Mares has discovered a quality issue involving the O-ring assembly of the Nemo Air Quick Connector.

Under certain circumstances, the O-ring can fail and cause a slow leak of breathing gas through the Quick Connector, which could require a diver to surface quickly and face possible risk of injury or running out of air.

Any air leak resulting from an O-ring failure would be slow, because these fittings are designed to the EN250 standard, which requires a very small (0.3mm) opening in the high-pressure hose fitting, but we nevertheless take this issue seriously and intend to correct all affected units.

The O-rings in some units may have been replaced in an earlier service campaign, but this recall requires replacing the entire metal quick connector female fitting at the end of the high pressure air hose that holds the O-ring (new Mares part no. 44200829). Replacement connector assemblies have a groove machined around the middle of the fitting, but recalled units do not.

ALL CONSUMERS SHOULD STOP USING ANY NEMO AIR DIVE COMPUTER, AND ALL RETAILERS SHOULD REMOVE THESE UNITS FROM DISTRIBUTION, UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED MARES DEALER / SERVICE CENTER.

Finished goods
414158 – DIVE COMPUTER NEMO AIR
414159 – DIVE COMPUTER NEMO AIR W/COMPASS
Spare parts
44200771 – HP HOSE W/QUICK CONNECTOR NEMO AIR
44200770 – QUICK CONNECTOR ASSY. FEMALE NEMO AIR

TEXT OF RECALL

Dive Computers Recalled by Mares Due to Drowning Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Mares Nemo Air Dive Computers

Units: About 600 in the United States, 140 in Canada and 15 in Puerto Rico

Distributor: Mares USA, of Boca Raton, Fla.

Hazard: An O-ring in the high pressure air connector can fail and leak air, causing a continuous but slow loss of breathing gas, which could require a diver to surface quickly, posing a drowning hazard to divers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves the Mares Nemo Air Dive Computer, Nemo Air Dive Computer with Compass, Mares High Pressure Hose with Quick Connector for Nemo Air, and Quick Connector Assembly for Nemo Air. These computers have a digital screen which allows scuba divers to measure the time and depth of a dive and process other information to help divers determine safe dive times and ascent rates.

Sold by: Specialty dive shops nationwide from July 2008 through July 2009 for between $800 and $900 (U.S.) and between $880 and $990 (Canadian).

Manufactured in: Italy

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dive computer and connectors, and return the products to their authorized Mares dive shop for a free replacement O-ring connector assembly. The O-rings in some units may already have been replaced, but this recall requires replacing the metal quick connector fitting at the end of the high pressure air hose that holds the O-ring. Replacement connector assemblies have a groove machined around the middle of the fitting, but recalled units do not. All consumers should take their Nemo Air dive computers to a Mares dive shop to confirm whether this connector fitting has been replaced.

Consumer Contact: For additional questions, contact Mares at (800) 874-3236 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, visit the firm’s web site at www.mares.com (this is a pdf file that can be downloaded) or e-mail the firm at kflood@us.mares.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1023

FULL TEXT OF RECALL

We welcome input from all readers, at the show or not. You can follow and contact us via http://www.facebook.com/ScubaGadget and @facebook on twitter.

• We’re excited to try the Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium’s upcoming adventure of diving with sharks. We  were impressed with the Pt. Defiance zoo’s commitment to quality education with the Eye-to-Eye Sharks! program, a get-in-the-swim program like no other in the Puget Sound region. Opens this summer at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Certified divers will get an escorted scuba swim with the zoos 17 sharks, led by a professionally trained guide. Non-divers will experience a “cage” dive with easy-to-breathe surface-supplied air. No experience required. This is a truly unique encounter and the zoo hopes to dispel some of the myths that abound about sharks. Cost for certified divers: 160, Zoo members; $175, non-members and includes all equipment. Cost for non-divers: $50, Zoo members; $65, non-members.
• Barb Roy, journalist with X-ray Mag, is branching out with her booth showing off her photography, cards bearing her photographs and dream catchers made by her daughter. One of her recent articles is about the scuttling of two ships in Portugal in one day.
• We went to the Light and Motion booth and further explored the Sola NightSea. This is a joint project between Sola and NightSea labs. The NightSea is a special blue light that acts as a fluorescent exciter with many organisms to absorb and re-emit a visible glow, transforming the undersea into a psychedelic underworld. “It’s been called many things – fluodiving, fluorodiving, fluorescence night diving, UV diving – but no matter what you call it, the optical magic of fluorescence adds a totally new dimension to your night diving.” We’re making arrangements with Sola to do a full live dive articles with this amazing light.
• Other lighting news: We purchased a couple of the new W16XL Archon lights and will report back soon with a live article. We have also arranged to have the lumen claim evaluated by an independent testing lab.
• We spoke at faith at the Diving Unlimited International (DUI) booth about their new BLUEHEAT™ HEATED DIVEWEAR INSULATION system. Faith reported that this approx. $3000 system is selling surprisingly well and at a recent DUI demo days 4 out of 14 divers mad a purchase.
• We went to the LavaCore booth and discussed their new LavaCore Elite. This sleek, fashionable system can be worn under drysuits but recommended use is topside while engaged in water sports such as paddle boarding and kayaking. The lightweight top and bottom keep you warm and dry. Lavacore’s Elite series incorporates neoprene at the wrist cuffs and a merino wool lined bi-laminate fabric under the armpits and side panels. This design concept is intended to provide enhanced flexibility (for paddling), permeability (to reduce overheating, sweating & body odor) and maximize overall comfort.
• Whites Drysuits was showing off an upcoming womens’ version of their new Fusion 0ne backzip, sub $995 drysuit. Named the “FUSION ESSENCE,” this suit it has both a female cut core and skin. It also has color accents and the inner core is purple instead of the usual gray. It will ship around May 2013.
• We asked the quality light experts at Light Monkey about what divers may be missing if they buy one of the cheap knockoff canister tech lights. He first said “the warranty” but also pointed out how, on their lights the sealed battery compartment prevents flooding of the battery even if water gets into the canister.
• At the TUSA-USA/Waterproof booth, we saw their Solla fin which for your comfort that includes a proprietary thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) fin strap. TUSA open-heel fins are equipped with a newly designed Anatomic Fin Strap (AFS).  The AFS is anatomically shaped to offer a balance of flexibility and control to increase comfort, power transfer and to significantly reduce heel slippage found in many standard flat fin straps. The angled blade onTUSA fins makes them especially good for snorkellng because the blade stays below the surface.

