FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 1997
Release # 98-012
Company Phone Number: (800)
874-3236 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC, Mares America Corp. Announce Recall of Guardian Dive
Computers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Mares America Corp. of
Norwalk, Conn., is recalling about 1,200 dive computers
used to determine dive depth, dive time and other automatic
measurements during scuba diving. Guardian dive computers
can fail to function when water leaks into the battery
compartment during a dive. Also, the computer can
malfunction by not automatically switching on during a dive
or the computer control buttons on the computer can fail to
operate properly. These failures could result in divers
suffering decompression sickness, which can lead to
significant injury.
Mares is aware of 45 incidents of the Guardian dive
computer failing to operate properly. There have been no
injuries or deaths reported involving the use of these dive
computers.
The Guardian dive computer comes in two models, a wrist
mount and a hose mount. The computer is about 3 inches wide
and 3 inches long. It is black and gray with yellow
buttons. "Mares" and "Guardian" are written on the frame of
the computer around the screen.
Selected Mares dive shops sold the Guardian computers
nationwide from January through August 1997 for about $400.
Divers should stop using the Guardian dive computer
immediately and return it to their Mares authorized dealer
to receive a free replacement computer. For more
information, contact Mares America Corp. toll free at (800)
874-3236 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or
call any other time and leave a message.