10,000 BCDs may not hold air

More than 10,000 recently manufactured buoyancy compensators may not hold air because the over pressure valve can stick open. The faulty devices, which have a valve from Sheico PKS Inc., are being recalled and should not be used until repaired. The BCDs include:

• Sherwood : Silhouette, Magnum, Avid, Luna, Outback and Freedom models with serial numbers 21280001 through 220101740 .

• Genesis: Cayman, Cobra, Athena and Phantom models with serial numbers 21280001 through 22010740, and Talon and Re Co nmodels with serial numbers 20520001 through 22010740

• Aeris: Atmos models ---- all units.

The model name can be found inside the jacket, near the small of the back; and the serial number can be found on the aircell of the buoyancy compensator.

The BCDs were sold through dive stores and catalogues from September 2000 through March 2001.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says divers “should stop using the BCDs immediately and return them to the dive store where purchased for a free replacement.”

For more information, call Sheico toll-free at (800) 808-3306 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or visit one of the following websites: www.sherwoodscuba.com/opv,www.genesisscuba.com/opv,or www.diveaeris.com.