Dive Knife

A dive knife is useful for if the diver become tangled in kelp or sea weed, or gets caught in fishing line or fishing net. Since these are not very likely on a normal dive, some feel a dive knife is not necessary and just a toy that is bought to simply have one. For wreck divers, however, a scuba diving knife may be necessary. Often times mounted to the leg for easy availability when encountering different discarded lines, anchor lines and other types of ropes and nets. If coming upon any of these without a way to get through them could be dangerous, thus a knife is essential.

For those who choose to have a dive knife there are several that are available that work well. The Tekna dive knife, OR Tekna dagger is a one piece knife, made of metal with holes in the handle and two sharp edges. Available is a sheath with metal clip and quick thumb release that holds the dagger in place. They are come with a choice of sharp or blunt tip.

While most knives are made of stainless steel, a titanium dive knife is a higher quality choice. Titanium will retain its edge longer, is rust proof and lighter than a stainless steel blade. A top titanium knife is the Wenoka big squeeze, reviewed as one of the best.

Also, the Oceanic dive knives are made from solid titanium alloy with a sturdy corrosion proof, lightweight tool. It boasts a maintenance free line cutter, serrated edge and a metal butt for emergency signaling. For safety and availability, it can be combined with leg straps, a wrist lanyard and/or an easy release sheath. An important feature if a dive knife is desired is an oversized hilt that will protect the hand from sliding onto the blade.

Among the different types of knives there are those that are merely collector’s items and not made for today’s use. The Vince diver knife, or machete, was used in used in World War II. These are now collector’s items and are hard to come by.

Care for a dive knife is essential; there are several ways to sharpen the knife. The most convenient and less expensive is to purchase a fine metal file from a hardware store. The one downside of this type of sharpening is it may dull easily and will need to be sharpened often. Sharpening is recommended before each day of diving, while other sharpening methods can be done by honing or stone sharpening.