Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
Grateful for peoples views on knives - are they considered essential?
I don't want to buy one if not really necessary (and maybe feel a little selfconscious carrying one as a new diver).
But if so, could anyone recommend a good quality, but basic/cheap one?
I have one of these on my waist Underwater Kinetics Remora Hydralloy Dive Knife 30131 with reviews at scuba.com
and one of these on my chest Strap Cutter - Black
Of course I do mostly fresh water. Ocean diving you kinda need a big pig sticker if a shark shows up. So you can stab your buddy and while the shark is busy with them you get away safe.
I may have missed it being said, but if you go to the Caribbean most areas are marine preserves and do not allow knives or gloves to be worn. The ezcut has not been a problem.