Again today the crowds at the show seemed very light to us and to the vendors we interviewed. We cannot imagine that there was anywhere near the expected attendance of 5k to 7k.

One staff member reported that, in a talk during the Saturday night festivities, show founder Rick Straton acknowledged the light crowds and said that the show would be broadened next year to include more adventure sports beyond diving. We will have more on this soon.

Just to give you an idea of the mix we did a rough tally of the types of booths we saw.

• Dive Shops ~ 9
• Travel ~ 53
• Manufactures and distributors of dive equipment ~ 30
• Non profit orgainzations other than clubs ~ 18
• Aquariums ~ 3
• Art – jewelry – shirts ~ 6
• Training agencies and schools ~ 5
• Dive clubs ~ 7
• Non-diving related ~ 5
• Other ~ 5

Which gives an approximate total of ~141. You may notice that reports of the number of booths filled would be much higher because many vendors purchase multiple booths. All numbers are approximate. It was a quick count.

We will have a show summary after we give interview the staff next week.

Please comment at Facebook.com/ScubaGadget

See the day 1 report at http://www.scubagadget.com/?p=2724

We welcome input from all readers, at the show or not. You can follow and contact us via http://www.facebook.com/ScubaGadget and @facebook on twitter.

• Eric Morris of High Tide drysuits showed off a prototype drysuit made a new type of material called Quicksilver (see photo). Our best description is that the material is like neoprene but the slick outside coating feels and acts something like Teflon. It absorbs no water and i impervious to fuels and acid and isn’t damaged by UV like other suits. It also has a limited self-healing feature when poked with a sharp object.  e will be constructing a few suits to be tested this summer and if all goes well could be making this unique new suit shortly thereafter.
• We were really impressed with the new ladies only mask from Aqua Lung’s stylish Details line for women. The Linea mask has an ultra thin frame, which is not only stylish but allows the lens to come close to the face, maximizing the field of vision and reducing the volume for easy clearing. The Linea  lens, skirt and frame are molded together in one piece as opposed to other masks where multiple pieces are snapped together. The mask uses Aqua Lung’s unique cardonic buckle which is like a universal joint and provides a much greater range of motion. Additionally, only on the Linea the buckle is extended to prevent the hair from tangling in the buckle.
• Also at the Aqua Lung booth we finally got to try on one of their Wrapture system harness with a real scuba tank attached. We found that it actually does, as they say, pull the tank much closer to your back reducing back strain and allowing for better posture.
• We were fascinated by the powerful, incredibly inexpensive, new Archon Diving Light offered by Light and Beyond. The smallest model is over 750 lumens and is well under than $200. Their video lights range up to 10,000 lumens.
• The DIABC, the Dive Industry Association of British Columbia, besides doing an amazing job of showing off the world class diving in BC, is previewing their new Wreck Trek program. The PASSPORT will be a 24-page souvenir booklet you can use to track your dives on the various wrecks throughout BC. Once you complete a featured dive, the sponsor operator will stamp your Wreck Trek PASSPORT. Once you’ve completed all the featured dives, you’ll be eligible to enter the Wreck Trek draw. Stop by the DIABC Booth (#224) for all the details on this new venture for BC. While you’re there, book a trip. You won’t be disappointed.
• Submersa is a new Montreal dive apparel company that promises a clean look and high quality shirts all made in North America. The apparel is said to appeal to both divers and non-divers alike.

Many vendors commented that the attendance seemed a bit light today compared to previous years. It was an interesting change to have the seminars right on the show floor. A few attendees said that this was fine, but one of the seminar areas lost their PA which made it hard to hear the speaker over the din of the show. We’ll have more tomorrow from the show floor.

