BDSC
Contributor
Come up to New England, I'll put you on some wrecks where you will wish you had a knife, shears, and wire cutters within less then 5 minutes. I can also put you on wrecks that has never seen a fishing line.
Any global statements like these are the result of not seeing many deferring underwater environments. Knifes, shears, and wire cutters are tools. Take and use the right tools for the job you are doing. Most dive sites have at least some histories from other divers, use those histories and reports to plan what tools you will need and take only what you will need.
Take a small "sharp" knife and some shears unless the recent reports say that they are not needed.
Did I say that the knife needs to be SHARP. When was the last time you took a stone and dressed up your knifes edge?
I can see your point but when I go diving I'm not really doing a job. I'm just looking/exploring. Honestly, if someone told me that I would need wire cutters to be able to safely complete a dive, I doubt I would be interested in the dive. Diving for me is a relaxation event.
But I agree that if you are going to carry one, it should at least be sharp although I think shears would be more than enough to free a person of the "fishing line" monster.