It can be annoying to travel with SCUBA cylinders via commercial passenger aircraft because they are carefully examined by security personnel, and occasionally even confiscated. Quoting from the TSA website: "Except for personal medical oxygen cylinders, you can only carry an EMPTY compressed gas cylinder onboard a plane. To be permitted (in either carry-on or checked baggage), it must be clearly visible to the TSA officer that the cylinder is empty." In practice, this means you must remove the valve and you must not plug the cylinder opening. Nothing should obscure the cylinder opening, not even clear tape or a plastic bag. Further, the presence of gas contents decals or VIP stickers with the word OXYGEN or NITROX may confuse the TSA Officer. We suggest covering the decals with Painter's Tape, or better still removing the decals completely.
The TSA rule also means the open cylinders that traveled with you in checked baggage are contaminated and no longer suitable for oxygen service. Have a plan for how you are going to have them oxygen cleaned at the destination. When practical, consider taking smaller cylinders with you as carry-on baggage where you can remove a travel cap yourself during security inspections. You may prefer to rent cylinders at the destination or ship the cylinders ahead by a package carrier which will allow the cylinders to be sealed during transport.