Introducing the warp 1

CETATEK Products, Inc., a new venture out of North Vancouver, BC, Canada, has introduced a sophisticated fin design that is based on what they term “warp” technology. The acronym stands for “water adapting responsive propulsion.” This technology spreads and cups the fin blade as the diver kicks harder. CETATEK says that it “creates an automated adaptive response for underwater propulsion.”

The claim is that this design allows the diver to have the best of both worlds, an easy kick fin at leisure, reminiscent of a good split fin, and a power fin when you dig in and kick. The ads say this fin will be flexible and maneuverable at low thrust and become increasingly more powerful when more propulsion is needed. While many fins in the past have tried designs that mimic nature, the Aquabionic seems to have come the closest. It really reminds me of seeing seal’s fins warp and cup as they pull out of a power turn. We were impressed that Simon Morris, VP of Marketing and Sales for CETATEK, has a long history working with major dive manufactures and has staked his reputation on this one. He knows fins and claims the warp1s is a game changer. We have now had a chance to dive the fin and here is our report.

Although the warp1 looks like a pivoting blade fin, when you first hold it you can see that it is not. It could be also called an expanding paddle fin. The warp1 blades have lateral pivoting points to allow the blade to change geometry and expand the surface area under a load.  It is most like a seal’s fin in that it warps open, gathers up the water and then jets back into shape. If we could only turn our ankles 90 degrees and whip our feet to together like a seal this fin may give us super powers. But the design still does add a unique quality to our human legs that we have not found in other fins.

The diving

Just like a wine taster may report about the wine having legs, the first thing we always hear from a fin tester is how the fin effected their legs. In the case of the fin it is about how much they felt the kicks in their legs. What we call “soft legs” would be the kind you feel you get from split fins and some pivoting blade fins like the Mares Volo. You don’t feel the kick in your legs. You feel your movement through the water but do not feel like you have any resistance when you kick. On the other hand (hold the pun), “hard legs” would be the kind you feel from most paddle fins or the really stiff pivoting blade fins like the Scubapro Seawing Nova Gorrilla (not to be confused with the softer legs of the Seawing Nova). If the fins legs are really hard you kick and “feel the burn.” You move  but you feel it in your legs. A fin’s legs are becoming more important as divers age and want to protect knees and ankles from excess strain.

Even though you can move in calm waters on a relaxed dive with little effort from the fins with soft legs, hard legs often comes with the power to get around in currents. The hard leg fins also tends to have a lot more control for finer movements and tech style kicking.

The warp1 straddles both classes. If  you first start off fast with the warp1 you mostly do feel the burn and may think this is a fin with hard legs. But if you slow down and kick with less strain you still move fast and feel it much less. As I used the fins my body started to learn just how to kick the warp1s for the best comfort/speed ratio in different situation.

Another unique aspect of these fins is that you don’t just feel movement through the water with the warp1s, you definitely feel a surge when kicking hard. I am not a power kicker and can be generally happy with comfort split class fins. However, after awhile I became addicted to the control I had with the warp1s. I felt like a diving humming bird. I could zip in, out and all around with ease and speed. I then noticed that my favorite soft leg fins started to feel sloppy and non-responsive.

Often we hear divers say they want a fin that doesn’t make their feet float. We found the warp1s to be well balanced in this respect. They seemed just about neutral buoyancy. They felt light but never felt floaty in the water.

Although you will often hear sales people and manufactures claim that X or Y product is the best for every diver; it “just ain’t so.” From fins, to masks, to regulators, to etc. there are not only pros and cons for each product, there are products that are the right fit for you and not for your buddy. Fins are one of most diver specific products on the market. We hope more dive shops add a demo fin service so that divers can try before they buy. Russ Radtke’ comments did a great job of describing some of subtleties of this factor in his post on Scubaboard.

A Second Opinion by Russ Radtke

We are impressed with the forum post we found by Russ Radtke. He artfully explained another nice feature of the warp1s. I had similar feelings about my testing but Russ did a much better job of articulating it.  He compared the warp1s with both his regular recreation fins, the Scubapro Seawing Novas and some of the standard tech fins and noticed how the warp1s bridged between the two categories. Russ said of the Seawing Novas’ “I like them because they are gentle on the knees and ankles, and can really move when you need them to.” On the other end of the spectrum he spoke about the divers that need tech kicking (e.g. frog, helicopter, etc.) and commented that, “traditional tech diver fins are GREAT for moving you around with tech style kicks, but in my opinion, they are rather stiff and unforgiving on the knees and ankles.”

Now about the warp1s, Russ and his buddy found that: “They work GREAT for tech kicks. I have found that even gentle frog kicks can really move me around in these fins. Back kicking and helicopter turns are as easy as in traditional tech fins. In the same gear, with traditional tech fins, I get sore ankles by the end of the day. Not in the warp1s! Although there is certainly more resistance on the ankles with the warp1s vs my Seawing Novas, they are MILES ahead of the tech fins in regards to comfort. The only time I got even a LITTLE sore with the warp1s was when we did open water rescue and safety drills, including tired diver tows and long surface swims to “panicked” divers. That said, these fins really can move with a strong flutter – I was moving through the water really well!”

