The 7 best dive knives 2024?

There are many dangers lurking underwater that you don’t notice at first glance. Nets, cords or underwater plants can wrap themselves around the body and make any progress impossible.

A diving knife has many useful purposes:

Dive knives are equipped with a blade and a saw cut. For example, cords and thick ropes can be easily cut.

Avoid buying mistakes:

If you are looking for dive knives, you will also come across very large specimens and dive knives specially designed for hunting. Find out what is important when buying a dive knife and which laws apply in the Weapons Act with regard to dive knives.

The best dive knife 2024?

In a hurry? Our favorite dive knife:

These are the top 7 diving knives in 2024

1. AquaLung Small Squeeze Titanium

Summary

This handy knife has a length of 17.8 cm, of which the blade is 8.9 cm. Thanks to the squeeze lock mechanism, the knife cannot come out of the sheath unnoticed.

The nylon sheath can be attached to the harness with a clip or attached to any buoyancy compensator with the included mounting kit. The knife has a sharpened blade, saw teeth, a line cutter and even a small bottle opener.

No more washing and oiling:

Unlike stainless steel dive knives, this titanium knife does not require any maintenance. No more washing or oiling, no further steps need to be taken after the dive.

Conclusion

Handy titanium dive knife.

Product details

Length: 17.8 cm | Blade length: 8.9 cm | Features: saw teeth, line cutter, bottle opener | Sheath: nylon/ with mounting set for buoyancy compensator jacket and clip holder

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2. cressi Lima diving knife

Summary

With this stainless titanium knife, time-consuming knife care is a thing of the past. Ideal for those who don’t want to spend too much time with their dive knife.

This knife has a saw blade for thick ropes and a line cutter for quickly cutting through fishing lines and thin ropes.

With a total length of 17 cm, it can be easily attached to the buoyancy compensator. Instead of a sheath, this knife has a fabric pouch.

Conclusion

Compact titanium dive knife.

Product details

Length: 17 cm | Blade length: 7 cm | Features: saw teeth, line cutter | Sheath: fabric pouch

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3. AquaLung Micro Squeeze

Summary

With an overall length of 5.1 cm, this knife is guaranteed not to get in the way when diving and can still do everything a good dive knife needs to do. The tip of the knife is rounded, making it virtually impossible to be injured by the knife.

The knife has a sharpened blade, saw teeth, a line cutter and a small bottle opener in case there is none to hand on the boat.

The handle and sheath are made of impact- and scratch-resistant nylon. There is a mounting device on the scabbard with which it can be attached to the buoyancy compensator.

Thanks to the squeeze lock mechanism, the knife can only be pulled out of the sheath when both elements are pressed down. This prevents the knife from being accidentally lost.

As this knife is made of stainless steel, it must be well cared for after each contact with salt water. If you prefer a large dive knife, go for a different product.

Conclusion

Compact dive knife with all the important features.

Product details

Length: 9.1 cm | Blade length: 5.1 cm | Features: saw teeth, line cutter, bottle opener | Sheath: nylon/ with mounting device for buoyancy compensator jacket

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4. Scubapro Subgear SK-21

Summary

This knife belongs to the category of medium to large-sized dive knives. The blade has a length of 12 cm and the knife can just be wielded.

The blade is equipped with saw teeth for larger objects or thick ropes and a line cutter for easy cutting of lines. The knife also has a metal knob on the handle that can be used to emit an acoustic signal when it is struck against the oxygen cylinder.

The sheath is made of plastic and has a double safety mechanism. To release the knife from the sheath, a button is pressed and the knife can then be pulled out a few centimeters.

This is where the second fuse comes into play. Two protrusions on the sheath must be lifted upwards to pull the knife out completely. This prevents the knife from being lost, even if the button is pressed accidentally.

The knife is worn on the leg and the necessary straps are included. In an emergency, large knives on the leg are difficult to reach.

Conclusion

Medium-sized dive knife that is worn on the leg.

Product details

Length: N/A | Blade length: 12 cm | Features: saw teeth, line cutter, metal pommel | Sheath: plastic, including 2 knife straps

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5. scubapro Mako

Summary

With this very light knife (188 g including sheath), even thick ropes can be cut without any problems. The knife has a total length of 18.5 cm, of which the blade makes up 8.5 cm. This dive knife can therefore be carried without any problems.

The knife is equipped with saw teeth for cutting through thick ropes, a line cutter for easy and jerky cutting of lines and a bottle opener.

The knife is attached to the arm or leg, depending on preference. A sheath with two knife straps is supplied for this purpose. To release the knife from the sheath, a button must first be pressed.

