.4 BC Owner’s Manual
XS Scuba, Inc
General Precautions and Warnings
• Do not use this Buoyancy Compensator (BC) if you have not received supervised
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 SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
• Before using this BC, it is important to completely read and understand all of the
instructions provided in this owner’s manual, any accompanying inserts, and labels or
markings affixed to the BC. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DO NOT COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND THESE INSTRUCTIONS, CONSULT YOUR AUTHORIZED XS SCUBA
DEALER.
• Before diving with this BC in open water, it is important to familiarize yourself with
it first in confined shallow water with the assistance and supervision of an instructor
or experienced buddy. DO NOT ENTER OPEN WATER UNTIL YOU HAVE WEIGHTED
YOURSELF PROPERLY AND HAVE BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH USING ALL OF ITS
FEATURES AND ADJUSTMENTS.
• Before every dive, perform a complete pre-dive inspection following the instructions
provided in this manual. Check to ensure that all valves are functioning properly and no
signs of damage or leaks are present. IF ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR MALFUNCTION
ARE FOUND, DO NOT DIVE WITH THE BC UNTIL IT HAS RECEIVED SERVICE FROM
AN AUTHORIZED XS SCUBA DEALER.
• Before entering the water, check to ensure that you can remove and ditch your
weight quickly and easily, without any obstruction or entanglement with any hoses or
accessories. IN THE EVENT OF AN OUT OF AIR EMERGENCY OR UNCONTROLLED
DESCENT, DO NOT HESITATE TO REMOVE AND DITCH WEIGHT.
• DO NOT USE YOUR BC TO LIFT HEAVY OBJECTS TO THE SURFACE. Doing so may
cause permanent damage to the BC, and could easily result in an uncontrolled ascent.
• DO NOT over inflate your BC or rely on using the power inflator to lift yourself toward
the surface. Control all ascents. A RAPID, UNCONTROLLED ASCENT MAY CAUSE
ARTERIAL GAS EMBOLISM OR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS, AND COULD LEAD TO
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
• IN THE EVENT OF AN UNCONTROLLED, RAPID ASCENT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
IMMEDIATELY VENT AS MUCH AIR AS POSSIBLE FROM THE BC TO SLOW YOUR
ASCENT RATE. CONTINUE VENTING AIR TO SLOW YOUR ASCENT RATE IF NEUTRAL
BUOYANCY CANNOT BE REESTABLISHED.
• DO NOT attempt to modify your XS Scuba BC for use with more than one cylinder.
Doing so could damage the structural integrity of the BC’s backpack and harness system,
and could lead to its failure underwater.
• DO NOT INHALE FROM YOUR ORAL INFLATOR. The BC air cell may contain harmful
contaminants or gasses, which could cause suffocation, serious injury, and infection of
the lungs.
• It is important to obtain factory prescribed service for this BC from an Authorized XS
Scuba Dealer at least once each year, or according to the same scheduled intervals for
your regulator. Annual service consists of a complete overhaul of the power inflator, and
a general air leak inspection of the air cell and valve connections.
• Disassembly, repair, or lubrication must only be performed by persons who are factory
trained and authorized by XS Scuba. UNAUTHORIZED SERVICE WILL RENDER THE
WARRANTY NULL AND VOID, AND COULD CAUSE THE BC TO MALFUNCTION.