Six Things You Absolutely Need To Know About Dive Knives

Dive knives are a necessary accessory for scuba divers, but unfortunately many novice divers don’t carry them.  If you’re interested in learning more about these handy diving tools, check out these six things that you need to know about dive knives.

(1) Why You Need a Dive Knife

Every year thousands of divers get caught in monofilament line, which can be extraordinarily difficult to get untangled from when you’re a hundred feet underwater.  Don’t believe me, check out this great article from scuba.com about what to do if you get snagged.   Additionally, thick strands of kelp can also get caught on diving gear. Lastly, though rare, you never know when you may encounter a shark while underwater.

(2)  Start with a small dive knife

Just because James Bond used  a huge knife in his underwater fights, doesn’t mean you need one. Dive knives can range in size from 2 inches to 6 inches, but if you are beginning diver who hasn’t used a knife underwater before,  starting with the smaller knife is always preferable.   Larger knives can be more awkward and difficult to handle underwater, increasing the chance of injury. It’s recommended that you start with a blade under 4 inches, if you’re purchasing your first dive knife.

(3) Choose a dive knife with a serrated edge

While dive knives are available in both serrated and non-serrated models, a serrated knife is usually preferable. Serrated blads are better at slicing through monofilament line, rope, cord or other soft materials your dive knife may get snagged in.

(4) Avoid dive knives with sharp tips

Sure, it might come in handy for the one time in a million when you have to gore a bloodthirsty Great White,  but in general a spear- tip dive knife is less functional and more dangerous then a blunt-tip dive knife.  Blunt knives are also usually more optimal for  prying and wedging, both necessary functions when underwater.

(5) Always use a sheath

A dive knife won’t be very helpful if it’s on the bottom of the ocean floor and you’re trapped in a monofilament line hundreds of feet above. For this reason, make sure that your dive knife is attached to your thigh with a high-quality sheath and check routinely to make sure it hasn’t drifted away.

(6) Be Careful

A dive knife is a fantastic and useful accessory for any scuba diver, but it can also be a hazard. It’s essential that you always use extreme caution when operating your dive knife while underwater to avoid not only cutting yourself, but also slicing through your scuba equipment.

Check out our full selection of dive knives if you’re interested in seeing more models and let us know if you have any additional advice about dive knives in the comment section below.