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Mares issue voluntary recall on XR Line Inflator

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NAUI

Mares have discovered a quality issue on the inflator mounted on the XR line aircells and are issuing a VOLUNTARY product recall to ensure the safety of the diver. This inflator is made by a third party supplier (FERPLAST) and is henceforth referred to as FERPLAST inflator.

If you have one of these recalled units, IMMEDIATELY STOP DIVING WITH IT AND RETURN IT TO YOUR MARES DEALER, who will arrange for a free replacement of the inflator. If you no longer have this item please contact your Mares dealer immediately with the information below and provide them with the name and contact information of the new owner.

PRODUCTS AFFECTED BY RECALL

The recall concerns only the following products:

CodeDescription
417511Donut Bladder Single Tank – XR Line
417512Donut Bladder Twin Tank – XR Line
417536Sidemount Pure Light Bladder – XR Line
417539Red Devil Single Backmount set – XR Line
417540Red Devil Single Backmount set SSI – XR Line
417547Pure Light Sidemount compl.set – XR Line
417550Silver Knight Single BM set – XR Line
417551Blue Battle Single Backmount set – XR Line

The recall concerns only products on which the NEW type of Ferplast inflator is installed and not the previous type. The new inflators can be easily identified visually as shown in the picture below:

IN PARTICULAR, ONLY INFLATORS WITH A SERIAL NUMBER FROM 8A – 02001 to 8A – 07630 BEING RECALLED.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SERIAL NUMBER ON YOUR INFLATOR

Each inflator is identified by its own serial number as can be seen in the picture below. IF THE INFLATOR BODY IS MARKED with an X and the serial number is starting with 19.XX.XXX AS IN THE PICTURE, IT HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND CAN BE USED FOR DIVING.

If the inflator doesn’t have the X engraved on the body and the serial number is in the range from 8A – 02001 to 8A – 07630, the inflator is affected, and cannot to be used anymore and needs to be replaced immediately. The replaced units need to be returned to the place of purchase.

If you own one of the products listed at the beginning of this letter and have identified it to be affected by the recall, either by comparing the serial number or by recognizing the inflator as being a NEW MODEL, DO NOT DIVE WITH IT! If you are in doubt as to whether your product is affected or not, STOP DIVING WITH IT AND CONTACT YOUR DEALER OR MARES at the phone number or email listed below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AT THE ROOT OF THE RECALL

Under certain circumstances the deflation button could come unscrewed which could result in loss of the seal at the mouthpiece. This in turn would result in loss of buoyancy that could potentially lead to an accident and serious injury or death, hence Mares has decided to issue a VOLUNTARY product recall to protect the safety of the diver.

The problem arises because insufficient torque was applied during the assembly of a small lot of these inflators. The inflators are produced by a third party supplier who has used the same principle on hundreds of thousands of inflators without problems. The issue at hand is limited to a small lot due to a change in their production process, which has already been rectified. The problem is solved by applying the correct torque when assembling the button. For added safety, a special glue is now added on the threads.

Inflators assembled with proper torque and glue are marked with an X on the body and ID started with 19.XX.XXX as described above. IF THE INFLATOR BODY PRESENTS THE X and ID started with 19.XX.XXX AS IN THE PICTURE, IT HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND CAN BE USED FOR DIVING.

  • WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW

If you own one of the products listed at the beginning of this letter and have identified it to be affected by the recall by recognizing the inflator being a NEW MODEL and PART OF THE AFFECTED SERIAL NUMBER RANGE, IMMEDIATELY STOP DIVING WITH IT and contact your dealer or contact Mares directly at the phone number or email address listed below.

If you are in doubt as to whether your product is affected or not, STOP DIVING WITH IT AND CONTACT YOUR DEALER OR CONTACT MARES at the phone number or email below.

Every affected inflator will be replaced with a complete set comprising new inflator, corrugated hose and gasket for the elbow connection. The inflator will have an X marked on the body as shown in the picture above, indicating it has been properly assembled.

Substitution of the inflator and corrugated assembly should be performed by an authorized Mareslab Service Center, which will perform this service free of charge.

Additional information will be available on www.mares.com and the Mares Facebook page.