Like every stainless steel diver’s knife, this model also requires regular maintenance. Under certain circumstances, the knife can also be attached to the buoyancy compensator jacket, depending on the jacket.

Conclusion

Medium-sized dive knife, can be worn on the arm or leg.

Product details

Length: 18.5 cm | Blade length: 8.5 cm | Features: saw teeth, line cutter, bottle opener | Sheath: plastic/ with two knife straps

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6. cressi Lima

Summary

The Cressi Lima has a length of 16 cm and a blade length of 7.5 cm. The size is ideal for attaching the knife to the buoyancy compensator. A clip holder is attached to the plastic sheath for this purpose.

Alternatively, this bracket can be detached and replaced with a bracket for the inflator hose. The knife is secured with a pressure mechanism; when this is pressed, the knife jumps a few millimeters out of the sheath.

The dive knife is equipped with saw teeth for cutting through thicker ropes and a line cutter for quickly cutting fishing lines. There is a hole in the handle through which a cord can be pulled, which serves as an additional safety device.

Like all stainless steel knives, this dive knife must be properly cared for after every dive.

Conclusion

Medium-sized knife, ideal for attaching to the buoyancy compensator jacket or inflator hose.

Product details

Length: 16 cm | Blade length: 7.5 cm | Features: saw teeth, line cutter, grip hole | Sheath: plastic/ with mounting device for buoyancy compensator jacket

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7. Seac Hammer

Summary

This inexpensive dive knife has a blade length of 12 cm and measures 25 cm in total. The price of this knife is significantly lower than other dive knives, especially for its size.

It is equipped with saw teeth, a line cutter and a metal knob for generating acoustic signals. The plastic sheath can be opened with a button, only then is the dive knife released and can be pulled out.

The knife is attached to the leg and may not be accessible in an emergency. In addition, the manufacturer does not specify whether the dive knife is supplied with knife straps for attaching the sheath. Like any stainless steel diver’s knife, it should be cleaned and cared for after every contact with salt water.

Conclusion

Large, inexpensive dive knife.

Product details

Length: 25 cm | Blade length: 12 cm | Features: saw teeth, line cutter, metal pommel | Sheath: plastic

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Bestsellers: The most popular dive knives

(**Last update 2024-09-16)

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Buy a dive knife:
How to make the right decision

Dive knives come in many shapes and sizes, but which one is right for you? To answer this question, we at BeyondSurfing have put together the following buying guide for you.

The right size dive knife

Dive knives are available in many different sizes. From small foldable models to solid knives with a fixed blade. But a large knife is not necessarily the best choice.

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Less is more:

Inexperienced divers tend to choose their first diving knife far too large. A large knife may look impressive, but it often proves to be a hindrance in the water. Because most of the time the knife remains safely stowed away anyway.

A small knife has the advantage that it does not restrict the diver. Large knives often feel cumbersome in the water and restrict freedom of movement. In addition, small knives do not have to be secured with a leg holster and can be drawn more quickly in an emergency.

A firm grip is important:

For this to be the case, the handle of the knife must be wide enough. How wide? It depends on the size of the hand. It’s best to try it out for yourself and feel how the knife feels in your hand.

1 Stainless steel dive knife

Stainless steel has long been used as a blade material for dive knives, but the steel is not truly rustproof due to its carbon content. The blades are usually made of 300 or 400 grade steel. The lower the number, the more resistant the knife is to rust.

Dive knives made of this material are cheaper than those made of titanium and last a very long time with proper care. The knife must be washed and oiled after every dive.

Without this care, the material will start to rust sooner or later (usually sooner). If you want a knife that is really rustproof, you should go for a titanium dive knife.

2 Titanium dive knife

Titanium is corrosion-resistant and theoretically does not even need to be rinsed with fresh water. In addition, the time-consuming maintenance is completely eliminated. The dive knife does not need to be disassembled or protected with oil or silicone.

What makes a good titanium knife?

When buying, make sure that all parts of the knife are made of titanium, otherwise they will need to be maintained or will rust. For example, the springs in a folding knife, the sheath or the pommel can be made of a different metal.

Titanium dive knives have a high toughness and sharpening the blade takes more time than stainless steel knives. However, since a dive knife only needs to be sharpened very rarely, this plays a minor role. The price is more of a deterrent, as titanium dive knives are more expensive than comparable stainless steel knives.

