Many scuba divers choose to carry diving knives with them for safety reasons – whether for themselves, their dive buddies, or marine animals. Should you?
Going scuba diving? Are you well prepared? Here’s why you should carry diving knives with you!
Do you know that scuba diving requires you to have some essential knowledge of using the right gear to save yourself from any problem you might face underwater?
Well, apart from the essential tools such as lights, or dive computers, one of the most crucial pieces safety equipment is a cutting tool, a.k.a diving knives.
Don’t consider a diving knife similar to your perkin knives. It’s quite different from traditional knives and is specifically designed to be functional for underwater tasks.
ARE DIVING KNIVES MANDATORY?
Well, to be exact, a dive knife is not a mandatory piece of equipment for divers. However, frequent or professional divers typically prefer keeping it with them for safety reasons.
Although dive knives are only carried for safety reasons, it’s still important to use them properly. If not handled properly, a dive knife can also be dangerous. Strong currents or lack of control can lead to cuts in the skin or damage to your diving gear.
In the end, it’s always a personal choice to keep a dive knife.
Before deciding whether to keep it or not, you must think about the type of water you’re diving in and how or for what will you be using it for?
USING DIVING KNIVES UNDERWATER
Since dive knives are specifically designed for underwater usage, there exist a few useful reasons to include it in your diving kit.
While underwater, you cannot be as efficient with your hands as above the water, but having a tool such as a diving knife can be effectively used for releasing yourself, a fellow diver, or even an animal from entanglement.
There have been many numerous cases of divers getting caught in lines. In busy waters, the chances of a diver getting caught in monofilament lines are definitely possible. In such cases, having a diving knife by your side can help in quick release.