Mares: We apologize for the inconvenience that this recall causes you. We believe in safety and we care about our customer and about all divers. We will do our utmost to make the process of replacing the inflator as seamless as possible. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated. Should you have any additional question or concern please contact your dealer or contact Mares directly at:

UK Contact:

  • E.bulmer@uk.mares.com
  • 07717 214559

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Insurance for all with Westfield Sub Aqua and Marine Insurance Services

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insurance

With over 40 years of experience, Westfield Sub Aqua and Marine Insurance Services provides specialist travel insurance. Whether you’re heading on a scuba diving trip, cruise, or a ski-holiday, we offer tailored cover to keep you protected. in addition many other activities can be included for your peace of mind.

These policies are competitively priced and comparable to that of Standard Type Travel Insurance.

Specialist cover available for:

  • Scuba Diving Holidays
  • Cruise Ship Holidays
  • Skiing Holidays.
  • Golf Holidays.
  • Many other Sporting Activities can be included.
  • Annual Multi Trip Polices up to the age of 85.
  • No Age Limits on Single Trip policies.

Many Pre-Existing Medical conditions can also be covered.

Top Tip Checklist

  1. The cover period must be the full duration of your trip.  (i.e the date you leave your home to the date you return back to your home)
  2. Check the Cancellation and Curtailment levels suit your needs. (i.e reducing this can reduce the premium)

Adjust the Excess Levels to see how you much you could save.

Get an online quote from Westfield Sub Aqua and Marine Insurance today at westfield.b2ctravel.co.uk/quote or call 01483 237827.

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Marine Life & Conservation

Building a Bluer Future for Indonesia’s Marine Tourism Industry

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marine tourism

Green Fins National Workshop Charts Roadmap for Sustainable Marine Tourism Initiatives

Green Fins, the global environmental standards for diving and snorkelling, is set to contribute to Indonesia’s blue economy. A national workshop, focused on “Enabling a sustainable diving and snorkelling industry in Indonesia through the implementation of Green Fins initiative,” has ignited a collaborative effort to safeguard the nation’s marine ecosystems through marine tourism.

marine tourism

The Reef-World Foundation, the UNEP Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) held the Green Fins National Workshop in Aryaduta Menteng, Jakarta, Indonesia, on 18 – 19 February 2025. This pivotal event, supported by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) through the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF), brought together key stakeholders from the Indonesian government, marine tourism industry, conservation organisations and the global Green Fins network to develop a roadmap for strengthening the Green Fins initiative in Indonesia and to explore sustainable financing mechanisms for its long-term implementation.

marine tourism

Participants from five Indonesian ministries, including the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, collaborated with local MPA management bodies, dive operators and international experts to chart a course for a more environmentally responsible marine tourism sector. This diverse group engaged in focused discussions and strategic planning, addressed key aspects of Green Fins implementation and explored opportunities for its integration into national marine conservation efforts.

marine tourism

“We’re not just discussing sustainability”, said JJ Harvey, Operations Director at The Reef-World Foundation. “We’re creating a tangible roadmap for action. The energy and collaboration at this workshop have been truly inspiring, laying the groundwork for real, measurable change in Indonesia’s dive industry and unlocking the full potential of its marine tourism while ensuring the future health of its reefs.”

marine tourism

“The Coral Triangle, as the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, relies on Indonesia’s leadership to combat threats through strong coral reef conservation and sustainable tourism practices,” said Rili Djohani, CTC Executive Director. “Expanding Green Fins and scaling up training efforts are crucial steps toward ensuring equitable benefit-sharing and long-term conservation impact of our unique marine resources.”

marine tourism

“Sustainable Blue Economy is at the forefront of COBSEA’s work on marine and coastal ecosystems,” stated Mahesh Pradhan, UNEP COBSEA Coordinator. “Ensuring sustainable practices in marine ecotourism in Indonesia and the East Asian Seas region will further consolidate concrete conservation efforts while also benefiting local communities. COBSEA is proud to support the Green Fins initiative, which was initiated in Thailand over 20 years ago and has now blossomed into a significant global movement.”

marine tourism

Key discussions and explorations during the workshop included:

  • Alignment of Green Fins with national policies and international commitments, including the Indonesia 2030/45 MPA Vision, the national biodiversity action plan (NBSAP) and international commitments such as the Global Biodiversity Framework.
  • Exploration of a comprehensive roadmap for Green Fins implementation in Indonesia, outlining potential steps, timeline and financial strategies.
  • Discussions on diverse financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships, blended finance models, and integration with existing programmes, to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Green Fins.
  • Emphasis on enhanced collaboration between government agencies, the private sector and conservation organisations.
  • A strong focus on inclusivity, including gender-inclusive approaches and support for small-scale businesses.

