7. CARE & MAINTENANCE
1. Only suitable for confident swimmers over 16 years of age who are fit and healthy. If you
have any medical condition that may be affected by extreme sports or strenuous activity,
please consult a physician before operating.
2. Always wear life-jacket or buoyancy aid in open water. Also recommend that when
operated in open water, users bring a personal flotation device, whistle and beacon for
attracting attention.
3. The Orca H9 is not suitable for use by persons fitted with a pacemaker due to the possible
risk of interference from the electric motor and shark-guard (if fitted)
4. In case of loss of power or malfunction during diving – LET GO OF the Orca H9 AND SWIM
FREE TO SURFACE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PULL THE UNIT TO THE SURFACE – it will float to
the surface in time.
5. Do not use in strong currents, waves, bad weather or poor visibility. There must be other
lifeguards or lifesaving device on standby. Recommend use of full wetsuit in cool or cold
water to avoid hypothermia.
6. Holding on to the Orca H9 is physically challenging, particularly underwater where the
resistance underwater is 12 times that of air. Diving with the Orca H9 is a strenuous activity
and recommended that lower power levels are used when fully submerged. Power levels
4, 5 & 6 are best used at surface level. Using high power levels for sustained periods may
cause injury to arms, shoulders and neck – if you feel any discomfort, drop to a lower gear
or stop and take a break.
7. The Orca H9 does not guarantee 100% success in a rescue operation as an auxiliary rescue
equipment. There should be a rescue personnel on standby.
8. The product has to be fully charged before each use.
9. Never dip a finger or put objects into the covered propellers section in case of injury or
damage to the propellers or its components.
10. Upon receiving a low power warning (refer to section 5, BATTERY LEVEL WARNING), please
stop using it immediately and charge it as soon as possible.
11. When approaching the victim with the Orca H9, please slow down to avoid bumping into
the victim and cause unnecessary injuries.
12. The Orca H9 uses high discharge rate lithium-ion battery, which has to be recharged every
three months if left unused.
13. For any personal injury or property loss due to improper use, the user should be held
responsible.
14. Maintenance should only be carried out by professional technicians. Please do
not disassemble, dismantle the product or disconnect batteries by yourself or any
unauthorized person.
15. When the charging is completed, make sure the waterproof charging port has been
screwed on tightly.
16. It is strongly recommended that the user get familiarized with the operation of the Orca
H9 before using it in rescue operations.
17. Do not apply throttle if unit is tethered or operating against a solid object.
18. Do not block the water inlet or outlet ports of the Orca H9.
19. Do not use within 1m of seabed, shallow water under 1m of depth or in sediment. Use in
shallow water or sediment will cause the water-jet system to ingest sand and debris which
will cause damage to propeller, seals and bearings.
20. Never drop or throw the Orca H9 into water from a height greater than 50cm or jump from
elevated location holding the Orca H9. The shock and stresses may cause internal damage
or cracks to the composite and plastic components.
21. In case of waterjet ingesting seaweed, rope or any material that blocks the internal
propeller, the Orca H9 will automatically stop power to the drive system. If the offending
object is visible and simple to remove, return unit to a dry surface, turn the unit off using
the main menu function, place upside down on a smooth clean surface and extract
manually.
22. Do not operate the Orca H9 out of water – the battery system and shaft seals will quickly
overheat in free air.
23. Do not disassemble or modify the Orca H9 in any way. Adding supplementary equipment
such as bracketry that require modification of the bodywork may compromise the
strength of structural components causing stress fractures and will invalidate the warranty.
24. Ensure your Orca H9 is in good physical and electrical condition before usage. Check each
time for cracks in hull or bodywork, misalignment of components or faults on the display
– see diagnostics section for error codes.
25. Do not leave the Orca H9 in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The surface temperature
of the Orca H9 bodywork may cause burns in hot environments. Sustained heat may also
shorten the life of your batteries or cause them to malfunction. Please store in a shaded
area and use the reflective cover when shade is not available.
26. Always rinse through with fresh water after every use. Salt water is extremely corrosive,
therefore accumulated salt deposits on internal components or bodywork would reduce
the life of the Orca H9 unit.
27. Do not use abrasives, alcohol-based or acid-based cleaning products to clean the Orca H9.
Use fresh water with a little detergent or car wash solution with a soft damp cloth.
28. Use the original the Orca H9 packaging supplied with the unit to store it when not in use.
Ensure the drainage plug has been removed from the base of the packing box.
29. Ensure the Orca H9 is thoroughly drained and allow to dry thoroughly before transporting
or putting into storage.