I concur with Russ as I also noticed feeling my ankles during and after a long surface swim with the warp1s. However, this seem to diminish after more dives. I almost wonder if there was break-in period with Warp 1s.

The warp1s are $225 msrp. CETATEK also offers an aquabionic stainless steel spring straps for $49.95.

Summary

The aquabionic warp1s seems to offer the recreational diver a fin that can perform like a tech fin with more comfort. Reviewing this fin reminded me of the time in the kayaking world when everyone said you could not build a kayak that would work on flat water and moving water and then they did. With its innovative technology the warping blade fin has become the newest class of fin.

The warp1 fins certainly combines many of positives from the other categories without giving up much to the negative. Vacation and occasional recreational divers who only do relaxed dives and prefer a soft leg fin may not be comfortable with this fin. But others who want a fin with delicate control, the power to move and who don’t mind feeling a small resistance during kicks should consider the warp1.

Si Tech solves a problem we didn’t know we had…

Now Si Tech has improved on the standard round rings with a new anatomically correct (or ergonomic) oval shape. Before I saw ANTARES oval rings I did not realize that I may want or need them, but after trying them I found that they make diving and time between dives a bit more pleasant.

The ANTARES Modular Quick Change Solution (QCS) is much more than just oval rings. It also adds a snappy new way to the attach your dry gloves. The new two-tab latching system is designed to allow a quicker and more distinct connection. We saw some of the prototype steps and can assure you that it took a lot of work to develop a functioning oval ring system.

The benefits of the oval ring include:

• the lower profile makes it easy to work with dump valves and other gear
• it matches the shape of the rubber gloves (e.g. Best 55 brand) that divers pull over the rings.
• lower profile for packing
• easier for many people to get their hands through the ring
• easy to tell if your sleeve is twisted when donning your suit
• they just look better on the suit

Testing

It did not take long to appreciate the lower profile of the oval rings. They stay out of the way and do the job. We agree with the PR that “The design follows the arm, wrist, and hand anatomy and the system feels like a natural component on the drysuit.”

The new snap on tabs at first look like they will never work or seal but they do just fine. They are both easy to snap on and get off yourself  BUT only if they are installed correctly and after some practice. It takes some learning to get the feel of this method so don’t give up.

The oval rings are not for everyBODY. They work better than the round rings for most hands but a few people will still find that  the round rings fit their hands better.

Many divers (especially commercial divers) in our area forego the traditional blue snap-on drygloves. Instead they find an inexpensive rubber glove (e.g. Best brand model 55 size 9) and pull it over the installed ring system until it makes a seal on the bare ring. The first question of many of our dive buddies was, “will the oval ring work with the pull on gloves?” It not only worked, it worked better than on the round wrings. Some divers with round rings need a buddy to help them pull the rubber gloves over the ring. But with the oval ring matching the shape of the glove, it pulls right on with ease and seals leak free.

Summary

We like this system and do not want to go back to round rings. But there is one caveat. Even more than with other dive accessories, this is product is best purchased at a local dive shop. Some forum reporters complained of issues, that seemed to due to improper installation of the rings or not understanding of the procedures for attaching the rings. You LDS dealer can help make the transition easy. The ANTARES system is also available from Waterproof (distributed by TUSA in the US).

We are grateful to Waterproof/Tusa rep RoddyWinton for his help with this article. Please follow us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/scubagadget and Twitter @scubaGadget

Waterproof (distributed by TUSA in the US) is an amazing innovator in creating exposure protection that is both very warm and luxuriously comfortable. We cannot think of Waterproof without having a warm feeling for our beloved Waterproof H-1 5/10 hood. The G1 gloves will lengthen our favorite saying we have about H-1 hood. After a dive in really cold water, we may say, “I was a little chilly but man was my head (and now hands) warm.”

Waterproof often uses multiple panels and new materials and technical features to set it apart from the competition. This gives them the ability to build in the warmth without sacrificing comfort. The Waterproof team pushes themselves to deliver the highest quality by including the following statement on the box, “We would compare our glove to it’s (SIC) competition – if it had any. Try this glove and then buy our competitors, go ahead – we dare you.”

I was prompted to try test these gloves because I am one of the biggest cold wimps in diving. Before this test, I have never found a wet glove that could keep my hands warm will diving in the Pacific Northwest. Because of my experience with the H-1 hood, I reckoned that if anyone could make a glove to keep me warm, Waterproof could. We found many divers reporting warm hands when using the G1s for ice diving. The dexterity is as good as it can be with a 7mm mitt. For those that want more dexterity or dive in warmer waters the G1 gloves are also available in 5mm model.

Many of those interviewed recommended that you look at a size larger than you would expect as they seem to run small. This would be another good reason to buy then at you local dive shop and not online.

Here are few more features we like about these gloves:

• they stay very dry
• the 3D shape and pre-bent fingers for a relaxing feel
• the 3mm glide skin inner lining that we hear can be used under a drysuit seal
• the sturdy and extra long zipper for easy donning
• as with all Waterproof products, they also look cool
• reflective Waterproof logo
• anti slip grip on the palms

The msrp is $80 but the warmth is priceless.

