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!

 

[arkstorm]

Depends on that exact nature of what you are doing underwater but generally, line cutter is safer and quicker than shears.

 

[thomschoon]

Line cutter and sharpen the knife.

 

[Rilelen]

Another vote for line-cutter here.

 

[rhwestfall]

I prefer a ceramic line cutter (less likely to rust)...

 

[coldwaterglutton]

Why restrict yourself? I carry shears and a line cutter. In addition to a well-sharpened knife. All center mass but in different places. You can never be sure how you will be stuck.

 

[fred32176]

I have shears and a line cutter. I take the line cutter on every dive. My line cutter is a DGX titanium M cut safety tool. I attach the line cutter to my BCD where it is accessible, very light weight and takes almost no space. The one moving part gets oiled after every dive.

I got the shears as part of doing an underwater fishing pier cleanup (Deerfield Beach) and the shears cut big messes of fishing line faster than the line cutter. For the pier cleanup I used paracord to tether the shears to a wrist strap as I needed two hands to put a glob of fishing line and in the mesh collection bag. Forget using shears if you are wearing gloves or want your hands free for other things. I haven't taken the shears on another dive as they aren't as convenient to carry or use. Only for special dives like underwater pier cleanups where I expect to deal with wads of fishing line will I bother to take shears.

 

[The Chairman]

Line cutter. Too many shears rust out at the bolt.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

I carry both, but these are my personal favorite EEZYCUT Trilobite Line Cutter . To @rhwestfall ’s point, you get some surface rust, and the ceramic is nice. I have used this in the past, Dive Rite Ceramic Line Cutter w/Sheath , and liked them. I just prefer having the 2 sides.

I never noticed this option before, but it rings all of the bells DGX Sharp Cut w/Sheath - Yellow / Orange .

Erik

 

[Lostdiver71]

I carry both a line cutter and shears. The shears linked below have a stainless steel bolt that has not rusted on me yet.
Madison Supply Medical Scissors,...