Recall: Cressi-Sub Recall of SCUBA Buoyancy Compensators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2005 Release # 05-121

Firm's Hotline: (800) 338-9143 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Cressi-Sub Announce Recall of SCUBA Buoyancy Compensators

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Cressi-sub Buoyancy Compensators

Units: About 1,000

Distributor: Cressi-sub USA, of Westwood, N.J.

Manufacturer: Cressi-sub S.p.A., of Genoa, Italy.

Hazard: A slow leak from the shoulder exhaust caused by expansion of an internal cable housing could result in slow deflation. This could impact the diver's ability to control buoyancy.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: Buoyancy Compensator devices provide buoyancy control for scuba divers by allowing them to inflate or deflate the devices. The recalled buoyancy compensators have model numbers J107, J113, J115, and J119. The numbers appear on the top right-hand corner of the unit (on the shoulder). "CRESSI" is written on the buoyancy control devices.

Sold at: Authorized dive shops nationwide and at various Web sites from January 2003 through September 2004 for between $400 and $700.

Manufactured in: Genoa, Italy.

Remedy: Customers can return the product to a Cressi-sub-authorized dive shop to have the product retro-fitted with a free replacement internal cable housing. Buoyancy Compensator devices with a black retaining ring around the yellow inflate button on the inflation mechanism, and an adjoining gray cover assembly (bypass case), which screws onto the inflator, are subject to this recall and must be retro-fitted. Devices which have yellow retaining rings and black cover assemblies have been retro-fitted.

Consumer Contact: For more information or for a list of authorized dive shops, consumers can call Cressi-sub at (800) 338-9143 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.cressisubusa.com