Top 15 Best Dive Knife for Scuba Diving in 2024

Best Dive Knife for Scuba Diving

The underwater world is vast, and you never know what you would come across as your tread in the deep waters. As a regular diver or a hobbyist, it is important that you have access to the best dive knife for scuba diving. A reliable knife would aid you in cutting yourself off any entanglements that could happen when you dive into uncharted territories. Additionally, with the best diving knife, you can also free the trapped animals, clear the debris, or aid in underwater jobs.

In several countries, it is mandatory for scuba divers to keep the best dive knife with them to ensure underwater safety while also considering the scuba diving age limit. However, with the varieties available in the market, it can be difficult to judge which option is the right fit for your diving needs.

So, we have compiled a list of the best diving knives to help you pick the best one for your next underwater escapade.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Promate Diving Knife

Best Premium: Punada Diving Knife

Best Value: Bahia Dive Supply Diving Knife

Top 15 Best Diving Knife Comparison Table 2024

Now that you know the top choices of the best dive knives – here is a comparison table to help you choose the best diving knife.

Best Diving Knife Blade Material Blade Size Handle Material Handle Size
Promate Diving Knife 304 stainless steel 12.5 cm Plastic 27 cm
Punada Diving Knife 440C stainless steel 3.8 inches ABS Plastic 4.13 inches
Bahia Dive Supply Diving Knife 420C stainless steel 5 inches Rubber Not Specified
Snake Eye Tactical Diving Knife Stainless steel 4 inches Plastic 4.5 inches
Promate KF210-P Diving Knife Stainless steel 3 inches Not Specified 3 inches
Scuba Choice Diving Knife 420 stainless steel 2.3 inches Plastic 4.7 inches
SZCO Supplies 210424-YW Diving Knife 3Cr13 stainless steel 4.5 inches Rubber 4.5 inches
Gear Aid 3” Blunt Tip Diving Knife 304 stainless steel 3 inches Plastic Not Specified
Treasure Gurus Diving Knife Stainless Steel 4.625 inches Not Specified 4.375 inches
Audeamus Titanium Diving Knife Titanium Alloy 5 inches Plastic + Rubber Not Specified
TUSA FK-910/920 X-Pert II Diving Knife 420 Stainless steel 11 cm Plastic 14 cm
Cressi Blunt Diving Knife Stainless steel 7.3 cm Stainless steel 10.2 cm
Gear Aid Akua Paddle 62065 Diving Knife 5Cr15 Stainless steel 3 inches Plastic Not Specified
Dive Master Diving Knife 420 J2 Stainless steel 4.625 inches ABS Plastic 4.375 inches
Gasher Diving Knife Stainless Steel 4 inches Stainless steel + Nylon 2 inches

Top 15 Best Dive Knife With Reviews 2024

Now that you know what are the best diving knives available in the market, let us check out the best dive knife reviews to understand what allows each diving knife to stand out of crowd.

Promate Diving Knife

Promate Diving Knife

Available in 8 beautiful colors, including the likes of black and blue, the Promate Dive Knife is designed for premium snorkeling and diving experience. This safety gear helps you dive with confidence and comes with a durable leg strap that helps the knife stay by your side regardless of how deep the dive is.

This scuba diving tool comes with a knife holster and is sleek enough to fit into your diving outfit. Moreover, the knife is sharp enough to ensure unmatched safety as you explore the deep seas. The knife is crafted with the highest-quality 304 grade of stainless steel.

The material ensures superior-quality corrosion resistance, especially when exposed to things such as salty water. The knife also comes with a sturdy handle to ensure you can easily cut through without the handle slipping off your hands. The knife also comes with a long and durable rubber strap that securely fits around the diver’s wrist or leg.

Pros:

  • It comes with a straight-edge + serrated edge design
  • Perfect for quick cutting of the fishing line
  • Made of surgical-grade stainless steel
  • Ideal for both left & right-handed individuals
  • Features hammer made of stainless steel at the bottom

Cons:

  • Metal thickness is very less; it looks flimsy
  • The handle hasn’t been screwed in properly, might require manual tuning

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 304 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 8
  • Overall Length: 5 inch
  • Blade Length: 5 inches
  • Special Features: Easy disassembling, adjustable straps and sheaths, stainless steel hammer on handle

Rating: 4.6/5

Punada Diving Knife

Punada Diving Knife

Featuring a tactical design, the Punada knife is the best diving knife for spearfishing, hiking, snorkeling, and other outdoor usages. The knife is crafted from premium-quality stainless steel material, which is of the 440c grade. This ensures the much-needed hardness when being used underwater for tough fishing lines.

