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Diving Equipment Recalled by Halcyon Manufacturing Due to Drowning Hazard

October 4, 2009 By Mike

All Halcyon BCDs and lift devices are being recalled due to defective OPVs

Scuba diving equipment manufacturer Halcyon has announced a recall of defective BCDs, surface marker buoys (SMBs), lift bags, diver alert markers (DAMs), surf shuttle and diver lift raft inflatable devices. The over pressure valves (OPVs) in the diving equipment could fail allowing the buoyancy compensator devices (BCDs) and the diver lift inflatable devices to leak, posing a drowning hazard to divers.

There have been no reports of injuries or deaths due to the defective Halcyon diving equipment.

The recall affects the following Halcyon scuba diving equipment:

  • Halcyon Explorer, Eclipse, CCR35, Evolve and Pioneer Buoyancy Compensator Devices (BCDs)
  • Halcyon Surface Marker Buoys (SMBs)
  • Halcyon Lift Bags
  • Halcyon Diver Alert Markers (DAMs)
  • Halcyon Surf Shuttle and Diver Lift Raft Inflatable Devices

("Halcyon" is printed on all scuba diving
equipment affected by the recall)

Owners of Halcyon scuba diving equipment affected by the recall should stop using the defective equipment IMMEDIATELY and and return it to an authorized Halcyon distributor or dealer for a free inspection and, if necessary, free replacement of the overpressure valve spring.

halcyon

From the CPSC:

RECALL: Halcyon Diving Equipment

October 10, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 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.

Name of Product: Halcyon Diving Equipment

Units: About 20,300

Manufacturer: Halcyon Manufacturing Inc., of High Springs, Fla.

Hazard: The over pressure valves (OPVs) in the diving equipment could fail allowing the buoyancy compensator devices (BCDs) and the diver lift inflatable devices to leak, posing a drowning hazard to divers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Halcyon diving equipment including the Halcyon Explorer, Eclipse, CCR35, Evolve and Pioneer Buoyancy Compensator Devices (BCDs) and Halcyon Surface Marker Buoys (SMBs), Lift Bags, Diver Alert Markers (DAMs) Surf Shuttle and Diver Lift Raft Inflatable Devices. "Halcyon" is printed on the diving equipment.

Sold at: Diving equipment retailers and distributors from January 2006 through December 2008 for between $350 and $450 for the buoyancy compensator devices (BCDs) and between $50 and $275 for the inflatable devices.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using recalled diving equipment and return it to an authorized Halcyon distributor or dealer for a free inspection and, if necessary, free replacement of the overpressure valve spring.

Consumer Contact: : For more information, contact Halcyon at (800) 425-2966 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit the firm's Web site at www.halcyon.net/opv-recall, or email the firm at techservices@halcyon.net

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Cold Water Diving in Alaska

October 25, 2008 By Mike

By Scott C Anderson

In the Alaskan winter the glacial runoff and plankton bloom is diminished along the shoreline. For this reason, our winter diving transitions from Resurrection Bay boat diving, to shore-based diving in Whittier at Smitty's cove. Winter conditions include water temps get as low as 38 degrees, but the visibility can improve up to nearly 100 feet. Smitty's cove has debris which was dumped into the water during WWII. This debris includes pipes, railroad tracks, pilings, an aircraft fusalage, a railcar tanker, and the parts of a crane which lie in water ranging from 30 to 100 feet.

The bottom composition is primarily gravel in the shallows, yielding to a deep "silt" arond 70 feet, There are sea pens and whips in the deep, and ling cod, octopus, rockfish and a whole variety of invertabrates and smaller fish. In the winter you'll find divers concentrated at Smitty's cove due to the lack of accessibility to other water front areas. Industrial developement such as a marine ferry terminal, railroad terminal, and marina occupy the majority of coastline. Smitty's cove has recently been designated by the city of Whittier as a marine sanctuary, but this status seems to remain somewhat tentative in nature and subject to political influences.

To dive Smitty's cove, there is a small fee, but the proprietor of the parking lot has provided a warm up shack for the divers to use before and after the dives. To get to Whittier, you'll drive south on the Seward Highway from Anchorage for about an hour to the Anton Memorial Tunnel. This is a unique one-way tunnel through the base of a mountain and allows traffic in and out of Whittier on an alternating schedule. Be prepared to pay about $12 for a round-trip ticket. Rental tanks and equipment is available in Anchorage, with no support and very little in the way of amenities in Whittier. The cove is protected against prevailing winds and waves most of the time, and represents a convenient dive site for winter time diving.

President of Dive Alaska, Scott has been a cold-water diver for 20 years. With extensive experience diving in south central Alaska, and operating the regions only full time professional dive charter boat, Scott has a vast knowledge of Alaskan waters. Scott is a scuba instructor for PADI, GUE, SDI, TDI, ERDI, and is experienced in cave and technical diving. For more information about cold water diving in Alaska, visit http://www.divealaska.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_C_Anderson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cold-Water-Diving-in-Alaska&id=1602805

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