We are grateful to Waterproof/Tusa rep RoddyWinton for his help with this article.

The time has come to go a bit further from becoming an Open Water diver-what to do now? If you move on and manage to get your Advanced Open Water Diver license, you’ll be able to go a bit deeper than previously (up to 18-30 metres rather than the 18 metres you were limited to beforehand) Obviously the UK isn’t top of every divers’ list of places to dive, but there are still plenty of quality dive spots around the UK coastline that can be explored that aren’t too deep. The UK offers up shallow sea beds, so hours of extensive deep sea diving experience isn’t required, and there are a vast number of sunken shipwrecks and even sunken submarine wrecks just a few kilometres from our shores. Sometimes you can have a great deal of fun without going too deep-with that in mind, here are the 5 top wreck dives in and around the UK up to 30 meters deep!

HMS DRAKE (Ballycastle, N. Ireland – Depth 18m)

The HMS Drake, a 1902 built 529ft triple-expansion engined warship sits approximately 1km South off the South coast of Rathlin Island (Just off the coast of Ballycastle, N. Ireland) and is the shallowest of our wrecks, sitting at 18m deep. The ship itself was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-boat on 2^nd October 1916. The captain actually successfully anchored in Church Bay, Rathlin Island but the ship later capsized. The entire hull is open through Royal Navy salvage, but beware of live ammunition!

HMS M2 (Weymouth, S. England – Depth 30m)

The HMS M2 was a submarine built in 1918, it was 296ft and originally carried a 12inch diameter gun which was replaced in 1928 and swapped with a hangar to carry a folded-wing sea plane complete with catapult launch. Currently 4km SW off the coast of Weymouth at a depth of 30m. The Plane was since recovered, but the hangar door remains open. The sub went down on 26^th Jan 1932, during a training exercise and it is believed that the hangar door was opened before they had fully surfaced and the sub was lost. All 60 crew on board were lost – this is a war grave, so standards must be adhered to.

HMS Port Napier (Loch Alsh – Isle of Skye – Depth 21m)

Built in 1940, and originally a merchant ship but later converted to a mine-layer vessel, the 498ft armed ship carried a cargo of 550 sea mines and 6000 rounds of ammunition for the 10 AA guns aboard. Located 300m North off the South Eastern coast of the Isle of Skye in Loch Alsh, with a  depth of 21m. The ship was sunk on 27^th November 1940 after less than a year’s service when a fire broke out during the loading of mines at Kyle of Loch Alsh.

The Breda (Ardmucknish Bay, Scotland – Depth 30m)

This Dutch built cargo steamer, originating from the shipyards of Holland in 1921 and measuring 418ft long, is located 1Km West from the Eastern coast of Scotland’s Ardmucknish Bay. Depth 30m. It was sunk on the 23rd December 1940 by near-misses from a German Heinkel 111 bomber. The ship itself was not hit, but the force of the nearby explosions caused piping to break in the engine room and the ship flooded. Cargo available to see – aircraft, aircraft engines, cigarette tins etc.

The James Eagan Layne (Rame, Plymouth, S. England – Depth 24m)

This US built transport/battleship, built in 1944 and approx 441 ft in length, currently sits 1.5km South off the coast of Rame (near Plymouth) S. England, 24m below the surface. A battle cargo ship with both bow and stern guns but also 5 smaller AA turrets, the James Eagan Layne was transporting essential war supplies i.e. lorries, Jeeps, tank parts and general supplies. The ship sank on 21st March 1945 after it was hit by a torpedo from a U-1195 submarine. At the time, The Layne was towed and left on Whitsand Bay, but later sank into the deeper water of the bay. It is such a popular dive that there is a taxi service to the wreck run by local boats!

All these dives are easy, safe dives and 4 out of the 5 are less than 2km from the UK coastline (but it still advise that you are wreck certified before diving them).

———————————

Personal recommendation from the author:

Having a wetsuit that fits you correctly is imperative (some companies offer up to 10 different sizes) and some of the benefits can include comfort, maneuverability  insulation to the cold (if the suit is too big you won’t have any), elimination of flushing and so on. There are many benefits to having your own suit as opposed to a hired one, including the bonus that you don’t have to put on a suit someone else has just worn! I recommend you go to http://www.secretspot.co.uk/wetsuits/ for more information if you like.

The full text of the recall

Trident Diving Equipment Recalls High-Pressure Scuba Diving Air Hoses Due to Drowning Hazard. Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Recall Summary

Name of product: High-Pressure Scuba Diving Air Hoses

Hazard: The diving hose that connects the regulator to the tank’s pressure gauge can leak, posing a drowning hazard to the user.

Consumer Contact: Trident Diving Equipment at (800) 234-3483, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or e-mail TridentDive@aol.com or online at www.TridentDive.com, then click on “Smooth High Pressure Hose Safety Recall” for more information.

