Introduction
Scuba diving can require a lot of gear from masks to fins to dive computers, it can start to get expensive. Dive knifes are a piece of gear that is worth the money. This should be considered an essential safety device as it will provide peace of mind. If something goes wrong and you get caught on something you will be able to cut your way out of it.
When you are exploring the world underwater and need a knife, we understand how important it is to have a reliable one. In a place where you can’t walk to the kitchen to grab another it is important to have the best diving knife on hand.
As a knife is a crucial safety device to have underwater, it is important to get the best. At activescuba we think the following characteristics are of the utmost importance when picking one that is right for you.
A Look ahead at what we are reviewing:
Dive Knife Size
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to the best dive knives. Even though they can range from 3 to 6 inches we find that the 3.5 to 5 inch is the perfect sized blade. This gives you enough travel to easily cut rope or other material and still be compact enough to carry around without too much added bulk.
Edge
There are two main types of blade edges. The best dive knife should have both. One side, or part, of the knife should be straight while the other is serrated. If you have to choose between these features look first for a serrated blade. It will be able to cut through tougher material and stay sharp longer.
Material
Normal knifes do not need to stand up to the harsh environment of the ocean. Different material will react with the salt and could cause rusting. We suggest looking for a knife that uses a stainless steel or titanium construction.
The stainless steel option will require regular maintenance and sharpening. A lower number, around 300, will indicate a higher quality knife, but will be harder to keep sharp due to high carbon count. You will have to rinse these dive knives after each use and even apply oil or wax to keep it from corroding.
A titanium blade is a much higher quality and cost knife that requires minimal maintenance. The only drawback to these knives is that they are hard to sharpen but the best dive knives shouldn’t require sharpening that often. This option will not rust or deteriorate over time and will be what you need at all times.
Tip
Dive knives can have a pointed or dull tip. Some will appreciate a blunt knife so they don’t puncture things they don’t intend to while others may need that option. New divers may opt for the blunt option as it can be safer underwater.
Mounting
Knives come with many different options for how you can attach them to yourself or your gear, and you want to give some thought to what might work best for you. You can attach them to your calf but you might find this awkward and uncomfortable, and this is particularly true if you are shorter.
You might not like the way this looks, and you need to remember that this is an extra step when kitting up. It’s most likely that you will see scuba divers with their knives attached to their BCDs either on the pocket or low-pressure hose. Whatever you choose, remember you need to be able to access it easily.
Budget
The most important thing to understand about your dive knife is that you are going to drop it and you should not pay more for it than you are willing to lose. No knife is worth the potential harm you could come to while trying to retrieve it so spend only as much as you can happily swim away from.
Lets take a look at some dive knifes we have chosen to review for you all.
Promate Sharp Tip Stainless Steel Knife (5″ Blade) 
Cressi Skorpion, Tempered Stainless Steel Blade Knife
Promate Titanium Knife (4 3/8″ Blade)
Promate Point Tip Dive Knife (3″ Blade)
Stainless Steel VS Titanium Dive Knives
When looking at the various models above, you probably noticed that the blades are either constructed from stainless steel or titanium. These are the two materials used in 99% of dive knives on the market today. Both stainless steel and titanium are naturally corrosion resistant, which is essential for any scuba gear that is going to be spending many hours submerged in a saltwater environment. There are pros and cons for each material, which we will dive into below.
Overall, stainless steel is a “softer” metal, which means sharpening your blade edge is much easier and quicker when compared to a titanium blade. The only downside to this is steel blades need to be sharpened more often and are slightly less corrosion resistant. But they also tend to be not as expensive as titanium dive knives overall. Titanium is a much lighter and stronger material however, so while sharpening the blade might take more effort and time, the knife will stay sharper for much longer. Any diver concerned about weight or has to travel with their gear will probably opt for a titanium model to keep weight down and maintenance minimal.
Blunt Tip or Sharp Tip?
This is the other major question we get from divers looking at all the various models of dive knives for sale these days. It really comes down to what you are looking to get out of your purchase. For those divers looking for the most versatile knife that is primarily going to be used as a tool, then blunt tip is the best choice. Having the squared off tip makes it not only a great cutting tool, but also a powerful prying tool. Anyone doing any type of maintenance diving such as boat cleaning or underwater welding, blunt tip is the way to go.
For the more sporting crowd, such as spear fishers, sharp tip is where it’s at. Many spear fishing enthusiasts like to have a sharp tip dive knife on hand as a quick kill knife out of respect for any fish they spear, ending the animals suffering quickly with a single sharp thrust is essential. Also, anyone doing spearfishing on a regular basis knows how quickly having a distressed or injured fish on your spear can quickly attract unwanted attention from various marine predators. Having a sharp tipped dive knife on hand for self defense in these rare situations can add some piece of mind to anyone diving in areas with larger, more aggressive species.
Conclusion
We hope after reading our review of Dive knifes You found it provided you with some useful details. We want to help you to make a decision that will make your next dive experience a great one. When making your final choice, it is important to remember that your knife is a tool and I would recommend that you opt for one that has both plain and serrated blades along with a line cutter. If you are looking for a blunt tip knife,
Out of the six dive knifes, we have reviewed. We found the Cressi Scorpion to be our choice. First it had some great reviews & feedback. We found that it was well constructed. It was well balanced & very sturdy. Made of very good material and very sharp. It had a heavy duty blade with counterweight for underwater balance.
We would love to hear your thoughts & feedback on masks you have purchased.
