Nope,
Directly shipped from Uk through US customs and listed on customs declaration.. My last shipment was 3 units and no delays whatsoever.
ALso if it was illegal do you think all the Inspiration instructors in the US would have their contact information listed if they were involved with something illegal.
see
http://www.ambientpressurediving.com/inspusa.html
The only thing that many dealers do is sell them with cylinders that don't meet DOT requirements(not illegal to sell but its against DOT regulations to fill).. These cylinders also don't meet CTC requirements and fall into the same category as in the US but it seems most canadian dive shops don't care. I buy the units from the UK without cylinders and add US DOT/CTC certified cylinders..
Nope not a weapon.. The only rebreathers that usually need special approval (and thats usually for the exporting country) are those designed with non magnetic signatures.. The inspiration uses plenty of stuff that can be detected..
Under UK law The inspiration requires an export license when Shipping out of the EU, there are exceptions, and the US and Canada are on the exception list.
Currently only ANDI and IANTD will certify students in the US, TDI will not endorse the unit until there is a US distributor, which would have to take out product liability insurance which would raise the US price by $1200 (I don;t remember where I read that figure).
I know the FBI has visited ANDI hq, and I was told they visited IANTD (as well as all other scuba agencies). ANDI refused the FBI request for all student files (part of licensee confidentiality agreement), the FBI said all other agencies complied.. ANDI did allow the files to be reviewed by agents but no student lists were given.
