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SILLY VISITORS: Divers sent to Maui by Apple found a variety of items, including Apple Watch models, near cliff- or rock-diving spots on the Valley Isle.
Apple announced the addition of a revised warning slip for new watch models, after reports of numerous warranty claims filed by rock and cliff divers on or near Maui beaches and waterways.
“Yes, Your Apple Watch is Waterproof!” the first line says, followed by a new warning line, bolded by the company for emphasis:
“But NOT CLIFF-JUMP PROOF!!!”
Visitors to Maui have been losing Apple Watches, along with loose change, and a lot of sunglasses while jumping off popular cliffs or large rocks along any number of coastlines or freshwater pools. Knowing their Apple Watches are waterproof, they confidently leave them on their wrists when leaping.
“We began to wonder why we were getting so many warranty claims on Apple Watches in Maui,” said Jack Manawa, Pacific Islands director of sales for Apple. “We found that the watches didn’t fail; the people did.”
In response, Apple sent a team of divers into ponds below inland waterfalls, or off seaside cliffs like at Black Rock near Kaanapali, the bridge at Seven Pools near Kipahulu, and Waianapanapa State Park, Kaeleku, where newcomers jump often.
“We knew something was up when we asked the claimants to send us their inoperable Apple Watch, so we could see what went wrong with the waterproofing,” Manawa said. “Of course they did not have a watch to send. We had to tell them the watches are still waterproof and are probably still working fine, wherever they last left them.”
The divers reported finding all kinds of other strange things, too.
"I found a toupee the other day," said diver Chris Thelmer. "We were wondering why bother with a toupee on Maui at all, in the first place. Then we all took turns wearing it and acting out the jumps."
"I found a bikini bottom last month," said Brandon Silva, another diver on the Apple team. "That had to be an interesting walk back to the car."
Editor's Note: Please do not dive off cliffs or rocks without guidance and supervision by an experienced, knowledgeable local resident. The depth of pools can be inconsistent, and underwater rock croppings or boulders can cause serious injury, even death.
