Dive knives when out with a DM

[Painter]

I have done most of my dives with dive ops in Florida and the Caribbean, and all of those with at least one DM or guide.
I have never carried a knife, and I have never had the need for one in over a hundred dives.
Recently I was on a boat out of Jupiter, FL and I counted at least four divers with knives, one of which was a big honker strapped to the diver's leg that made him look like he was going into combat.
I have no objection to anybody carrying anything that makes them feel more comfortable on a dive (though a teddy bear would get a little soggy). How many of you carry a knife on guided dive trips and why?

 

[Marie13]

Some guys seem to like their BFKs.

 

[NorCalDM]

I always have a cutting device with me either a blunt tip knife or shears. The only time I don't is when it is not allowed, this will happen in Marine Perseveres and usually won't allow gloves either.

 

[tridacna]

I carry a Trilobite line cutter on my belt. Used it exactly once in 10 years when I got snagged with a fishing hook on the Spiegel Grove. I’m glad that I had it.

You will soon hear the neccesity of carrying a chainsaw on the board.

 

[J-Vo]

3 cutting devices, but no knife for me.

 

[formernuke]

I always carry at least 2 cutting devices. I've never actually needed one (I have used one though).

It's one of those things that it's better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

[rhwestfall]

BFK - What else would you use to cut cheese & fruit, and spread peanut butter during a SI?

 

[Eric802]

I've got one of those ceramic line cutters from Dive Right and an old (like 1990's) Tusa knife. I have a hard time envisioning strapping that knife onto my leg for any reasons beside "I bought this thing 20-some years ago and I'm damn well gonna use it".

And that's probably enough reason for me.

 

[living4experiences]

I only have a "knife" (really a cutting tool) now because my recently purchased Aqua Lung Lotus BCD has a built-in sheath, so I bought the Aqua Lung tool. It's a blunt point. Shortly after that purchase, my dive buddy got hooked by an a***hole fisherman at Blue Heron Bridge, so I had to cut her loose from the fishing line. It's also come in handy to cut away marine debris or abandoned fishing line wrapped around the reef. I also have a small net bag in my BCD pocket for the marine trash.

 

[Esprise Me]

A dive buddy of mine has told a story about freeing another diver from a ghost net in Cozumel when both the DM and the diver's buddy had failed to notice and had been swept out of sight downcurrent. I don't know for sure that the story is true and unembellished, but I can't say it's impossible.

I always carry an Eezycut on my harness. Never had to use it to free myself from entanglement, but I have used it a few times to cut fishing line to clean up garbage and remove hazards underwater. It costs almost nothing, takes up almost no space, and requires almost no maintenance, so I fail to see a downside.