This diving knife comes with a razor-like cutting edge along with a serrated edge design. Its sharpness can offer the users ideal underwater protection without getting rusted even when used underwater for hours.

This complete set comes with a diving knife, one heavy-duty sheath made of durable plastic, two-arm/leg straps, and one nylon sheath to be used as a cover for the knife. The knife measures about 8.65 inches and is light enough to be carried around underwater.

Pros:

  • Multi-purpose tactical knife for under and over-water requirements
  • It comes with 1 button release design
  • Features a comfortable handle to help you hold the knife for hours
  • The plastic sheath features a single-action locking design
  • Sheath made of ABS material to ensure durability

Cons:

  • Straps buckle tends to come off
  • It doesn’t fit well into the leg straps; even a light jolt makes it loose

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 440C Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: 65 inches
  • Blade Length: 85 inches
  • Special Features: ABS plastic sheath, corrosion-resistance, sharp cutting edge, user-friendly design

Rating: 4.3/5

Bahia Dive Supply Diving Knife

Bahia Dive Supply Diving Knife

Do you love some colors added to your safety gear when snorkeling or scuba diving? Well, when you dive deep under the water, the sunlight could be dim, and it could be hard to see anything. With the Bahia Knife, you get a colorful yet durable knife that comes in bright colors visible from far off distance.

This fluorescent green safety knife comes with both strains as well as serrated edges to help you cut the fishing line or tear through something underwater. In addition, the knife features a durable stainless steel design that is made of 420 high-carbon steel. This material is perfect for being used under both freshwaters as well as saltwater.

The knife can easily be cleaned of things such as oily deposits or dirt to ensure that it lasts for years to come without any rusting issues. The quick-release strap comes with adjustable clips that are perfect for your lower leg. It can be set up easily and remove with just one click.

Pros:

  • Bright color ensures easy visibility in dark waters
  • It comes with a 5-inch blade
  • Heavy-duty handle with a rubber coverage to ensure slip-resistance
  • The sheath features a quick-release mechanism for easy locking
  • Affordable pricing

Cons:

  • Screws aren’t made of stainless steel; they might rust
  • Quick-release button might have a glitch at times

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 420 high carbon Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: Not Specified
  • Blade Length: 5 inches
  • Special Features: Durable construction, Quick release adjustable leg straps and locking sheaths, quick release locking mechanism.

Rating: 4.3/5

Snake Eye Tactical Diving Knife

Snake Eye Tactical Diving Knife

This beautiful crafter dive knife is perfect in almost all sense. The Snake Eye Dive Knife rocks a durable and rust-free stainless steel design that can be used in any type of water body with no fear of rust development or blunting issues.

As per the price, it’s quite reasonable and delivers in its promise of quality. The razor-sharp edges added to this knife can easily cut through reads, seaweed, or even a strong fishing rope. With the Snake Eye Knife, you get access to a double-edged design that can cut through elements that lead to entanglement while you dive into the water.

The blade has been chiseled & streamlined well to guarantee that it can be used for a long time without any errors. However, keep in mind that one must rinse off the blade with fresh water after use in saltwater bodies.

Pros:

  • Two-edged design gives you precision in terms of cutting
  • Lightweight design to ensure you can hold it for long
  • Comes with a durable sheath for leg strap
  • Uses high-quality 420-grade stainless steel
  • Cannot be strapped to the thighs if you have a heavier build

Cons:

  • The sheath tends to smell awful when opened from the package
  • Sheath could have been more durable

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: Not Specified
  • Color Options: 5
  • Overall Length: 5 inches
  • Blade Length: 4 inches
  • Special Features: All stainless with line cutter, razor edge and leg strap sheath, 17 inches strap length.

