SkimFisher
Contributor
As it relates to titanium...save your money. It's too expensive and a PITA to sharpen. Great in other applications, but for a knife? Overkill. Titanium is for people that don't want to rinse their gear off after a dive and don't mind spending $90 on a replacement after they lose it.
If you think you can handle removing your knife from its sheath and rinsing it after each dive, then a nice cheap dive knife is just for you. Find one that's made from 304 stainless steel. It's a bit softer, but it's even more opposed to rusting than the common 440 steel. The softer steel means you'll have to sharpen it a little more than 440, but knives need to be sharpened regardless so I don't see it as much of a talking point. My current knife is a of 304 SS and not a spec of rust on it after 51 dives.
If you think you can handle removing your knife from its sheath and rinsing it after each dive, then a nice cheap dive knife is just for you. Find one that's made from 304 stainless steel. It's a bit softer, but it's even more opposed to rusting than the common 440 steel. The softer steel means you'll have to sharpen it a little more than 440, but knives need to be sharpened regardless so I don't see it as much of a talking point. My current knife is a of 304 SS and not a spec of rust on it after 51 dives.