The tip

First of all, the shape of the knife towards the tip should be discussed. There are four categories here:

1 Tip dive knife

• Good for precise cutting
• Can cancel
• Risk of injury

Pointed dive knives are best suited for making precise cuts or piercing a material. However, there is also a risk of accidentally puncturing the wetsuit or oxygen hose. Another danger is that the blade tip may break off when levering or digging.

2 Rounded dive knives

• Hardly any risk of injury
• Can also be used as a tool
• Robust

A rounded tip has the advantage that the risk of accidentally piercing something is minimized enormously. The rounded shape makes the tip more robust and the knife can also be used as a tool, such as a chisel or screwdriver.

3 Tanto dive knife

• Flattened tip
• Compromise between pointed and round

Tanto dive knives have a beveled tip, as a kind of compromise between a rounded and a pointed knife. The tip is suitable for cutting and is still robust enough to be used as a tool.

4 Stiletto dive knife

• Very pointed
• Sharp blade on both sides
• For spearfishing

Stilettos are very pointed knives that are sharp on both sides of the blade. Such knives are mainly used by spear fishermen; they are rather unsuitable as a pure dive knife.

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The blade

As a rule, the blade of the dive knife is sharp on one side and blunt or has various features on the back. Part of the blade is often saw-ground.

These saw teeth can also be used to cut more robust materials and thick ropes. The blade is used for cutting thin lines and cords or for precise slicing.

On some dive knives there are no saw teeth on the sharpened side of the blade. These are then usually a feature on the back of the blade. We do not recommend buying a dive knife without saw teeth.

Fixed or folding blade?

As a general rule, fixed-blade dive knives are more reliable, as the mechanism cannot fail and the knife is always ready for use. However, foldable knives are no longer a rarity and are often used as a backup.

Important:

If the dive knife cannot be folded out in an emergency, this can be dangerous. Before each dive, you must ensure that the blade of the dive knife can be folded out properly. Clean the blade and the mechanism after each use.

Cloth bag

• Very simple
• Mostly for small knives

The dive knife is in a simple fabric pouch and is usually fastened with a Velcro fastener. Such simple bags are most commonly used for small and inexpensive knives.

Plastic sheath

• Robust
• Many variants
• Sometimes a little clunky
• Locking mechanism fixes dive knife in place
• Good fuse

Larger knives are often secured with a plastic sheath. The knife is inserted, then the locking mechanism engages and the dive knife can no longer be pulled out. To do this, a button or lever on the sheath must be pressed, only then is the knife released again.

Plastic sheaths are very robust and remain intact even when they come into contact with sharp rocks. They come in many different shapes and colors, although some are a little clunky and unwieldy. However, they are usually of good quality, very durable and offer optimum protection.

Ring-Lock

• Plastic sheath
• Knife is fixed with plastic ring
• Better for small knives
• Ring can come loose accidentally

Here the sheath is made of plastic. A small rubber ring is attached to the upper end to hold the knife in place. This system is best suited to smaller knives, as there is a risk of the ring opening due to friction. However, the fuse usually works without any problems.

Tension

• Simple
• Knife is fixed by pressure

The knife is only held in the sheath by pressure. The sheath is perfectly adapted to the shape of the knife, or rather a little too tight for it. The material expands and exerts pressure on the knife so that it can no longer slip.

Squeeze Lock

• Very safe
• Two elements must be pressed to release knives

This mechanism is only found on Aqua Lung dive knives. There are two small elements on the handle. When these are pressed down, the knife can be pulled out of the sheath. The system is very safe, as the blade is released when only one of the levers is pressed down. This also ensures that the diver grips the handle of the knife firmly when pulling it out.

Saw cut

The plunge knife should be serrated either along the blade or on the blunt side. The saw teeth make it possible to cut through thicker objects such as ropes with the knife.

Line cutter

The line cutter is usually located on the back of the knife. The small hook-shaped blade is ideal for cutting lines. The shape makes it possible to hook in the rope or cord and cut it with a firm tug.

Metal knob

For communication with other divers in the water, diving knives can be equipped with a metal knob on the handle. The knob is struck against the compressed air cylinder to generate an acoustic signal. But beware, the knob is not a substitute for safety-relevant signaling devices (e.g. signal whistle or flashing light).

Handle hole

A small hole on the handle where a cord can be attached to tie or hold the knife. The dive knife can also be additionally secured in case it falls out of the sheath.

Large dive knives

They are usually fixed to the leg using two knife straps. These are pulled through the sheath and then wrapped around the leg and pulled tight

Small dive knives

Also known as jacket knives, they are usually worn on the buoyancy compensator or jacket. There are several options for fastening. With a hose clamp on the inflator hose/finimeter or on the waist belt or an eyelet on the buoyancy compensator.

