Traveling with a dive knife

[kcDiver]

I know this might sound like a stupid question but I'm traveling to Jamaica next month and I have to ask it. Has anyone had a bad experience trying to get a dive knife through customs?

Different countries have different laws and I don't want to find myself in a Jamaican jail for trying to bring a weapon into the country.

I've checked http://travel.state.gov/ but didn't find anything other then "don't try to bring firearms". The knife I'll bring is a blunt tip and it's pretty obvious that it's not intended to be used as a weapon but I'm a little worried about going through customs.

kcDiver

 

[herman]

Why ask for trouble? The laws of other countries vary so widely and it's almost impossible to know what they are. I would bet that there are states in the US that would deem your knife a "dangerous weapon". (God help you if you take your dive gear to a school for "show and tell") I have spent many hours under Caribbean waters and I can't think of a time I needed a knife. Lets face it, the chances of entanglement are almost non-existant in a reef enviroment. If you are wreck diving where fishing line is common then a knife is a good idea, but on a reef? If you feel you need a cutting instrument, how about a pair of scissors? Stainless steel pairs are sold in dive catalogs and most dive stores. They are more effective on fishing line and not nearly as likely to cause a fuss in customs.

 

[Warhammer]

I'll 2nd herman's comments on shears/scissors. They are absolutely the best for most situations. However there are some situations where a knife is still handy. Like on big rope or digging for example.

I usually pack my knife in my checked luggage and have never had any problems when doing that. I went to Jamaica last year and carried my knife. Several divers had them and nothing was ever said except, "Hey Mon, nice knife, how much?" As a result several of the divers went back knifeless and several DMs were happy with their new gift. I brought mine back but my watch wasn't as lucky (he was a great DM ). But I did get my pocket knife confiscated once in the Cancun airport. Dumb me tried to board the plane with it in my pocket and I was immediately surrounded by Mexican police when I took it out and placed it in the little bowl as I passed through the metal detector. They didn't arrest me, they escorted me back to the check-in counter to try and head off my checked baggage. But it was too late, so they promised to mail it to me. Needless to say, I never got it back.

 

[kcDiver]

I think your both right. Maybe I'll bring a small knife and a pair of scissors. I'll make sure to pack them both in my checked luggage. I know a pair of scissors saved the life of a catfish last week. On my night dive for my AOW, my instructor freed a catfish that was attached to a stringer and snagged on a rock at 10ft.

Warhammer, I read your review of Sandals Negril. I'm going to MoBay. Your comments help convince my wife to move my BC and Reg purchase up a few months. THANKS!

kcDiver

 

[Iguana Don]

You keep the knife packed in with your dive gear, don't try and take it on the plane. You will get all kinds of funny looks from the air line ticket attendants. According to American Airlines, no knife with a serrated edge is permitted in the passenger compartment.

ID

 

[Warhammer]

No problem, now I need you to convince my wife that I need a scooter.

 

[egg007]

Always packed it with my scuba gear never had a problem in the Caribbean.
Never try to carry it on board, thats trouble.

At the end of the day u don't have acess to the knife on board and secondly its legitimatley with your gear.

 

[Tavi]

About a year ago my wife and I went to pick up a freind at the Buffalo Airport. I didn't think we would be going into the secure area. Well, her plane hadn't arrived yet so we went through the security check to go to the gate and wait for her. I was wearing my 4 inch folding Buck knife on my belt. The guard took it out of the basket and called over a younger guard. He opened the knife and told the younger guard that if this had a serated edge it would not be allowed through. Seeing that it was not serated it was okay to allow through.He handed it back to me.

I don't understand their reasoning. I think either edge would work well on human flesh, If thats what the fear is. The serated may work better on seat belts.

BTW If I had known I would be going through the Security check I would not have had my knife on me.

Tavi

 

[joewr]

Tavi,

What ever gave you the idea that "reasoning" was involved? A few years ago a deranged passenger held an airplane in flight "hostage" by holding one of those miniature Swiss Army knives against someone's throat. The edge was not serated!

I usually carry a pocket knife everyday; it is about 5 inches long open (i.e., 2.5 in blade) and I carry aboard airplanes. I have never been asked question one about it. It is razor-sharp and could slice a carotid artery with ease! I have never used it for that, though! Mostly, it cuts open plastic or cardboard containers--hopefully containing new and exciting scuba gear!

One A/L person told me the restriction on serated-eged knives was because they were usually larger knives and did greater distruction to tissue (not kleenex)! I guess that is "reasoning".

Oh yes, I, like most everybody else here, carry my dive knife in my check-in luggage. Seems the thing to do to avoid pbs with security.

Joewr

 

[ScubaBaby]

Living in the UK means I dont know about what would happen in the states but I never really have problems a dive knife.

Everytime I go away, I pack my knife in with my scuba gear, I then have to declare I have a knife in with my dive gear. They then take away my nice safe trolley and say I have to carry my dive gear 100's of miles over to the other side of the airport where they run it through a big machine and then give it back to me with an added sticker!

Then they make me take it all the way back, queue again, then I am aloud to check it through.

But I have never had any problems the other end....even in Egypt....well I didnt have any problems concerning my dive knife in Egypt!!!

Enjoy your trip and make sure you tell us all about it on your return.