Recall Details

Units: About 200

Description: The recalled air hoses are high-pressure scuba air hoses with a black, smooth rubber outer covering. They are about five millimeters in diameter and 32 or 36 inches long. These hoses connect the regulator to the tank pressure gauge. The phrase “Scuba Diving High Pressure hose I.D. 3/16 (4.76 mm) W.P. 5000 PSI Exceeds SAE 100RT braid with Kevlar fiber from Dupont” is printed in white lettering on the hose’s outer covering. The hoses have metal fittings on each end – one female fitting and one male fitting. “CE EN 250 230” is stamped on the female fitting and one of the following production date codes is on the male hex head fitting: T1011, T1111 or T0312.

Incidents/Injuries

Trident has received one report of a hose leaking. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the hoses and contact Trident Diving Equipment for a free replacement hose.

Sold at: Scuba diving retailers nationwide from November 2011 through June 2012 for about $35.

Importer: Trident Diving Equipment, of Chatsworth, Calif. Manufactured in Taiwan

LINKS: 

• http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/Trident-Diving-Equipment-Recalls-High-Pressure-Scuba-Diving-Air-Hoses/
• http://www.tridentdive.com/ahphoserubber.htm
• http://www.tridentdive.com/hoserecall.pdf

As you may be able to tell from my past reviews of dive computers on ScubaGadget I love the bright and beautiful screens on the OLED dive computer. I thought I would never use another LCD screen computer. That was until I tried the Scubapro Galileo computer. I would say I have seen the light but that would be just an anti-pun. It’s not that I don’t still appreciate the vibrancy of an OLED screen. But what I did learn was that Galileo’s easy reading, billboard size display and incredible e-compass are just two of  features that really make for a great dive and inter-dive experience.

With the Galileo, I do not miss any of the annoying downsides of my OLED computers. OLED computers use much more power and have to be charged regularly. There were a few times when the last OLED computer we used drained while sitting in between dives. I have over 100 dives on the Galileo and it is still reading a full battery. Charging is just one more thing I don’t have to do to think about to prepare the next dive. The Galileo battery is also simple to replace by the user. Additionally OLED screens can be hard to read in bright sunlight at or near the surface. But the Galileo is easier to read in bright light.

The $995 (Luna with transmitter) retail price is under that of many of the OLED dive computers.

Vive La Difference

Galileo has everything you need for an extraordinary underwater experience. It is a feature packed and hoseless air-integrated number computer that is  easy to use. The screen is massive. It is also a dot matrix screen so the displays are flexible. A dot matrix screen can display any image (e.g. dive site maps). A non-dot matrix or segmented display can only display numbers and letter or other characters that can be made of of straight segments.  Additionally, the Galileo screen is one of the largest in the industry. The diver has multiple screen options that allow you to show the important information in a large and very visible font. I don’t need to flash fingers to show my buddy my remaining air, I can tilt my screen and the numbers are visible from any safe buddy distance. Even more importantly, I also can see the numbers without my cheater lenses.

And then there is the amazing compass. The built in e-compass covers the whole width of the screen and as as easy to read as the numbers. Unlike manual compasses it is functional when tilted. It is simple to set navigational points which include your return setting and the 90 degree angle points.

A computer buying myth

I was recently talking with an open water student about which dive computer she should purchase for her first computer. She reasoned, “I am sure I don’t need that ‘high tech’ computer (Galileo) with all of the fancy bells and whistles. I just want something simple.” I realized and told her that large screen of Galileo (as well other features) make it one that is more simple to use for new divers. There is plenty of room on the Galileo screen for easy to read and navigate menus and information. The smaller, low end dive computers must use cryptic abbreviations and jam vital information into a small screen area. This makes the smaller computers much harder to learn for new divers.

Another potential urban diving myth that some divers hold is that an air-integrated computer with a transmitter will be less reliable than one that uses a hose. We cannot find any evidence either way. Our service consultant pointed out that he sees a significant number of failures on dive computers with hoses; especially for the quick disconnect style. He believes the facts could go either way, but is sure that both can fail. Transmitter reliability has also improved much over the years.  We are seeing more and divers using a backup computer (e.g. Oceanic B.U.D.) or at least a back up SPG.

IrDA data is fast 

Another Galileo feature in the “what’s old is still better category” is the infrared data transfer.  You may remember seeing this type of data transfer on Palm PDAs and older laptops. It is more common these days to use a USB transfer cable. But the IrDA transfer is  blazing fast. It dumped 80 dives to our computer is a few seconds. Being used to that taking much longer on USB computers I had to look twice to believe it was done. Also the IrDA port on the computer allows for less failure points in the case. IrDA may also mean you have to by an IrDA to USB receiver. While Scubapro guarantees their optional adapter they do admit that there are some very inexpensive ones available that will work. Our personal opinion is that given the cost to manufacture, the cable should be included and built into the price of any dive computer.

Minor pleasant details

The Galileo comes with a both a hard plastic screen cover and modern smartphone style screen protector that allows for much easier surface viewing. You can easily replace the band with the included clip ring so you can use it with a retractor. The band is removed by pushing the pins all they way out from either end which is much more reliable and easier to use than the standard spring loaded band clips. I took my band off and threaded in some bungees instead. The included band is fine but I would like to see them design a band like the one on the UEMIS dive computer.