The workshop highlighted Indonesia’s position as a global leader in MPA-based diving, with 70% of dives occurring within MPAs. Discussions emphasised the need to address challenges such as revenue leakage and high implementation costs while leveraging opportunities to integrate Green Fins into existing government initiatives, such as the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries’ Blue Economy strategy and the Ministry of Tourism’s sustainable tourism programmes. Participants also engaged in a learning exchange, sharing best practices from countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan and Thailand, focusing on developing sustainable funding models and enhancing assessor capacity.

The outcomes of this workshop will both strengthen Green Fins Indonesia and contribute to the broader global impact, driving sustainable marine tourism worldwide.

Discover how your organisation can contribute to the global expansion of Green Fins by contacting info@greenfins.net.

marine tourism

About Reef-World

The Reef-World Foundation is a registered UK charity which delivers practical solutions for marine conservation around the world. The charity promotes the wise use of natural resources – particularly coral reefs and related ecosystems – for the benefit of local communities, visitors and future generations. It is dedicated to supporting, inspiring and empowering governments, businesses, communities and individuals around the world to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources.

Reef-World leads the global implementation of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. As such, the charity provides low-cost and practical solutions to local and industry-wide environmental challenges associated with the marine tourism industry. It provides education and capacity-building assistance to empower environmental champions (within the diving industry, local communities, authorities and governments) to implement proven coastal resource management approaches.

Please visit www.reef-world.org to learn more or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

About Green Fins

Green Fins is a proven conservation management approach – spearheaded by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme – which leads to a measurable reduction in the negative environmental impacts associated with the marine tourism industry. The initiative aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. It provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance.

Green Fins encourages and empowers members of the diving industry to act to reduce the pressures on coral reefs by offering dive and snorkel companies practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices – such as anchoring, fish feeding and chemical pollution – as well as providing strategic training, support and resources. By reducing the local direct and indirect pressures tourism puts on coral reefs, it helps make corals healthier and more resilient to other stresses, such as the effects of climate change. Look for the Green Fins logo when booking your next dive trip.

Please visit www.greenfins.net to learn more or follow the initiative on Facebook, Instagram and X.

About Coral Triangle Center

Coral Triangle Center (CTC) is a foundation based in Indonesia with regional scope and global impact. Established in 2010, CTC works closely with local communities, private sector, governments, and partners to strengthen marine resource management in the Coral Triangle to protect coral reef ecosystems, ensure sustainable livelihoods and food security.

CTC supports on-the-ground conservation in Bali, Maluku, as well as in Timor-Leste, and leads learning networks of women leaders and marine protected area practitioners in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. CTC is developing its  Center for Marine Conservation in Bali as an integrated learning space for training programs, outreach activities, interactive exhibits, and artistic and cultural performances to influence millions of people to care for our oceans and those who depend on it.

Since its establishment in 2010 until 2024, CTC has protected  more than 435,000 hectares of critical marine habitat. We have trained more than 8,000 people to support marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries management throughout the Coral Triangle region. More than 26,000 people have visited our Center for Marine Conservation, many of whom have been inspired to take direct action to protect our oceans. In the last three years, we reach an average of 200,000 people annually to care for our seas via our social media channels.

About UNEP COBSEA

The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is a regional intergovernmental mechanism and one of 18 Regional Seas Programmes. It is the decision-making body for the East Asian Seas Action Plan, bridging together nine countries – Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Viet Nam – in the protection and sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment for the health and well-being of present and future generations. The COBSEA Secretariat is hosted by Thailand in Bangkok and is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

COBSEA works on 1) marine pollution prevention, reduction and control, 2) marine and coastal biodiversity, ecosystem conservation and management, and 3) climate action.

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