Rating: 4.3/5

Promate KF210-P Diving Knife

Promate KF210-P Diving Knife

If you are looking for a cute and small scuba diving knife for your daily escapades, the Promate Point Tip BC Scuba Dive Knife is perfect for you. Crafted from the best-quality 304 grade stainless steel, this knife comes with easy disassembling to ensure easy cleaning & maintenance.

The knife is docked with a single-action locking system with a button to ensure you can use it right out of the sheath. Its molded sheath features pre-installed clips to help with easy mounting & can easily be placed securely on different types of Velcro straps.

Unlike its bigger counterpart, this knife is small yet versatile enough to help you dive or snorkel without having to worry about your safety. The knife is sharp on one side of the blade and serrated on the other side to ensure detangling or easy cutting. The knife also features a small notch on the handle to help you cut off the fishing lines safely.

Pros:

  • Can easily be attached to most wearable sheaths
  • Features molded sheath along with pre-installed clips
  • Comes in a range of different colors
  • Affordable pricing for the quality delivered
  • Fits into big as well as small hands given its unique design

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with night indicators to help underwaters
  • Doesn’t come with any manufacturer warranty

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 304 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 5
  • Overall Length: 6 inches
  • Blade Length: 3 inches
  • Special Features: Compact and versatile tool, single action button locking system sheath, serrated edge blade.

Rating: 4.5/5

Scuba Choice Diving Knife

Scuba Choice Diving Knife

Are you looking for a cool knife with a blunt-tip design? The Scuba Choice Diving Knife is an affordable choice for anyone concerned about underwater safety. If you do not like knives with sharp tips, this diving knife would fit well with your needs.

This best diving knife has 2.3 inches blade, where one side is of the serrated type and is meant for sawing, the other one is used for cutting with the help of the sharp side. The knife’s blunt tip is especially useful in diving when you plan to dig, pry, chisel, or hack through the obstacles.

Apart from this, the knife’s stainless steel-based butt can serve as a durable hammer underwater. The knife makes use of the stainless steel 420-grade material, which will stay durable and sharp for years as compared to other steel types. However, it might require additional maintenance to avoid rusting or corrosion.

Pros:

  • Multi-functional diving tool
  • Attractive pricing for the material and quality ensured
  • Molded form of nylon grip to ensure comfort
  • Fluorescent indicators to help you see underwater
  • It comes with two different mounting brackets

Cons:

  • Might require a bit of oiling and maintenance post-use
  • Short blade might not be fit for all cutting jobs

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 420 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: 7 inches
  • Blade Length: 3 inches
  • Special Features: Moulded nylon grip, compact and versatile, corrosion resistant

Rating: 4.4/5

SZCO Supplies 210424-YW Diving Knife

SZCO Supplies 210424-YW Diving Knife

Flaunting a 4.5-inch blade, the SZCO supplies diver’s knife is designed to tackle the harshest and most corrosive conditions. The blade is made out of 3cr13 grade stainless steel along with a straight-back blade which is decked with the saw-tooth spine design. It also houses a mini gut hook to function as a well-rounded knife for the divers.

The rubberized handle makes it easy to hold even in slippery waters. The high-friction grip comes in especially handy when cutting through tough objects. The sheath functions as a hardcover to protect the knife at all costs. The leg straps allow easy access to help you store the knife with ease.

The brightly colored handle helps you see perfectly even in deep dark waters. This best diving knife can be used for actions such as digging, cutting, foliage clearance, underwater defense, sawing, cutting ropes, or other outdoor adventures.

Pros:

  • Rubber handle to ensure a tight grip underwater
  • Saw-tooth blade design to cut through hard surfaces
  • Ideal for hunting in deep waters
  • Ideal gutting hook
  • Comes with a hard plastic-made sheath for blade protection

Cons:

  • Fit is very loose and might come off easily
  • Might not be completely stainless, especially on the edges

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 3cr13 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: 9 inches
  • Blade Length: 5 inches
  • Special Features: Rubberized handle for better grip, multi-purpose tool, sawtooth blade, impact resistant leg straps.

Rating: 4.1/5

Gear Aid 3” Blunt Tip Diving Knife

Gear Aid 3” Blunt Tip Diving Knife

Are you in need of a handy diving knife that could help you stay protected in deep waters? With the Gear Aid Tanu rescue knife for diving, you get quick and easy access to the 304 stainless steel design that works flawlessly even in saltwater.

