with a urethane laminate coating, the Avid Phantom will serve you for years to come, and will withstand even the harshest diving environments, including around wrecks where lesser BCDs would get snagged.
Spec Breakdowns & Features
The Sherwood Scuba Avid Phantom is a traditional jacket-style BCD, meaning the entire BCD inflates and deflates as needed. While the weight is specified by the manufacturer, the Avid Phantom is relatively lightweight, meaning it will travel nicely.
In the large-sized BCD used for testing, the lift capacity is 35 pounds*. Also, the large size can handle up to 20 pounds of ditchable weights**.
Six stainless steel D-rings are standard on the Avid Phantom, giving divers many options to clip gear and extra hoses in their optimal configuration. Tanks remain secure with the Avid Phantom, as it comes standard with dual tank bands and a tank-height adjustment strap.
*Lift capacity: XS: 22 lbs.; SM: 27 lbs.; M: 32 lbs.; L: 35 lbs.; XL, 2XL, and 3-5XL: 40 lbs.
**Ditchable weights: XS and S: 16 lbs.; M, L, and XL: 20 lbs.; 2XL–5XL: 26 lbs.
Accessories
We highly recommend the Sherwood Scuba Brut Pro regulator to go with your Avid Phantom BCD. Outside of regulators, Sherwood Scuba also makes top-of-the line masks, fins, wetsuits, computers, gauges, and even tanks.
If you happen to be a woman reading this review, and you’re not quite sure if the Avid Phantom would fit you right, Sherwood also makes BCDs especially for women. Read our review of the Sherwood Scuba Luna BCD here.
Price/Quality Ratio
The Sherwood Scuba Avid Phantom falls squarely in our mid-range category, but the performance and the durability definitely make it worth more than its price point. This is a BCD that will last for years as long as you keep up with its maintenance schedule.
There’s nothing overly fancy about the Avid Phantom, but the little things do add up. Six stainless steel D-rings, stable integrated weight pockets that are easy to use even while wearing thick gloves, and the comfort are hard to match.
Do we recommend the Sherwood Avid Phantom?
We do recommend the Sherwood Scuba Avid Phantom BCD. It is a middle-of-the-line jacket style BCD that costs roughly middle of the road. It does have a few extras that make it nice though, including six stainless steel D-rings and easy to manipulate, stable integrated weight pockets that are easy to use even in thick cold weather gloves.
We recommend the Avid Phantom for novice divers looking for a BCD that won’t break the bank, will provide easy buoyancy, and that will provide comfort and peace of mind at the surface. Advanced divers will find the comfort and trim capabilities to be nice components.
Specs & Features
| Inflation | Traditional jacket-style |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Lift capacity | 35 pounds (size large) |
| Clips/D-rings | Six stainless steel D-rings |
| Adjustment points | Both shoulders, chest, and waist strap |
| Tank attachment | Dual camband with tank-height adjustment strap |
| Weight capacity | 20 pounds ditchable (size large); 5 pounds non-ditchable |