A quick list of the features we love about the Galileo:

• large user changeable battery
• the buttons are big enough and spaced to use with bulky gloves
• reliable hoseless gas integration
• large and easy to use navigational system with digital compass
• huge dot-matrix screen
• 3 display modes
• graphic data display
• fast IRDA data transfer of dive logs and updates
• update-able firmware
• multiple languages available
• screen can be flipped to change the button position
• alarm signals are loud enough to be heard through our 10 mill hood
• emergency contacts can be stored in the computer
• after dive screen shows a climbing safe altitude as you de-saturate.
• it comes with a both a hard plastic screen cover and modern smartphone style screen protector that allows for much easier surface viewing
• Optional heart rate monitor

Summary

Just so there are no mixed expectations, as we previously mentioned, the Galileo screen is fantastic but some of the photos of it make it look better than the Kindle Paperwhite screen. In reality it has the same color and contrast of other LCD screens. This brings to mind a suggestion for Scubapro. How about the next version having a Paperwhite screen?

We and all users we interviewed love this computer. It’s easy to learn, feature rich, powerful and flexible; which makes it good fit and value for both new divers and seasoned pros. It has been around for awhile and we still can find no significant complaints online.

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BACKGROUND

We had great assistance preparing for our journey through World of Diving Diving Vacations. The team at World of Diving is great at determining what kind of accommodation you would like and fitting it with your budget and expectations for diving. We love working with them. On this trip, we asked for something clean and decent but at a great price. We were traveling with friends and hoped to make it an inexpensive vacation. We were given a couple of choices and chose the Sand Dollar Condominiums for the price, the quiet and the full sized kitchen which we hoped to put to good use.

The island of Bonaire is a small, boomerang shaped island north of Venezuela in the Leeward Antilles. It is part of the ABC island chain consisting of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. We found the locals, who speak a mash-up of English, Dutch, Spanish and something called Papiamento, to be efficient, pleasant people without the “warm fuzziness” we’ve experienced in other cultures. Most of the people we encountered did their job and did it well.

Bonaire can be very economical, too. You are not paying for boat dives (and even those are about half price of other dive venues) and you can get a condo and cook your own meals. We also found that gas (which you need only a little of) and many food products were somewhat reasonably priced when compared to many other island destinations. There is a grand new Dutch supermarket, Van Den Tweel, on the island. We called it the IKEA of supermarkets. It is well stocked, clean and more efficient than most US markets. The US dollar is the main currency. If you want to be served food, there plenty of restaurants from small and native to gourmet dining.

Originally part of the Netherlands Antilles, the island is known throughout the world as one of the best diving destinations to be found. Boasting over 75 dive sites, mainly shore dives, most of the dives are easy to get to – you just throw your gear in the back of your little truck, toss in a few tanks and away you go. Not all of the dives are easy to dive, however – there are dives for every skill level.

But we went to Bonaire to dive. After a grueling, complete headache of a day flying United, we landed in the pre-dawn, barely lit island and set off to get our “little truck.” The dive trucks on Bonaire are 4-doors, seating up to 5 people comfortably. Once we had all our luggage and dive gear safely stowed in the pickup truck, we set off for the Sand Dollar Condominiums.

The Sand Dollar

The Sand Dollar is a mid priced condominium style resort. They are somewhat unique in that all rooms have ocean views. They are mostly private condos that are rented to travelers when the owners are not using them. This means that you will find differences between the units. Regular visitors usually find one they like and keep coming back. In a relaxed island Sand Dollar is a relaxed resort. The new manager was very attentive to issues and is working to upgrade the service even more. The units were comfortable and have full kitchens. Many condos, not only at the Sand Dollar but elsewhere, only have air conditioning units in the bedrooms and count on breeze in the other areas. If there is air conditioning in the living rooms it is usually an extra charge to turn it on. Electricity is very expensive on the island and one AC running all day can sap any profits from a room.

Breakfast was included and we really liked the friendly owners and food at Eddy’s, the restaurant onsite that provides breakfast. They are also open for lunches and dinners. The owners have interesting stories of how they got to running a restaurant in Bonaire.

Since our trip numerous changes have taken place at the Sand Dollar. The have stopped using the Bonaire Dive and Adventure because of issues noted below. They have teamed up with Dive Friends. However this means there is no longer a dive pier at the Sand Dollar. The only entrance is a beach entrance.

DIVING:

All of the numerous shore dives are basically entrance points to the ring reef that runs along the shore. In the south it splits into a double reef. There are dives that will satisfy most divers. However, divers not used to shore dives should be careful. Especially on windy days some of the sites can be dangerous.

Much has already been written already about the dive sites on Bonaire. Rather than reinvent the wheel, what we will say about the dives is that, although easy to get to, the dives accommodate all levels. For instance, when we were there, un-seasonal winds had kicked up around the island. We were told to avoid the highly recommended Karpata site as a result. We drove out to the site, keeping our expectations low. When we arrived, we found that there were indeed small swells rolling over the concrete platform which served as the point of entry. Since we dive a site in the Pacific Northwest with an often hairy, rolling wave entrance/exit, Salt Creek in the Straights of San Juan de Fuca, we decided to have a go. The dive proved excellent with abundant sealife and depths up to 100′. The exit had even more wind and waves but a kind German man just happened to be there to assist us in getting onto the concrete block. It was as if he was waiting for us.

