August 2003

Vol. 18, No. 8     What's this?

UWATEC Sport Dive Computers Go Dumb

from the August, 2003 issue of Undercurrent  

For seven years, UWATEC, then Scubapro (which is owned by Johnson Outdoors), ignored problems in a UWATEC computer, resulting in at least five bends cases and several lawsuits. While the problems were first apparent in 1997, they did not recall the computer until earlier this year.

Apparently, Scubapro (and Johnson) has learned a lesson. In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, it recently recalled 6,000 Swiss-made UWATEC Smart Dive Computers. In faulty models, the alert signal system does not work properly, freezing the computer screen and leading to an inaccurate depth, tank pressure, or ascent rate display.

The recalled units are the UWATEC Smart PRO, which is offered as a console and as a wrist unit, and the Smart COM, which comes only in a console model. The recalled units were sold between February 2002 and June 2003.

Contact your UWATEC dealer for a free replacement or call (800) 808-3948 or visit the website at www.uwatec.com.

In an unusual press release, Johnson Outdoors said the recall would "drag on its quarterly earnings." But 6,000 computers amount to such a minuscule part of Johnson Worldwide business, so one must wonder if there is more to the story.