TL;DR: Apeks XL4, Ocea and XL4+ scuba diving regulators made between April 2025 and April 2026 with serials 250402212–260402893 were recalled from end users over restricted breathing-gas flow beyond 45 metres.
Recall at a glance
Apeks scuba diving regulators identified as models XL4, Ocea and XL4+ were subject to recall from end users under alert SR/02778/26. The alert was published on 9 October 2026 and classified the case as a serious risk in the protective equipment category. The notifying country was the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland, while the country of origin was the United Kingdom. According to Diving equipment — Safety Recall SR/02778/26, the action concerned asphyxiation risk from the listed regulator models.
The same alert number, SR/02778/26, identifies the protective-equipment recall across the reporting pages. The brand in the alert is Apeks, and the product is described as a scuba diving regulator. The risk type in the alert is asphyxiation. The publication date recorded for the alert is 9 October 2026. The models named alongside the alert are XL4, Ocea and XL4+.
The measure recorded for the alert is recall of the product from end users. The economic operator taking the notified measure was the manufacturer. The date of entry into force for the measure was 15/06/2026. According to Apeks diving equipment recalled over asphyxiation risk | EU Safety Gate SR/02778/26 | SafeCart, the type of the measure was voluntary.
Which regulators are listed
The listed product is a scuba diving regulator marketed under the Apeks brand. The model identifiers linked to alert SR/02778/26 are XL4, Ocea and XL4+. The manufacturing period for affected products is April 2025 – April 2026. The affected serial number range is 250402212 – 260402893.
A regulator is outside the listed range when its serial number is below 250402212 or above 260402893. A regulator is outside the listed production window when it was manufactured before April 2025 or after April 2026. A regulator is outside the listed model set when it is not identified as XL4, Ocea or XL4+. The barcode for the recalled product is recorded as not listed in the notice.
The batch or lot for the recalled product is recorded as not listed in the notice. The category for the recalled product is protective equipment. The country of origin recorded for the recalled product is the United Kingdom. The notifying country recorded for the recall is the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.
Why the regulators were recalled
A manufacturing defect in the second-stage spindle assembly may restrict the flow of breathing gas at depths exceeding 45 metres. As a result, the regulator may not supply sufficient breathing gas when required. The described outcome of insufficient breathing-gas supply when required is a risk that could lead to drowning.
The risk type assigned to the defect is asphyxiation. The alert level assigned to the case is serious risk. The product does not comply with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation. The 45-metre depth threshold is the point beyond which restricted flow is described in the notice.
The second-stage spindle assembly is the component linked to the manufacturing defect. The breathing gas is the flow described as potentially restricted beyond 45 metres. The regulator is the device described as potentially unable to supply sufficient breathing gas when required. Drowning is the outcome identified as the possible result of the restricted supply.
Dates that define this case
The manufacturer measure entered into force on 15/06/2026. The Safety Gate alert SR/02778/26 was published on 9 October 2026. The affected manufacturing period began in April 2025 and ended in April 2026. The serial interval for affected regulators runs from 250402212 to 260402893.
The June measure date and the October publication date are separate entries in the same recall record. The manufacturing period dates define production timing, while the serial numbers define the affected units. The model names XL4, Ocea and XL4+ define the affected regulator family. The United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland is the notifier linked to the October publication.
The United Kingdom is also recorded as the country of origin for the Apeks regulators. The protective-equipment category links the product, risk and regulation entries in the record. The PPE Regulation is the compliance reference cited for the recalled regulators. The serious-risk level is the alert level linked to the 9 October 2026 publication.
How to check a regulator in a go-bag
Check the brand marking for Apeks on the scuba diving regulator stored with emergency equipment. Check the model marking for XL4, Ocea or XL4+ on the same regulator. Check the manufacturing date against the April 2025 – April 2026 period for affected products.
Check the serial number against the 250402212 – 260402893 range for affected products. Treat a missing barcode as expected because the notice lists no barcode for this recall. Treat a missing batch or lot code as expected because the notice lists no batch or lot for this recall.
Compare the label details with the description of a scuba diving regulator manufactured between April 2025 and April 2026. Compare the serial marking with the start serial 250402212 and the end serial 260402893. Isolate a regulator that matches brand, model, period and serial range and follow the recall instructions for return or refund.
What the recall instruction requires
The notified measure is recall of the product from end users. The operator responsible for the notified measure is the manufacturer. The voluntary type means the manufacturer is recorded as taking the end-user recall action.
End users with a matching Apeks XL4, Ocea or XL4+ regulator should stop using it now. End users with a matching regulator should follow the seller’s recall instructions for return or refund. End users should compare the regulator details with the product description before seeking return or refund.
The SafeCart summary directs users to stop using a matching product now and follow seller instructions for return or refund. The same summary identifies the product by manufacturing period and serial range rather than barcode. The same summary records the measure as recall of the product from end users.
What this means for a bug-out loadout
A bug-out bag containing an Apeks scuba diving regulator must be checked against models XL4, Ocea and XL4+. A bug-out bag containing one of those models must be checked against the April 2025 – April 2026 manufacturing period. A bug-out bag containing a period-matching regulator must be checked against serials 250402212 – 260402893.
Remove a matching regulator from the emergency loadout because the measure is recall from end users. Keep the regulator separate so it is not returned to the bag by mistake. Use the seller’s recall instructions for return or refund for the removed regulator.
Do not retain a matching XL4, Ocea or XL4+ regulator as a backup breathing device because insufficient breathing gas when required could lead to drowning. Do not retain a matching regulator for shallow use as an alternative because the recall covers the listed serial range without a shallow-use exception. Replace the removed regulator only with a unit outside the listed models, period and serial range.
Compliance and risk labels to keep with the record
Keep alert number SR/02778/26 with the regulator record for identification. Keep brand Apeks with the regulator record for identification. Keep models XL4, Ocea and XL4+ with the regulator record for identification.
Keep manufacturing period April 2025 – April 2026 with the regulator record for identification. Keep serial range 250402212 – 260402893 with the regulator record for identification. Keep risk type asphyxiation and alert level serious risk with the regulator record for identification.
Keep notifying country United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland with the regulator record for identification. Keep country of origin United Kingdom with the regulator record for identification. Keep Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation non-compliance with the regulator record for identification.
Announcement status
This article reports an announcement of a recall published on 9 October 2026 under SR/02778/26. The manufacturer recall from end users is recorded with entry into force on 15/06/2026. Future return or refund steps remain actions for owners and sellers to complete under the seller’s recall instructions.
No additional manufacturing dates beyond April 2025 – April 2026 are listed in the recall description. No additional serials below 250402212 or above 260402893 are listed in the recall description. No barcode or batch code beyond “not listed” is provided for identifying the recalled regulators.