The Oil Slick Reef had a steel ladder for entry and exit, or you can choose to drop off a short ledge. Diving the Hilma Hooker wreck is relatively easy when no wind is present. This same wind mentioned above made the entrance and exit slightly more difficult but definitely doable. Other sites involved an easy don gear and walk in and dive kind of entrance. At every depth, each site boasted abundant and diverse life. We definitely recommend night diving in Bonaire. The reef comes alive in sharp contrast to the calm present during the day. Eels, tarpon, octopus and other predators slithered and zipped wherever we looked.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

Chaela was thrilled with the half-day underwater photography course she took with Tim Peters at Fish-Eye Photo School For Underwater Photography. Tim showed her several “set it and forget it” settings on her camera and emphasized the rule of thumb in undersea photography – never more than 6′ away from your subject.  He taught her how to angle the flash to minimize backscatter. The course was a definite winner. Her ratio of keepers shot way up. ….

TOPSIDE IS FUN TOO:

We were pleasantly surprised by the land-side of Bonaire also. Before we embarking on our journey for Bonaire, we heard comments like, “it’s a dive destination and you will not be distracted by  land” and “…it’s a desert, don’t expect much.”  Thus, we set off with high hopes high for the diving and low for our time out of the water. We were delighted to find that both exceeded our expectations. Not only was there enough to keep us busy on no-dive days, there is plenty for non-diving partners and family to enjoy. Beyond the usual shopping, dining and the beaches, activities include kayak trips in the mangroves, road trips to find the wild donkeys, flamingos and parrots, hiking in the national park, guided cave trips, historical sites including the slave housing and more. Bonaire is also a strong draw for wind surfers – something we did not realize until we met with the tourist board. Known as “one of the finest windsurfing destinations” in the world, it appeals to windsurfers of every level. Those who prefer kinder conditions will be as pleased as those who are seeking an adrenaline rush challenge. Bonaire’s award-winning and champion windsurf professionals are among the best in the sport. The “go to” place for windsurfing is Lac Bay.

The Crime Question?

Theft from diver’s vehicle’s is something that everyone warns you about, but we wanted to get the real story. The warnings from travel agents, website and locals is strong. They all say “do not leave anything you want to keep in the truck and always leave the windows down.” The latter caution is suppose to make sure you don’t have to pay for broken windows.

If this is such an issue, we wanted to ask the obvious question: “Are they doing anything about it” We asked a lot locals about this question; from restaurant staff to the Tourist Board. Some answers were diplomatic smoke. But here the general consensus revealed two …. First, the problem was over stated. It may be that some believe it better to exaggerate the problem and prevent most thefts than to give the real stats and risk more thefts from lack of caution. Secondly, over the years there has been lip service given to resolving the theft problem. One  would think that on a small island it would be easy to know all the criminals. The bottom line from the locals is this: The related the theft issue to what you would expect from pickpockets in any major tourist destination. It is not as rampant as the warnings, but what there is not going away. It is entrenched in the current culture and they not going to reduce it any more.

Pollution management project:

During our trip it was hard to miss the construction and associated detours. To help maintain the water quality, the government is installing a full sewage system throughout the main city of Kralendijk. It is progressing slowly and thus is not too disruptive. We asked when the tourist board director when it would be done. The answer was simply “yes.” And we understood that it was on island time.

Buddy Dive has coral restoration project which we were able to tour. They gave us an extensive briefing and later we dived the reef to have a look at the tree-like structure in the coral nursery. The project is still in it infancy but is very successful.

Dive Operators

Many dive operators are associated with a resort. However we did pick up on the chatter about a move away from this model. Some resort dive operators told us that have plans to move away from their resort so that can serve more dives that are staying at smaller venues. They also noted that being with a resort gives the impression that they can only serve divers staying at that resort. There is some convenience that comes using the dive operator at your resort, especially if you plan to  dive often on the resort reef. But is not necessary and you may find that off-resort operators can provide a better service. We did.

We used the Bonaire Dive and Adventure (BDA) which is next to the Sand Dollar condominiums. I say current because the new manager of the Sand Dollar told us that they will be dropping this operator, build their own dock and using Dive Friends . André Nahr the owner of BDA used to be the king of Bonnier in terms of dive operators. However after losing it all in a hurricane and then rebuilding their service has declined. The faculties at BDA are fine and the dock is very nice, so we were not overly disappointed. But Andre was very grumpy at times and off putting. We heard stories that if divers drifted over from the Buddy Dive resort next door, he would turn them away and not allow them to exit on his dock. On the contrary Buddy Dive was welcoming to all divers.

Most of the dive shops are small with few products. However we were impressed with the small but well stocked dive shop at Bruce Bowker’s Carib Inn. Not only did the shop have a full line of products, they are a regulator service station. The staff here was the most knowledgeable and friendly of the shops we toured.

Summary

There is no doubt you will love the diving in Bonaire, but this is also a place you can take non-diving friends and have fun when not diving. An inexpensive, economical choice, boasting some of the best diving around, you will not be disappointed by a dive trip to Bonaire.