This knife comes with a blunt tip to ensure that the inflatable you are wearing doesn’t get punctured accidentally. You can make use of this knife when fishing, diving, or paddling through the water. The Gear Aid comes with a line cutter as well as a double-edged blade to help you tackle big and small jobs with ease.

The rubberized, burly handle ensures a very secure grip along with the finger stop that ensures additional safety for the users. It can also be used as an underwater tank banger.

Pros:

  • Comes with a hook to tether the dive knife to a holding gear
  • Features one quick-draining holding sheath with the removable clip on the belt
  • Comes with a B.C.D. knife adaptor plate
  • Durable webbing mount to help with easy hooking
  • Quick-release action with your thumb

Cons:

  • Seems to be a bit bulky after being attached to its BCD
  • Might not fit well on the PFD lash

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 304 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 2
  • Overall Length: Not Specified
  • Blade Length: 3 inches
  • Special Features: Corrosion resistant, cord cutter and blunt tip, glass breaker, quick drain sheath.

Rating: 4.5/5

Treasure Gurus Diving Knife

Treasure Gurus Diving Knife

Safety is of the utmost priority when it comes to underwater diving. With Treasure Gurus Diving Knife, you can be assured of your safety. Whether you are snorkeling on the surface or diving deep down up to 60 feet, this stainless steel knife can be your friend to help you with safekeeping.

This blue-colored beauty comes with a complete set of the sheath along with arm and leg straps that allow you easy access when you dive into the water. The blade measures about 4.5 inches with a complete length of 8 inches, including the handle.

The pointed knife tip helps you pierce through hard surfaces or easily attack any underwater threats. The serrated tip also served as a line cutter to ensure that you can easily cut through the toughest fishing lines. Further, the knife features a cushioned grip to ensure that you can hold it without any slipping issues.

Pros:

  • Easy to mount on any sheath
  • Ideal locking mechanism to ensure safety during diving
  • Straps and stretchy and durable enough
  • Rubber grip for better friction underwater
  • Pocket-friendly pricing

Cons:

  • Tends to rust out easily even with its stainless steel make
  • Doesn’t come with a slide to hold in the excess strap

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: 8 inches
  • Blade Length: 5 inches
  • Special Features: Pointed tip blade, line cutter, cushion grip handle, safe and user-friendly.

Rating: 4.3/5

Audeamus Titanium Diving Knife

Audeamus Titanium Diving Knife

This best dive knife from Audeamus is crafted from the very best material that ensures durability for years when used under deep saltwater conditions. In addition, this dive knife isn’t prone to rust and is perfectly light in weight to ensure that you can carry it around with ease when making your way through the water.

Forget about the instances where you lose your dive knife when diving. The Audeamus dive knife comes with a locking sheath to ensure that you don’t have to worry about it falling off abruptly. In addition, the click-lock system is durable enough to handle the rough water streams underwater.

The premium-quality design features the Gr. 5 alloy that requires little to no maintenance. As a result, it is ideal for fishing, diving, as well as spearfishing. The 5-inch titanium blade in this knife comes with both serrated and straight edges, which are backed by heavy-duty straps that can be fitted onto your legs.

Pros:

  • Premium-quality lock sheath design to secure knife underwater
  • Easy click locking design
  • Comes with a 60-day manufacturer money-back guarantee
  • Can be used by left-handed and right-handed individuals
  • Durable straps with a rubber-locking design

Cons:

  • A bit pricey for its features
  • It Goes blunt after few uses, needs frequent sharpening

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: Titanium Alloy
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: Not Specified
  • Blade Length: 5 inches
  • Special Features: Straight and serrated edge blade, heavy-duty leg straps, premium locking sheath mechanism.

Rating: 4.6/5

TUSA FK-910/920 X-Pert II Diving Knife

TUSA FK-910920 X-Pert II Diving Knife

The TUSA X-Pert II is designed with the use of 420-grade stainless steel to ensure that it doesn’t rust even when used in the harshest waters. While the FK-910 design features a point drop blade, the FK-920 flaunts a carefully designed blunt tip to ensure zero poking accidents when diving underwater.

