Scuba Pro Recalls X650 Second Stages

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Scuba Pro have announced a voluntary recall of X650 second-stage regulators, due to a manufacturing error. All X650s are marked with a blue capital “X” next to the numbers “650” in white, but affected regulators (sold at authorized Scuba Pro dealers in the U.S. from June 2005 through May 2006) have a visible bump located on the right side of the unit between the letter “C” and where the mouthpiece attaches to the regulator body (see illustration). The manufacturing error could cause the cover and diaphragm to become dislodged, interrupting air flow and posing a drowning hazard.

Cynthia Georgeson, spokesperson for Scuba Pro’s parent, Johnson Outdoors, told Undercurrent that the defect was first noticed during a quality control inspection of an X650 that was returned for another reason. When the inspectors spotted the unusual bump, the unit was sent to an independent engineering consulting firm, which found the flaw. Georgeson pointed out that there have been no reports of incidents or injuries involving the defect. Scuba Pro has been rolling out the X650 overseas since 2004 and in the U.S. since mid-2005. Only 3,600 have been shipped worldwide, 670 within the U.S. It is manufactured in Genoa, Italy; the flaw has been corrected in subsequent models.

If you own an X650 and spot this defect, stop using it immediately and contact Scuba Pro at (800) 808-3948 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, or visit their website at www.scubapro.com. The company promises to send out a free replacement regulator within 30 days.