Dive knife/cutters: needed or not needed?

[ArcticDiver]

Like most gear configuration questions; the answer depends on what is best for YOU.

After some experimentation I decided to carry both a knife and large trauma shears.

The knife is a titanium 3" pointed tip sheath knife mounted handle down on my chest strap.

The shears are in a pocket on my waist strap.

These are survival tools and not used for prying, digging, etc. Although it took some effort the knife is razor sharp. I replace the shears periodically as either the center pin rusts through or is gets rusty enough cutting becomes difficult.

These are tools for cutting tangles. On those rare occasions when I need a tool for underwater prying and digging I add a leg mount sheath knife.

 

[jpcpat]

Anywhere you might get entangled you need a cutting devise, so:

I carry a 3" bladed knife on my left shoulder BC strap, just below the LPI hose. it's sheathed handle down. If I need one, that's what I reach for. Useful for fishing line and small ropes I can pull taught.

By my right hip. sort of under my BC, I carry shears for stuff the knife can't handle. In the tank trim pocket, I carry a 5"blade, in case I can't reach my other knife

 

[rjpv]

Thanks for the advice! The bit about limp-vs-tight lines is interesting, though I imagine any situation in which one is entangled in limp line will soon become a situation in which one is entangled in tight line... as it sounds like one poster found out!

 

[pwl]

i went a couple of years without feeling the need for a knife, but when my buddy got caught up in some fishing line (snagged her tank neck, she didn't even realise until after i got her to stop) i figured it was probably worthwhile.

i didn't like the idea of pointy things near my floaty BC either, especially given my general co-ordination , but found a single-edged, serrated blunt-ended knife (looks a bit like a breadknife) which has 2 attachement options: LP inflator hose and belt.

plus it has a nice yellow handle