Underwater Strobe Lights Recalled
Wednesday, November 17, 1999

WASHINGTON (AP) - A California camera company is recalling about 7,000
strobe lights used for underwater photography because internal gas
pressure might cause parts to break off and become dangerous
projectiles.

The strobes are produced by Sea & Sea Underwater Photography Inc. of
Carlsbad, Calif. When flooded, a gas buildup in the lights can
forcefully propel the battery cap off the strobe or cause the front and
back sections to violently break apart, the Consumer Product Safety
Commission said Tuesday.

The company has received reports of two injuries. A repair technician
in the Carribean had a tooth chipped while he was removing the battery
cap, and an exploding strobe cut the face of a consumer in Japan.

The recall includes all strobes of model number YS-50 and the models
YS-60 and YS-120 that have serial numbers beginning with 96 or 94. The
serial numbers are inside the plastic housing, which can be yellow,
black or orange. Writing on the strobes says ``Sea & Sea'' and
``Japan.''

Scuba dive centers and photography stores nationwide sold the strobes
from February 1988 through March 1999 for between $500 and $800.

The CPSC said consumers should stop using the strobes immediately. Any
strobe that stops working or shows signs of corrosion should be returned
to an authorized repair center.

Sea & Sea is offering a free replacement battery cap that prevents the
gas build up.

To locate a repair center or for more information, contact the
manufacturer at 800-732-7977 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST Monday
through Friday.