Further, the dive knife features a newly designed, top-notch ergonomic grip that is counterweighted to ensure it can be handled with ease in any kind of water. In addition, the blade comes with serrated edges along with a durable line cutter in case you stumble upon any fishing lines.

The knife further comes with a single-button lock release on the sheath. In addition, TUSA FK-910/920 comes with a buckle that can easily be adjusted while ensuring a durable and comfortable fit.

Pros:

  • Comes in 3 different colors, including the right flash yellow
  • Single-button release mechanism for the lock
  • Easy to disassemble for maintenance and cleaning
  • Dual blunt and sharp tip design
  • Ideal for beginners and advanced scuba divers or rescuers

Cons:

  • Might rust easily when left un-cleaned after use in saltwater
  • Locking system can glitch at times

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 420 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 3
  • Overall Length: 10 inches
  • Blade Length: 5 inches
  • Special Features: Easy to adjust buckle and straps, easy dissembling, serrated edge, line cutter, ergonomic grip.

Rating: 4.6/5

Cressi Blunt Diving Knife

Cressi Blunt Diving Knife

The Cressi Diving Knife comes in four different variants, including the spear-headed design and a blunt one depending on your needs. The stainless steel design comes with a straight back to help you cut any tangles underwater. This blunt-tipped knife is ideal for usage in varying scenarios.

Made in Japan, this scuba diving knife stays sharp for years, even when used in harsh saltwater areas. One side of this knife features an extra durable and rigid serrated blade to help you saw through, while the other end packs in a skillfully designed straight blade.

The ergonomically designed non-slip knife handle provides an efficient grip under the water. It also comes with a hole on the handle to help you hook it to your scuba diving suit. In addition, the sheath available with the knife can easily be attached to the suit’s inflator hose or even on the shoulder strap.

Pros:

  • A Lock-in mechanism helps secure your knife when diving
  • Rear plate designed for strap attachment
  • Comes with a Velcro mount strap
  • Ergonomically-designed non-slip grip for the handle
  • Blunt tip for enhanced safety

Cons:

  • Knife becomes very blunt after few uses
  • Strap starts coming to lose under water pressure

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 4
  • Overall Length: 8 inches
  • Blade Length: 8 inches
  • Special Features: Velcro BCD mount straps, ergonomic non-slip handle grip, small size knife with blunt tip.

Rating: 4.4/5

Gear Aid Akua Paddle 62065 Diving Knife

Gear Aid Akua Paddle 62065 Diving Knife

Crafted from high-quality stainless steel material, the Gear Aid Akua Scuba Knife is well-fitted to all your deep sea water diving needs. The knife features a titanium-coated blade of 3 inches which is armed with the line or cord cutter to help you get rid of the fishing lines bothering you during the dive.

The blade and its blunt tip don’t pierce the inflatable you carry around when diving. Further, you can also use it in the form of a screwdriver if needed or to easily open a shellfish. The sheath provided with the knife can easily be mounted anywhere along with a removable belt & clip.

The lightweight design helps you carry it around with ease and features a glass breaker on the end of the handle along with a bottle opener. With the single press of a thumb, you can quickly release the knife from the sheath for quick access.

Pros:

  • Comes with a paracord slot to help you hook it into the diving suit
  • Titanium coating to prevent saltwater rusting
  • Ideal for paddle & underwater rescue operations
  • Comes with a tank banger and glass breaker
  • Bright navy green color to help you see in the dark

Cons:

  • Metal screws present in the sheath might rust easily
  • Bottle opener isn’t as safe and might cut your hands

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 5Cr15 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 2
  • Overall Length: Not Specified
  • Blade Length: 3 inches
  • Special Features: Titanium coated blade, blunt tip, removable belt clip, last tab mount, quick release sheath lock.

Rating: 4.5/5

Dive Master Diving Knife

Dive Master Diving Knife

The Dive Master diving knife comes with a 9-inch design, with the blade taking up about 4.5 inches. Crafted from high-quality 420 J2 grade stainless steel, this diving knife can be used in freshwater as well as saltwater regardless of how deep you dive.

In order to avoid slipping issues in the water, the handle features a contoured grip design for better friction. The bright blue color allows you to see underwater with ease, and you can find it easily even if you happen to lose it due to water current.

The leg and arm straps are made up of ABS thermoplastic material that is resistant to impact from any heavy material. The knife features a nylon handle that is resistant to corrosion and lock in place with the sheath.

