US Customs and cylinders

[Pez]

I am currently in Belize for a few weeks doing some diving, I will try to put a trip report up on return, now would not be a good time to describe the viz, life etc etc

The porpoise of this post is to warn any travellers of the perils of entering the US with dive cylinders. Despite having been checked in by US Airways staff, andd having had a physical search, one of our team had his 3 L cylinder impounded and it will potentially be destroyed, the remainder of the bags containing tins went through without being picked up on scans. The cylinders were declared at check in at London, with no mention other than "are they empty?"

The Dept of Homeland Security pulled them because they could not verify the contents. The cylinders were in effect confiscated and will be destroyed despite being in test etc. The US customs wbesite has since been checked and the statement is contrary to our advice. Apparentely, pillar valves should be removed so that the internal surfaces can be checked.

This loss would probably be a disaster for any RB divers travelling with cylinders, as it is one of our team is lacking a redundant gas source and will have to buy a new cylinder when we return.

Ultimately we should have checked the US Custom's website rather than rely on the airline, however be warned if you plan to travel with DSMBCi etc.

Still could be worse, off back to xxxxM viz and the Sharks, damn I mentioned them, sorry.

[NeilB]

Not forgetting of course that US cylinders are DOT coded and ours are BS/EU coded. So you might not be able to fill cylinders when you arrive anyway.