BC Knives

[String]

Is that what the salesman told you? And did he get you to buy a can of Spare Air with the knife you haven't needed in over 500 dives?

My guess is people who actually need underwater cutting tools for recreational dives are probably told so for liability sake. Thus far I have never had a dive op, divemaster, or even my LDS tell me I needed a cutting tool for wimpy recreational dives that they booked or performed for me. It has also never been on a "what to bring" list.

Try diving in high current, low visibility areas where there are lots of crab and lobster pots along with monofilament around wrecks.

Its most definitely a safety issue.

Yes for 99.9% of my dives i dont need to cut anything at all - however i carry the cutting implements for that 1 dive where i do need to free myself.

 

[clem]

shears I have used underwater several times. A knife?... only on the surface... Keep my oceanic spinner knife attached to the flap that holds the shears in their holder.

 

[Papa_Bear]

How many people report an incident of tangling if nothing can of it? So I would say anecdotally that having a cutting tool has worked well for many considering how many diver encounter tangles and come back to tell, even if only when asked! I know I have had a few that I handled and never thought about it afterwards! So I would say those overloaded with gadget divers are doing something right! It is nice to "KISS" but you do need the basics like Mask, Fins, Tank, Reg, and a cutting tool! Even Fish get caught in nets, bet they wish they had a cutting tool?

 

[Lucy's Diver]

Is that what the salesman told you? And did he get you to buy a can of Spare Air with the knife you haven't needed in over 500 dives?

My guess is people who actually need underwater cutting tools for recreational dives are probably told so for liability sake. Thus far I have never had a dive op, divemaster, or even my LDS tell me I needed a cutting tool for wimpy recreational dives that they booked or performed for me. It has also never been on a "what to bring" list.

I beleived my seat belt salesman when he told me that was a safety issue. And my air bag salesman.

Also, perhaps you could point us to statute or caselaw imposing liability on a dive shop for failing to say that a cutting tool is a saefty issue.

 

[Scotttyd]

I work at a hospital and we have knives used to cut clothes off patients in emergencies, similiar to the ones to cut tape off of athletes ankles. Does anyone know if these would this rust in salt water? They would work great to put in a BC if they did not

 

[clem]

well. salt will rust or corrode just about anything given enough time..but if these hospital knives you describe are light, strong,and have a good handle to allow them to be used safely I would like to hear and see more about them.

 

[String]

Smear the entire knife in vaseline or spray in WD40 to form a protective layer. That'll slow down rusting.

Make sure its not a sharp point knife too.

 

[BDSC]

Hello Scottyd!

Congrats on getting certified and I would like to invite you and the spouse to one of the local dive clubs in the Raleigh area called Bull City Divers. We are a dive club based out of Water World in Durham.

OK. To the dive knife. I have been diving for 17 years and only carry a knife with me when I dive around wrecks. The reason should be obvious with the potential for fishing lines and such. Have I ever needed it? Just once. We actually came across a turtle that was caught up in some line and we cut him loose.

When I am doing the typical Caribbean dives like I will be doing next week in Bonaire, I don't carry one but my buddy usually does. Never found a need to use one in those situations.

The knife I carry is a small one with a blunt tip that can easily be attached just about anywhere on my gear. That style of knife should be all the knife you will ever need. I just love seeing the "James Bond" divers get out their 12 to 14" pig stickers and strap them on their leg like they are ready for battle when they are out doing a drift dive in Cozumel or a shore dive off Bonaire. (But they will probably stand a better chance when the Great White attacks!) Most of these folks are new at diving and have seen this type of thing in the movies so they go out and buy the biggest knife they can find.

But the bottom line is really what YOU want and feel comfortable with. So buy and then enjoy what you buy!

BDSC

 

[Scotttyd]

Hello Scottyd!

Congrats on getting certified and I would like to invite you and the spouse to one of the local dive clubs in the Raleigh area called Bull City Divers. We are a dive club based out of Water World in Durham.

OK. To the dive knife. I have been diving for 17 years and only carry a knife with me when I dive around wrecks. The reason should be obvious with the potential for fishing lines and such. Have I ever needed it? Just once. We actually came across a turtle that was caught up in some line and we cut him loose.

When I am doing the typical Caribbean dives like I will be doing next week in Bonaire, I don't carry one but my buddy usually does. Never found a need to use one in those situations.

The knife I carry is a small one with a blunt tip that can easily be attached just about anywhere on my gear. That style of knife should be all the knife you will ever need. I just love seeing the "James Bond" divers get out their 12 to 14" pig stickers and strap them on their leg like they are ready for battle when they are out doing a drift dive in Cozumel or a shore dive off Bonaire. (But they will probably stand a better chance when the Great White attacks!) Most of these folks are new at diving and have seen this type of thing in the movies so they go out and buy the biggest knife they can find.

But the bottom line is really what YOU want and feel comfortable with. So buy and then enjoy what you buy!

BDSC

Tell me about the bull city diver, what type of outings/meetings do you have? I was in water world once when I was looking at a boat, I skimmed the dive inventory, but that was before I was certified. bye the way, I meant hospital shears, not knives, they are the same as what EMT's use.

 

[kensparta]

scotty,
I am new to diving but I have been a sea kayak guide for a bunch of years and many of us swear by our EMT shears. They do rust but a fresh water rinse and vaseline will go a long way.
I was doing a little dive up here in Maine and had a bad run in with monofilament. I was pretty happy to have my folding knife in my pocket.