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!

 

[RIHappyDiver]

Does this mean you are actually going to use them my friend

I have already replaced my Trilobites with them, and they’ve gone on 2 dives. Like Pete said, it’s nice that they won’t rust. As far as use them, I always hope I won’t have to, but it’s good to know that they’re there if I need them.

By the way, my wife really likes the pink ones that I got for her, as well as the pink silicone weight belt. Mako for the win!

Erik

 

[skalalaz]

Depending on where you dive, either 2 line cutters or 1 line cutter and a pair of sheers. For general rec diving there is very little need for a knife, but, again, depends on where you dive.

I just got a couple of these and they look promising.

Erik

Thanks I will look into these!

 

[Subcooled]

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.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't have an Aqua Lung dive knife but I do have one with a smooth sharp edge and it is often less usefull. I find I need a serrated edge instead.

What tool is better for making a quick cut underwater?

What are you cutting? Kelp? Cave line? Barbed wire? Fishing line? A fishing net? Rope? Dyneema (I'd feel sorry for you then)?

A line cutter or trauma shears?

Line or a fishing net?

Neither help if you get entangled in the crown of an underwater tree in a flooded quarry (one of my dive sites has this hazard awaiting new divers to the site). You should carry a cutting device that is effective against the entanglement hazards of you chosen dive site.

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.

Pick several ones. A line cutter is nice to have. A cheap fruit knife or beef knife with serrated edge from IKEA does work, too (put it inside a short length of plastic tube acting as a sheath). You do not need a DIVE knife to cut things under water. While trauma shears might be nice, scissors cut, too. Just don't puncture a drysuit.

 

[lizardland]

Different tasks need different tools and it's good to take a selection. It really depends on what you need to cut. You can't beat a couple of cheap hook cutters, keep one handy and another somewhere else (my spare is on my wetnotes because they are good for sharpening pencils underwater).

Cheap dive knives usually have crap edges that are hard to sharpen. Expensive knives aren't that much better. If you really want a knife get one with a serrated edge as it is easier to saw through stuff than try to slice it. If you've ever tried to clear a propellor fouled with line then you will appreciate how much better a cheap serrated kitchen knife is compared to an expensive straight edge. Personally I think a chisel tip is a lot more useful than a normal point. And if you dive from RHIBs or inflatables then you don't want to be the guy who puts a hole in the tube clambering back in the boat.

The weakness of trauma shears is trying to cut any thick line with them. The line ends up twisting and forcing the blades apart. If you've bought the cheap ones then one of the blades will snap.

If you dive in freshwater then it can be an idea to take a small pair of stainless bypass pruning shears. Getting caught in a dead tree underwater is no fun without them. You can also cut through some hefty manmade junk as well like cables and thinner sheet metal.

Pick several ones. A line cutter is nice to have. A cheap fruit knife or beef knife with serrated edge from IKEA does work, too (put it inside a short length of plastic tube acting as a sheath). You do not need a DIVE knife to cut things under water. While trauma shears might be nice, scissors cut, too. Just don't puncture a drysuit.

I've been using cheap steak knives for years. I cut them down to 50mm or so length and grind a rounded tip on it so there's no chance of puncturing anything with it. I make sheaths from 50mm webbing folded back on itself so there's a pocket for the knife and a belt loop. Knife stays in with friction.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

I have already replaced my Trilobites with them, and they’ve gone on 2 dives. Like Pete said, it’s nice that they won’t rust. As far as use them, I always hope I won’t have to, but it’s good to know that they’re there if I need them.

By the way, my wife really likes the pink ones that I got for her, as well as the pink silicone weight belt. Mako for the win!

Erik

Thanks! Eric!

We really do appreciate the "honorable mention" since we only sell direct to consumers. Without a retail network to support our products, we rely very heavily on customer recommendations!

We sell quite a few "freedive" weight belts to scuba divers. People are slowly catching on about their benefits. I'm glad to hear she likes it!

dano

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

Different tasks need different tools and it's good to take a selection. It really depends on what you need to cut. You can't beat a couple of cheap hook cutters, keep one handy and another somewhere else (my spare is on my wetnotes because they are good for sharpening pencils underwater).

Cheap dive knives usually have crap edges that are hard to sharpen. Expensive knives aren't that much better. If you really want a knife get one with a serrated edge as it is easier to saw through stuff than try to slice it. If you've ever tried to clear a propellor fouled with line then you will appreciate how much better a cheap serrated kitchen knife is compared to an expensive straight edge. Personally I think a chisel tip is a lot more useful than a normal point. And if you dive from RHIBs or inflatables then you don't want to be the guy who puts a hole in the tube clambering back in the boat.

The weakness of trauma shears is trying to cut any thick line with them. The line ends up twisting and forcing the blades apart. If you've bought the cheap ones then one of the blades will snap.

If you dive in freshwater then it can be an idea to take a small pair of stainless bypass pruning shears. Getting caught in a dead tree underwater is no fun without them. You can also cut through some hefty manmade junk as well like cables and thinner sheet metal.



I've been using cheap steak knives for years. I cut them down to 50mm or so length and grind a rounded tip on it so there's no chance of puncturing anything with it. I make sheaths from 50mm webbing folded back on itself so there's a pocket for the knife and a belt loop. Knife stays in with friction.

You make a VERY good point about the benefits (necessity really) of a serrated knife when cutting rope and other heavy line. All our knives have serrated sections for this exact reason.

 

[lizardland]

You make a VERY good point about the benefits (necessity really) of a serrated knife when cutting rope and other heavy line. All our knives have serrated sections for this exact reason.

I generally hate serrated knives because they're so hard to sharpen and they tear whatever you are trying to cut but underwater this is exactly what you need. Low maintenance and hack through whatever you need to. When I owned a RHIB I always had a cheap stainless bread knife in the console because it sawed through anything you wanted it to. When some polyprop welds itself round the propellor you aren't getting that off with trauma shears or a dive knife in a hurry.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

I generally hate serrated knives because they're so hard to sharpen and they tear whatever you are trying to cut but underwater this is exactly what you need. Low maintenance and hack through whatever you need to. When I owned a RHIB I always had a cheap stainless bread knife in the console because it sawed through anything you wanted it to. When some polyprop welds itself round the propellor you aren't getting that off with trauma shears or a dive knife in a hurry.

I agree with you for the most part, but OUR dive knives all have serrated portions of the blade, so they should be able to handle that sort of application. And our titanium models will never rust!

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[tursiops]

i feel obliged to post this again, for those who don't think a cutting tool is really necessary.
Either make sure you can reach it with either hand, or carry two.

Thread 'Fishhook in Finger'

Jan 4, 2019

I encountered a piece of fishing line on the bottom while diving in Ambon Bay, Indonesia, on Dec 8, 2018. The water was a bit murky, and I could not see where the line went....which was to the surface. I tried to move it to take a picture of something, and the fisherman connected to the other end thought he had a big one, set the hook, and tried to reel me in via the hook in my little finger, left hand.

I'd just been at 104 ft, was at 50 ft at the time, and did not want to surface that quickly! I dropped my camera to hang from its tether, got my Trilobite off my chest strap, and cut the...

• tursiops
• Replies: 46
• Forum: Accidents, Incidents, & Near Misses

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