Line cutter

Line cutters consist of a curved plastic hook in which a blade (sometimes also with saw teeth) is built in. This can be used to cut lines or thin ropes with a powerful jerk. The risk of injuring yourself or damaging your equipment is very low.

Especially divers who dive a lot near the coast or on piers like to carry a line cutter with them, so they don’t have to pull out a knife at every small obstacle. Such line cutters are also used in cars to cut the belts or for kitesurfing.

However, the possibilities with a line cutter are limited. It is not suitable for digging or levering and larger objects are difficult to cut with it.

Scissors

Diving shears enable very safe and controlled cutting. However, they are only suitable for very thin materials such as cords or fabric. A knife is needed for anything bigger. A dive knife cannot be replaced by scissors!

Hybrid scissors

A combination of scissors and knife, similar to a Leatherman or other pliers tool. Such hybrid scissors are usually very robust and equipped with several features. A spring ensures that the scissors open again automatically after closing.

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Before diving

To keep the knife in good condition, you should carry out these steps before every dive:

1. Check the dive knife for damage and functionality. Is the blade firmly seated? Does the folding mechanism of the knife work? Is the safety mechanism of the sheath intact?
2. Remove dirt with a towel or soft brush.
3. If necessary, lubricate the folding mechanism with a little silicone.

After diving

These steps should be carried out after every dive to protect the dive knife from rust.

1. Pull the knife out of the sheath and, if possible, disassemble it into its individual parts or open the folding knife.
2. Wash all parts including the sheath well with fresh water.
3. Remove residues of sand or other soiling.
4. Apply silicone to the metal parts to protect the dive knife from corrosion.

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Where is the dive knife attached?

We have already mentioned above how dive knives are attached. Here is some background information on this and why you should always carry a knife as close to your body as possible.

Knives can be easily attached to the inside of the leg. This makes it easier to reach the knife with both hands.

Play it safe:

To be on the safe side, a (second) knife on the buoyancy compensator is recommended. If you get stuck in a net or plant, it is often not possible to reach the legs and thus the dive knife. It is therefore an advantage to carry a knife on your vest. Ideally, a knife with a rounded tip should be used so that it cannot damage the equipment.

Never attach a dive knife to the diving weight belt!

In an emergency, the diving weight belt may have to be jettisoned. If your knife is attached to the diving weight belt, you will not only suffer material damage. You also put yourself in danger if you need your knife later to free yourself.

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Dive knives and the Weapons Act

Whether a dive knife may be used depends on the length of the blade. All knives with a blade length of more than 12 cm are subject to the Weapons Act in Germany and may not be carried without further ado.

What does leading mean?

Carrying does not only mean carrying on the body, it also includes, for example, transportation in a backpack that is not closed. If the dive knife is transported in a closed bag, this is in compliance with the law.

The good news:

As a rule, 12 cm blade length is more than enough for a dive knife.

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The dive knife in the airplane

Diving baggage is not always easy to transport, but most airlines now offer to take diving equipment as baggage. But what about the diving knife?

The situation here is somewhat opaque. It is best to find out about the firearms law and the legal situation in your destination country before you travel.

Under certain circumstances, even small knives with a maximum blade length of 6 cm may be transported in hand baggage (source: EU Regulation 185/2010, Annex 4-C, c).

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Well-known brands and manufacturers

The best-known and most popular surf wear brands & manufacturers include

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Cressi, Scubapro, Aqua Lung, Seac, Beauchat, Mares, Tusa, Poseidon, Linder, Polaris, IST

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Consumer Reports or Öko Test have not yet published any test reports on dive knives. With the brands listed, however, you can be sure of getting a high-quality dive knife.

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FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers about dive knives

What is a dive knife?

A knife used by divers or for snorkeling with fins. The knives are (more or less) rust-resistant and have features such as a serrated edge and/or a line cutter.

What is the best dive knife?

That cannot be said across the board. In our buying guide, you can find out what is important when buying a dive knife. We have also put together a selection of the best dive knives for you.

What does a dive knife cost?

Cheap dive knives cost around 20 $ and the upper limit is quite open.

Where is the dive knife attached?

A dive knife is best worn close to the body. This makes it easy to reach in an emergency. Further information can be found here.

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Conclusion: The most popular dive knives reviewed

A dive knife is a central component of any diver’s equipment and can save your life or that of your diving partner. You should therefore always carry a suitable dive knife on your jacket. Don’t have one yet? Then it’s high time now.

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Specialist literature, sources & further links

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