What is the most important tool for a diver? Definitely an oxygen tank! But what else can there be? Well, the best tool a diver can have is a good dive knife. Either of stainless steel or of titanium, whether with sharp edges or serrated edges, it can help you in any entanglement.
Description
Diving knives are a general tool used by the scuba divers to set themselves free from the entangling fishing lines or even rap on their oxygen tanks to get the attention of their partner. Not all the items for diving are knives, but these are aid a diver underwater. Diving knives and tools are tools meant for a person’s aid, not for harming the aquatic creatures or defacing the environment that is created underwater.
Features
Some features make diving knives different; a dive knife should have a sheath with a retainer to mount the equipment on, either strapped to your leg or wrist. The sheath should be able to hold the knife securely and at the same time, it should allow you to release the blade with one hand. Another thing that a dive knife should have is a sharp edge that helps in cutting, i.e. setting yourself free from traps and entanglements.
Dive Tool Styles
Dive Knife:
A dive knife is made either from stainless steel or from titanium, to prevent corrosion and rust, as it is mostly used underwater. It has a sharp edge for cutting or a serrated edge for sawing through ropes and such. Moreover, dive knives do not have a specific set size. Their size varies from very compact to large, depending on the user’s preferences and needs.
Dive Tool:
These are the same thing as a dive knife, but a prying tool replaces its sharp tip.
Dive Shears:
These are just as sharp as a knife, but these are in the shape of a scissor and are good for cutting monofilament line.
Z-Knives:
Z-knives are similar to the dive knives, but the difference is in their hooks with the blade that help in cutting fishing line or net.
Extra Features
Stainless steel is the most common blade material used for the knives; however, another material is titanium, which is very corrosion resistant and quite light in weight. Moreover, metal handle butt gives the diving knives more advantage. With larger knives, a metal handle butt can act as a hammer and it can also be a nice solid surface for rapping on the scuba tank.
How to Choose
- The very first thing you need to do is decide where you will be wearing your dive knife or tool. This will be your deciding point on the size of the knife. For frequent travelers, a small knife or shear would be a better choice.
- Once the placement and the size of the knife are decided on, you need to take the handle on a variety of the knives. Here are a few things that you need to try before selecting the knife:
- Check the grip. If you usually wear gloves when diving, then check the grip with the gloves on.
- Release and replace the knife from its sheath a few times to see if it is easy. Do it with the gloves one, and mounted where you want to place it if it is possible.
- Make your choice of the best knife or tool based on the features you find appealing.
- Go for two tools, a dive knife with shears, or a dive knife with a Z-knife. Work in pairs!
