You know how important it is to have your own diving gear to make you feel more comfortable underwater. But having a good dive knife might save your life! It will cut you free from fishing lines, ropes, vegetation, etc. in case you get into trouble!
We have already reviewed the best scuba regulators, scuba BCDs, wetsuits, dive masks, dive computers and fins.
Today, I’m going to review the best dive knives on the market to help you make the right choice. I recommend that you compare their features and choose the one that best fits your needs.
The next list contains the top rated scuba diving knives as indicated by consumers, along with those I’ve tested myself, to account for the best dive knives of 2016.
Comparison Chart of the Best Dive Knives 2017:
| Dive Knife | Type of Blade | Blade Length | Price | Editor Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Atomic Aquatics Ti6 | Serrated Straight | 4 in | $$ | 4.8 |
US Divers Titanium | Serrated Straight | 5 in | $$ | 4.2 |
Scubapro Mako Titanium | Serrated Straight | 3 in | $$ | 4.1 |
Mares Force Plus | Serrated Straight | 4 in | $$ | 4.3 |
Spyderco Salt | Serrated | 3 in | $$ | 4.0 |
Cressi Orca | Serrated Straight | 7 in | $$ | 4.0 |
Seac Rip Tek | Straight | 3 in | $ | 4.0 |
Cressi Sub Skorpion | Serrated Straight | 4.3 in | $ | 4.1 |
Cressi Lima | Serrated Straight | 2.95 in | $ | 3.7 |
Mares Hero | Serrated Straight | 2.3 in | $ | 3.0 |
Reasons why you might want to bring a dive knife:
Some people like to bring knives on their dives while others don’t. I think it has to be clear that a diving knife is not a weapon but a tool.
In normal situations you won’t have to use your knife. However, if you find yourself in any of the following situations, you will be glad to have brought it.
– If you or a buddy gets hooked with a rope or fishing net. Although this doesn’t happen very often, our oceans accumulate more trash and fishing waste every year. Unfortunately, there have been cases of divers who have died due to getting caught in ropes or nets.
– If you find any trapped animals. This situation may be much more likely to happen than the previous one. Hundreds of whales, turtles, seals and other animals get trapped daily in fishing nets and die within hours. If you find one of these animals and can save them with your knife, you will feel awesome!
– For warning your buddies. If you find some danger and you want to warn your dive buddy, you can use your knife by hitting it against the tank.
A few things to take into account to find the best dive knife:
Stainless or Titanium
Stainless knives come in either 300 or 400 series steel. The 300 series is more rust resistant than the 400 series, but it is also a bit softer.
Titanium knives are very strong and rust resistant. I’d recommend using this type of knife to avoid corrosion.
Blade
The blades of dive knives can be serrated, non-serrated or mixed. Serrated blades are good for cutting seaweed, while non-serrated blades are better for cutting plastic and lines.
I recommend that you get a mixed knife with both a serrated and a straight blade so you’ll be prepared for any kind of situation.
Length
The size of your dive knife depends on what you need it for. If you want a knife in case you get trapped by a line, a small-medium knife will work. That means a knife between 4-6 inches.
If you need a big dive knife for specific activities, there are models bigger than 6 inches. However, keep in mind that they could be uncomfortable to wear.
Top 10 Best Dive Knives of 2017
Best Diving Knives. Top end
ATOMIC AQUATICS Ti6
The Atomic Aquatics Ti6 is a versatile top-quality knife. It comes with both serrated and straight blades, a line-cutting notch and a really comfortable sheath. No wonder why it’s one of the most popular diving knives.
Blade Length: 4 Inches
Material: Titanium
“Top-quality, lightweight and resistant”
U.S. DIVERS TITANIUM
The U.S. Divers Titanium features a serrated edge for cutting through tough materials, while the bottom surface features a line cutter. The knife completely disassembles for cleaning. It’s a 5-inch knife, which is still a good size for recreational divers.
Blade Length: 5 Inches
Material: Titanium
“High-quality all-around knife”
SCUBAPRO MAKO TITANIUM
The Scubapro Mako is a great ultralight compact knife. It features extreme resistance to corrosion with a highly durable cutting edge and a very comfortable handle.
Blade Length: 3 Inches
Material: Titanium
“Compact knife for recreational divers”
Best Dive Knife. Mid Range
MARES FORCE PLUS
The Mares Force Plus has a really ergonomic and secure grip. Most of the blade is serrated, but there is a small straight section near the tip. It’s a stainless steel knife, but it features a special PVD treatment to prevent the blade from corroding. Its special shape makes it easy to release, even for gloved hands.
Blade Length: 4 Inches
Material: Stainless steel
“Comfortable and secure grip”
SPYDERCO SALT
The Spyderco Salt is an H1 steel knife with high-performance cutting abilities and great resistance to corrosion, similar to titanium. The Spyderco Round 14mm hole facilitates easy opening when wearing gloves.
Blade Length: 3 Inches
Material: H1 Stainless steel
“High performance and affordable”
CRESSI ORCA
The Cressi Orca is made of Italian high-quality 400 series stainless steel. It is considerably heavy and large if you compare it to other models because this knife is also designed to be a work tool. The sheath has loops to attach the knife to your leg or your belt and comes with two leg straps.
Blade Length: 7 Inches
Material: H1 stainless steel
“Reliable professional knife”
SEAC RIP TEK
The Seac Rip Tek features high-performance martensitic stainless steel that provides excellent resistance to corrosion. This knife has great performance in terms of penetration and control on hard materials.
Blade Length: 3 Inches
Material: Stainless steel
“Compact and resistant”
Best Dive Knife. Budget
CRESSI SUB SKORPION
The Cressi Sub Skorpion has a robust construction and thick blade. One of the sides features a really sharp straight edge, while the other side is partially serrated, including a line cutting notch. It’s a durable and resistant medium-sized knife at an affordable price.
Blade Length: 4.3 Inches
Material: Stainless steel
“Great overall performance”
CRESSI LIMA
The Cressi Lima is a very compact ultralight diving knife that you can attach to your BCD or gauge hose for easy access. The sheath has a locking mechanism to allow you to easily release the knife with one hand. It would be hard to get something better for the price.
Blade Length: 2.95 Inches
Material: Stainless steel
“Lightweight, practical and compact”
MARES HERO
The Mares Hero features 440 stainless steel with a PVD treatment for high resistance to corrosion. It’s a great simple and really compact knife for recreational divers. Keep in mind that the full size is only 135 mm, so I find it too small for spearfishing.
Blade Length: 2.3 Inches
Material: Stainless steel
“Super compact and budget friendly”
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