How to Use a Diving Knife

Unlike James Bond in "Thunderball," a scuba diver uses his knife as a tool - not for cutting the air hoses of his underwater enemies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scuba Gear

1. 

   Choose a knife with a sharp, serrated edge. Cutting and sawing may be necessary.

2. 

   Use a knife with a flat head. This is an excellent tool for adjusting gauges, and it eliminates any worry of stabbing something - such as your diving buddy.

3. Employ the pry notch and ruler along the knife's edge to harvest shellfish and measure crab. Remember that light refraction can make that small shell look huge.

4. Select a knife with a hard disc pommel end that can be used for hammering.

5. 

   Strap the knife sheath on the inside of the lower leg or thigh. Veteran divers call a knife strapped on the outside of your leg a "kelp catcher." It doesn't take a lot of imagination to understand why.

Tips & Warnings

• If you choose to strap the knife on the outside of your upper arm, be sure you regularly remove your BC using a shoulder-snap release. Otherwise, in case of an emergency, the BC vest will catch on your knife as you slip it off.
• Never harm marine life unless you have purchased a harvesting permit for legal gathering. This applies to prying anemones, starfish and urchins from rocks, and cutting coral or kelp.
• Do not watch "Thunderball" before scuba diving.

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on 9/24/2006 In an emergency situation underwater, bang your dive knife against your tank to make noise that will travel well underwater. It can get your buddy's attention. Your buddy can come help extract you, give you air, and help you to stay calm. This technique can literally save your life.

Underwater, seconds count. We're all looking around - after all we are there to observe. Your buddy may be nearby but looking the other way. You cannot make much more than a grunt underwater, and things like clapping your hands or snapping your fingers, are completely ineffectual. Your buddy hears mostly their own breathing and maybe clicking shrimp. Using your dive knife against your tank is one of the few ways to make an audible sound underwater. It could save your life.

on 11/22/2005 As an alternative, trauma shears (as used by emergency workers and paramedics) make excellent cutting tools. They can even cut through a penny.