SAFETY INFORMATION

General Precautions & Warnings

This manual provides essential instruction for the proper fitting, adjustment, inspection and care of your new BC. Because Aqua Lung BCs utilize patented technology, it is very important to take the time to read these instructions in order to understand and fully enjoy the features that are unique to your specific model. Improper use of this BC could result in serious injury or death.

Before using this buoyancy compensator (BC), you must receive instruction and certification in SCUBA diving and buoyancy control from a recognized training agency. Use of SCUBA equipment by uncertified or untrained persons is dangerous and can result in injury or death.

Read this owner’s manual completely before attempting to use your BC, and become familiar with it first in a controlled environment such as a swimming pool, in order to weight yourself properly and to become comfortable with using its many features and adjustments.

Before every dive, perform a complete pre-dive inspection according to the procedure prescribed in this manual, to ensure that all components are functioning properly and no signs of damage or leaks are present. If you find that your BC is not functioning properly or is damaged, remove it from service until it can be repaired by an authorized Aqua Lung Dealer.

Your BC is not a lift bag. DO NOT use it to bring heavy objects to the surface. Doing so may cause permanent damage to the BC, and could also result in serious injury or death due to embolism or decompression sickness.

In an emergency such as an out of air situation or uncontrolled descent, it is important to remove and jettison weight immediately. DO NOT depend solely on using your BC’s power inflator to lift you to the surface.

In the event of an uncontrolled, rapid ascent, it is important to immediately begin venting air from the BC. Continue venting air to slow your ascent rate if neutral buoyancy cannot be reestablished.

DO NOT inhale from your oral inflator. The BC may contain harmful contaminants or gases, which could cause suffocation or injury.

Factory prescribed service for this BC must be performed at least once annually by a factory trained technician who is employed by an authorized Aqua Lung Dealer. Annual service consists of a complete overhaul of the power inflator, and a general air leak inspection of the bladder and valve connections.

Disassembly, repair, or lubrication must not be attempted by persons who are not factory trained and authorized by Aqua Lung. Unauthorized service will render the warranty null and void.

This BC is designed for use with compressed air or Nitrox/EAN (enriched air nitrox) mixtures not exceeding 40% oxygen. Any use of gas mixtures with increased oxygen content or the addition of helium or other substances may cause corrosion, deterioration and/or premature aging of the BC leading to component failure of the metal and rubber parts. The component failures could lead to a loss of buoyancy control and/or pressure integrity of the BC resulting in injury or death. Non-standard breathing mixtures may also present a risk of fire or explosion. The use of Nitrox/EAN requires additional training. Failure to observe this warning may result in injury or death. Use only nitrogen/oxygen mixtures containing no more than 40% oxygen.

CE Conformity - This BC has successfully passed all the tests required by EN 1809 and EN 250:2000 standards. The maximum operating depth limit as defined by EN 250:2000 is 50 meters / 164 feet.

TEMPERATURE LIMITATIONS: This BC is designed to be used in temperatures no lower than -4°F (-20°C) and no higher than 150°F (65°C).

Your buoyancy compensator is primarily designed to help you maintain neutral buoyancy while in a comfortably balanced, face-down swimming position underwater. It is also designed to provide you with flotation so that you can rest on the surface, but it is not designed to function as a life preserver or personal flotation device (PFD). In order to meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations, a PFD must be designed so that it automatically rights you to a face-up position and holds your head out of the water on the surface. The design characteristics of a personal flotation device are different from those of a buoyancy compensator. The ability of any flotation device to float you in a face-up position can also be affected by other diving equipment you wear, including a cylinder, weight or exposure suit, and whether it can be inflated before you lose consciousness.

For this reason, it is important to always dive with and maintain close proximity to your buddy at all times. Do not depend on any flotation device to hold your face above the surface in the event that you are rendered unconscious in the water while diving.

If you have any questions regarding your Buoyancy Compensator or these instructions, contact your local dealer or Aqua Lung at (760) 597-5000. To find a distributor or local dealer, visit our website at:  www.aqualung.com