Highest risk U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Head Watersports Apeks Second Stage Scuba Regulators Recalled recall: Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Drowning Hazard

Recall published 3 months ago

Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Drowning Hazard

Head Watersports Consumer products — recalled consumer productsHead Watersports Consumer products — recalled consumer products (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission with the recall notice.

The hazard: Drowning hazard

The item was withdrawn because it can fail in water. Nothing on this page replaces constant, within-arm’s-reach supervision of a small child near water.

What the notice says: The recalled second stage regulators can restrict air flow to the user at depths exceeding 45 meters (approximately 147 feet), posing risk of serious injury or death from a drowning hazard.

Why it matters: The product can fail in or near water, or it suggests a level of safety it cannot deliver. Drowning is fast and quiet, and a flotation aid fails at exactly the moment it is being relied on.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Get the child out of the water, call 911, and start rescue breaths or CPR if they are not breathing. Any child who had to be rescued from water should be assessed by a clinician even if they seem fine, because inhaled water can cause breathing problems hours later.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Recall number
10912
Published
August 6, 2026
Risk level
CPSC recall
Status
Active recall
Issued by
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Brand
Head Watersports
Product type
Consumer products
Units affected
About 1,105
Made in
England

Products covered by this recall

This recall involves Apeks model XL4, XL4+ and XL4 Ocea second stage scuba regulators sold from April 2025 through June 2026. They were sold in various colors or color combinations of black, white, gray, mint or yellow, with serial numbers between 250402212 and 260402893. The serial number is laser-etched on the side of the regulator and also appears on the shipping carton.

Check your product

The notice names 2 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Model or item number

On the rating label, the box or the instruction sheet.

  • XL4

Serial number

On the rating plate, often next to the date of manufacture.

  • between 250402212

Codes are lifted verbatim from the CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Drowning

Head Watersports — The item was withdrawn because it can fail in water. Nothing on this page replaces constant, within-arm’s-reach supervision of a small child near water.

  1. Stop using the product in or near water immediately.
  2. Empty paddling pools, buckets and tubs and store them upside down when they are not in use.
  3. Treat any inflatable or foam aid as a toy rather than safety equipment unless it is a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  4. Keep a small child within arm’s reach in any water, including baths and paddling pools.

How the remedy works

CPSC recalls specify one of three remedies, and which one you get is not negotiable — but how smoothly it goes often is.

  • A refund means the purchase price back, sometimes prorated by age for durable goods. Ask how they calculated it if the figure looks low.
  • Several recalls now ask you to destroy the item and send a photo as proof. Register the claim before you do that, never after.
  • Return shipping is the company’s cost. If you are asked to pay it, push back.
  • A repair kit is shipped free and is designed to be fitted at home; if you cannot fit it, ask whether they will arrange installation.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers should stop using the recalled second stage scuba regulators immediately and bring the product to any HEAD Watersports Authorized Retailer who will replace the valve spindle assembly at no cost to the consumer.

Company contact: HEAD Watersports toll free at 800-874-3236 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email [email protected] or online at https://us.apeksdiving.com/pages/recall-information-and-technical-notice, https://us.aqualung.com/pages/recall-information, https://www.head.com/en_US/recalls or https://www.head.com/en and click on "Voluntary Recall" at the bottom of the page for more information.

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission record U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Head Watersports consumer products recalled?

Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Drowning Hazard The recalled second stage regulators can restrict air flow to the user at depths exceeding 45 meters (approximately 147 feet), posing risk of serious injury or death from a drowning hazard.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: model number XL4. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop using the product in or near water immediately.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers should stop using the recalled second stage scuba regulators immediately and bring the product to any HEAD Watersports Authorized Retailer who will replace the valve spindle assembly at no cost to the consumer.

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