Pros:

  • Affordable pricing with top-notch features
  • Ideal for shallow underwater diving routines
  • Sheath holds the knife in place and doesn’t let it displace
  • Adjustable straps can fit into legs or arms of any size
  • Knife handle is soft enough to hold for hours

Cons:

  • Needs to be oiled regularly to avoid rusting
  • Doesn’t come with any button unlock feature

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: 420 J2 Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: 9 inches
  • Blade Length: 625 inches
  • Special Features: Contoured grip handles, ABS high impact resistant thermoplastic arm and leg straps.

Rating: 4.2/5

Gasher Diving Knife

Gasher Diving Knife

The Gasher scuba diving knife is designed for deep-sea diving and helps protect you from any underwater obstructions or danger. This scuba knife is also great if you plan on camping, hiking, climbing, fishing, or hunting needs.

The knife is safe & dependable and won’t slip under any circumstances to ensure security in uncharted terrains. Furthermore, the knife handle comes with a nylon-based rope that could be roped into your wrist to ensure a secure holding position. Apart from this, it also avoids any scalding issues on your hands.

Its lightweight design makes it easy to be carried around for snorkeling, scuba diving, and spearfishing. The pointy spear edge helps act as a screwdriver and is also useful for prying open something hard. The dive knife packs in a locking mechanism that allows an easy one-hand release potential.

Pros:

  • Features serrated and plain blade design on two sides
  • Corrosion-resistant blade material that seldom rusts
  • Sturdy sheath design with snap to keep your knife from moving
  • Decent in weight, not at all flimsy or overweight
  • Pocket-friendly pricing

Cons:

  • Might need some sharpening every now and then
  • Straps are a tad small for users with big legs or arms

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Specifications:

  • Blade Material: Stainless steel
  • Color Options: 1
  • Overall Length: 6 inches
  • Blade Length: 4 inches
  • Special Features: High quality blade material, one side straight edge blade, another side serrated edge blade, quick adjustable sheath straps.

Rating: 4.2/5

Best Diving Knife Complete Buying Guide

Best Diving Knife Complete Buying Guide

The best diving knife is an essential piece of diving gear & possibly one of the most recognizable items in the diver’s kit. In several countries, a diving knife is a necessary safety item every diver should have with them. Therefore, you should always be thoughtful while buying yourself the best diving knife.

While buying your diving knife, you should find one that is versatile to meet your requirements, matches your diving type, easily clips to your equipment, & most significantly will be saltwater resistant.

Several divers carry diving knives as a tool that might be used in various situations. For many individuals, carrying the best diving knife simply provides peace of mind.

Why do you need a diving knife? What are the benefits?

If you have ever wondered whether you need a diving knife during dives or not—the answer is yes, you surely do. You should bring diving knives not, as films would have you believe, to fight off giant octopuses& sharks. Generally, divers carry knives if they find themselves tangled in seaweed, kelp, or fishing line.

Benefits of a Diving Knife:

  • Release yourself if you get tangled in monofilament lines or fishnets while diving in busy water
  • Used for spearfishing
  • Setting free ocean animals entangled in fishnets
  • Cut yourself free from entanglement while diving into an area full of kelp
  • Used by technical divers as they perform underwater jobs, like maintenance
  • used to pry or dig during a dive
  • On land, it is used for tightening or losing screws, pound or hammer items, & open crenel shells

Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Dive Knife

A good diving knife should:

  • Not be unduly large – a blade of 2-3 inches is typically pretty big
  • Be able to be strap mounted to the BCD, inside the reach of both hands
  • Provide a good grip, even with gloves
  • Include a line hook
  • Ideally, be made up of titanium

Now that you know, there are a lot of things to consider while buying a dive knife. So let’s take a look at these points in detail.

1. Metal Type

Choices in diving knives metal types are usually between titanium or stainless steel.

  • Stainless steel

These knives mostly come in 300-400 series alloys. The lesser the number, the more rust-resistant the diving knife will be. At the same time, the trade-off is that the lesser the number, the tougher it is to maintain a hard edge.

