Pelagic recalls dive watches due to decompression hazard

Pelagic Pressure Systems is recalling some 2,800 of its Oceanic and AERIS digital dive computer watches, citing a possible decompression hazard for divers relying on them (the exact models affected are listed on the CPSC page linked below). The problem occurs when switching from one gas to another during a dive, which apparently has the dangerous side effect of locking up the watch's display, leaving the diver uncertain of his or her dive time. That could either cause them to enter decompression unknowingly or ascend prematurely, resulting in the serious problem of decompression sickness. While there's been two reports of defective watches, they apparently haven't resulted in any injuries. Those with the watches won't have to do without them for long, however, with a trip to an authorized Oceanic or AERIES dealer for a software upgrade the only fix needed.

[strider_mt2k @ Mar 1st 2007 7:32AM]

OprahDust, if a company that makes dive equipment DID'NT do that they would be out of business quick.

[harmon wood @ Mar 1st 2007 9:09AM]

...and do you really believe that those tires you drive 80 miles on hour on. Have not exploded and killed someone. Yet the tire company has done nothing about it.

I'm with OprahDust. Total respect for the extreamly expensive recall and software upgrade, on a 2 in 2,800, no injury glitch.

[mike @ Mar 1st 2007 12:04PM]

hope no one got injured this time. beats me how certain divers rely on gas-switching computers for their planning and execution. should be pretty obvious after the first day on any advanced level dive training (or even with just a bit of common sense) that strapping one of these babies on your wrist and dive by it is a pretty darn good way of getting injured. it amazes me that these gas swithing computers are actually being used as the decompression planning tool by people that are (on the paper) trained to execute these kind of dives. that aspiring divers who want to be able to do these kind of dives in the future listens to the uneducated advice of some diveshop sales guy believes that it might be a good idea, this i get... but that divers with "technical" dive training plans and executes "technical" dives with gas-switching dive computers, thats... unbelievable! but then again... TDI seems to have plenty of support so maybe it is not that surprising after all. should be noted though that many of the gas switching computers can be set to be used in gauge mode (depth and time, but no decompression information) allowing it to be used correctly and responsibly. internet tech divers and gas switching dive computers is a one way ticket to accidents.

[rockview @ Mar 1st 2007 2:27PM]

Nice

[Mordy Greenspan @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:00AM]

actually you'd be surprised--I just finshed a open sea PADI scuba course and comp are pretty common and almost everyone relies on them nowadays at least every experiences scuba diver ive talked to because they allow you tobe more precise in your down time and your nitrogen levels