The State : Diving Valve Dangers Cited

The government announced a recall of scuba diving dry suits using air control valves made by a San Diego firm because malfunctioning valves may cause serious injury or death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said owners of dry suits with air control valves made by Diving Unlimited International “should immediately stop using the dry suits.” The commission said there have been 16 diving incidents associated with malfunctions of the valve. The commission said that unlike most air control systems which have two valves that allow air intake and outflow through two separate valves, DUI’s one-valve system “may free-flow, causing air to fill the dry suit, resulting in the diver rising rapidly to the surface or failing to provide sufficient air to maintain buoyancy.” DUI says owners of suits with the company’s valve should return them to the company and the valve will be replaced at no charge.