Every stainless-steel diving knife will rust to some extent, at times very quickly, because of its carbon ratio (which provides the strength). Thus, they will need regular maintenance. After every dive, you will need to dip the diving knife in potable water. Experts also recommended that you put oil or silicone on the blade after every use.

  • Titanium

Titanium diving knives are the top-end choice as they are considerably more expensive than their stainless-steel equivalents.

One benefit of a titanium diving knife is that they need no maintenance. Moreover, titanium doesn’t contain carbon, so the knives don’t rust & are seawater resistant. Titanium diving knives also retain an edge well. However, they might be a bit tougher to sharpen as you should not be using a diving knife often, so there should not be much of a requirement for sharpening the blade.

2. Blade Structure

Blades can be either folding or straight. A straight blade diving knife is generally stored in a protective cover to avoid accidentally clipping anything. On the other hand, the benefit of a folding blade is that it is more compact, safer, &easier to carry. However, it might be difficult to open with a single hand.

3. Tips

Blade tips are blunt, tanto, or sharp.

  • Blunt-tipped diving knives are safe as they avoid accidental punctures & probably best for almost all divers.
  • A tanto blade has a sharply slanted tip that looks just about like a chisel.
  • Sharp-tipped diving knives are mainly used during spearfishing. However, recreational divers are advised not to use sharp-tipped diving blades to avoid stabbing thru anything accidentally.

4. Edges

There are two extensive choices when it comes to diving knife edges:

  • Serrated Edge
  • Straight Edge

Straight-edged diving blades are used with a chopping motion, while serrated-edged knives are used to saw. Moreover, straight knives are excellent for cutting nylon & plastics, while serrated knives are best for kelp & natural fibers.

Several divers will opt for a diving knife with a single edge on both sides. However, whatsoever you do, ensure that you get yourself one with a notch created to cut the fishing line.

5. Size

Most diving knives are compact & this is the preferred size for modern-day divers. Diving knives of a minimum of 7cm will be long enough to slice thru netting. Smaller diving knives are easier to wear & wield as well. However, the only reason to take a large knife is if you’re diving for spearfishing in kelp forests.

6. Comfort

Comfort is much more of a personal decision. Hold your diving knives before purchasing them & ensure that your hand feels comfy in the grip. Also, consider grabbing it when wearing gloves, as this will help you figure out the best diving knife to use.

7. Attachment

You should also consider where you wish to attach your diving knife. One usual placement used to be on your leg. Possibly the typical placement was on your lower leg, opposite to your dominant hand. However, this placement has been denounced as being easier to catch &/or get tangled in things underwater.

Nowadays, a placement gaining in reputation is on the Buoyancy Control (BC). In this way, the diving knife always remains attached & you would not forget it on the diving boat. A diving knife on the BC might also be very easy to reach, depending upon the situation.

If you strap a diving knife on your BC, ensure that the tip is blunt so that you do not puncture your BC. You will probably need a diving knife of size ranging from smaller to medium if you strap it on your BC.

Frequently Asked Questions

1-Why are some diving knifes blunt?

The tip of the diving knife can either be pointed or blunt. For most recreational divers, blunt tip diving knives should be fine. In that way, the knife cannot be stabbed thru anything unintentionally – like a wetsuit or a hose.

2-Can you check in a diving knife in an airplane?

Despite the strict regulations of the Transportation Security Administration on traveling with sharp objects that might be used as weapons on an aircraft, you can take a diving knife with you on your travel, provided you pack it appropriately.

3-Should a scuba diver carry knives?

For most scuba divers, diving knives are a crucial safety gadget to carry with them. In addition, diving knives can be utilized to get free from entanglements in kelp, fishing line & other things underwater. Therefore, carrying the best diving knife is recommended.

4-Where should I keep my diving knife?

The most traditional spot to keep a diving knife during your deep-sea diving is by your ankle or leg. The diving knife sheath should be attached to a strap that fastens around your leg or ankle. Attaching the diving knife vertical to your leg provides the smoothest lines.

Conclusion

When considering scuba diving, safety is of the utmost importance, and with a reliable scuba knife, you can protect yourself with ease. The best dive knives reviewed above come from the best manufacturers that ensure quality without the need to invest a lot. Consider going through our buying guide and scuba knife reviews to make an informed purchase before you pick any of these scuba diving knives for your next diving escapade.