Question Line Cutter or Trauma Shears?

[Living4Experiences]

I have an Aqua Lung dive knife that goes into the integrated sheath on my Aqua Lung BCD. I loosely call it a knife because it doesn't really cut, and it takes some effort to use, so I want something better. What tool is better for making a quick cut underwater? A line cutter or trauma shears? Or something else? If trauma shears, I assume it needs to be marine grade that doesn't rust and is easy to use. What do you use? I don't want to spend much on this, $30 or less.

TIA!

 

[lowwall]

I use these $5 shears. I rinse and dry after the dive. I have around 100 dives on mine and the bolt looks OK. I'll probably replace it anyway the next time I order stuff from Piranha. Because $5.

Yellow Handle Shears with pouch

These 400 series stainless-steel snips / cut easily through line, net, rope, kelp and thin steel cable or even a copper penny! This product works well in emergency situations where a knife might not. Want to slip it on your rig no problem we have an upper loop on the back that allows you to...

piranhadivemfg.com

I originally got them because it became a PITA to figure out international rules for carrying a knife and now I prefer it.

 

[lexvil]

Brand please?

Emt & Line Shears Piranha Dive Shop |

www.piranhadivemfg.com

There is also a thread “new tool” still in the testing phase but so far a touch of maintenance seems to be doing the trick.

 

[DreadnoughtNH]

I always have a line cutter (trilobite); I thread the pouch through the chest strap of my harness. That's typically all I bring for travel diving.
If an additional cutting tool is recommended, I use this. I attached a bungee to keep it in the scabbard and attach to my harness. It's plenty sharp, and cheap enough that if it get rusted out or I lose it on a dive, I'm not upset.

I really dislike the Leatherman Raptor Rescue, or any folding knife/multitool for that matter. They seem to attract rust and corrosion. YMMV

 

[lowwall]

If an additional cutting tool is recommended, I use this. I attached a bungee to keep it in the scabbard and attach to my harness. It's plenty sharp, and cheap enough that if it get rusted out or I lose it on a dive, I'm not upset.

That's a nice choice.

But if it were mine, I'd file or grind off the tip. Pointy things make me nervous when it comes to re-sheathing by feel.

 

[DreadnoughtNH]

But if it were mine, I'd file or grind off the tip. Pointy things make me nervous when it comes to re-sheathing by feel.

Oh what is diving without a little excitement! But you bring up a valid point.




See what I did there?

 

[Carl]

You might also want to make sure your dive buddies have cutting tools. They could probably cut whatever is entangling you quicker and easier than you could extract yourself. If they have none, cutting tools would make good gifts.

 

[Brett Hatch]

Dive Gear Express sells stainless shears with a titanium oxide coating for $8. The hinge rivet is stainless as well. I have not had any rust through at the hinge bolt. However, they do get rusty where the plastic handle meets the metal arm. One pair eventually got sufficiently rusty that it snapped. Still, I recommend them, they can't be beat at the price

DGX Titanium EMT Shears

Trauma shears are often carried by ocean divers for use in cutting fishing line, fishing nets, rope or wire.

www.divegearexpress.com

I am currently diving a "ONE Shear" brand stainless pair with carbon coating, available for $30. The hinge rivet is NOT stainless, and began rusting after a couple of dives. I drilled it out with an 11/64" carbide drillbit, and replaced it with a stainless bolt + 2 stainless washers + stainless nyloc nut from the hardware store. So far no rust where the plastic meets the metal after 20 or 30 dives, and no problems with the new replaced hinge bolt, but the new bolt has only been touched seawater on one dive

ECO Utility Scissors (Various Colors) | ONE SHEAR®

ECO Utility Scissors (Various Colors) | ONE SHEAR®. Light weight and cuts great.

www.oneshear.com

I also dive with an Trilobite EEZYCUT line cutter, as well as a DIR-style sawed-off steak knife. Ain't nobody has ever complained about me bringing too many cutting tools on a dive. Or too few, for that matter

 

[Ronreg]

I have an Aqua Lung dive knife that goes into the integrated sheath on my Aqua Lung BCD. I loosely call it a knife because it doesn't really cut, and it takes some effort to use, so I want something better. What tool is better for making a quick cut underwater? A line cutter or trauma shears? Or something else? If trauma shears, I assume it needs to be marine grade that doesn't rust and is easy to use. What do you use? I don't want to spend much on this, $30 or less.

TIA!

Line cutter that can be accessible by both you and your dive buddy I think we would be best

 

[kinoons]

BothView attachment 896058View attachment 896059View attachment 896060View attachment 896061View attachment 896062

I have used several of these shears (leatherman raptor) in the ER and they all get corrosion just from bleach wipes. I wouldn’t trust them at all to stay rust free, especially in salt water. They also dull quickly cutting fiberglass.

 

[landphil]

These are XShears without a protective coating (cause it was more expensive) with 6 years of diving from a couple of times a month to a couple of times a week. Only maintenance they get is a soak in a bucket of fresh water after I get home. Everything except the crust next to the handles is light surface rust on thick stainless bar, and would shine away with a little steel wool. They go for around $42 now. I don’t think I’ve ever used my DIR knife underwater. But these get all kinds of use.