Diving is the most effective way ever created for humans to interact directly with the unknown world out beyond the breakwaters. But diving is not without its perils and because of that it is the foolish diver indeed who ventures into the abyss without a good diving knife at the ready. Below are the 10 best diving knives on the market today.
The Best Diving Knife
1Spyderco Pacific Salt Scuba Diving Knife
The Spyderco Pacific Salt Scuba Diving Knife has an edgy, kinetic look. But it’s not just a pretty face because there’s plenty of knife to appreciate beneath that edgy look. The blade of the Pacific Salt is forged from corrosion proof, state of the art H1 stainless steel. As such, long as you rinse it with tap water after each use there’s zero chance it’s going to rust out from under you. The trademark Spyderco blade hole is more than a gimmick too, it facilitates easy opening of the blade. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best Spyderco knives.
Spine jimping for better grip.
Ambidextrous titanium clip doesn’t forget lefties.
Leading edge H1 steel blade.
Weight 2.4 oz.
- BrandSpyderco
- Model007400
- Weight3.84 ounces
4 inch fiberglass/nylon handle provides a sure grip.
The round hole in the blade facilitates easy opening.
The H1 stainless is tough as nails (literally).
Almost too light.
2Promate Titanium Snorkeling/Scuba Diving Knife
With a full tang titanium blade and a robust, well-made ABS sheath this is one knife you will never regret taking with you underwater. The blade is razor sharp, the rubber grip effectively molded to the hand and at 8.8 oz there’s just enough heft to make it an outstanding terrestrial knife as well. The Scuba Diving/Snorkeling Titanium knife measures 9.5 inches from end to end with the blade itself checking in at 4.45 inches. There’s a titanium butt you can use as a tank banger and the legs straps don’t feel like they’re cutting off your circulation. Be sure to also check out our list of the best Benchmade pocket knives for more great items like this.
Full tang titanium blade.
Sure grip molded rubber handle.
Double push button knife release.
Weight: 8.8 oz.
- BrandPromate
- Weight8.8 ounces
Has a nice substantial feel to it.
Blade available in either pointed or blunt end.
Rubber grip provides a secure hold with little effort.
Too large for some.
3Scubapro Mako Titanium Dive Knife
The Mako by Scubapro is a full tang titanium dive knife that is going to set you back a few dollars but is worth the stretch. The titanium blade has no fear of the water and is dangerously sharp out of the box. The serrated edge is great for cutting rope, fishing line, cloth and fishing nets or basic prying tasks. At 3.35 inches the blade is long enough for virtually any underwater application and because the overall length is just 7.5 inches the knife may appeal to some who might normally opt for a folding knife.
3.35 inch full tang titanium blade.
Serrated edge for optimal versatility.
Bottle opener at butt end of handle.
Weight: 12.8 oz.
- BrandScubapro
- Weight12 ounces
Packs a lot of punch for a small knife.
The serrated edge slices through ropes.
A high degree of corrosion resistance.
Expensive.
4Gear Aid Akua Blunt Tip Rescue Knife
With the Gear Aid Akua Blunt Tip Rescue Knife the focus is on function over aesthetics. And that’s fine because it’s not a fashion show down there. The Akua Blunt has a flattened tip and double-sided 420 stainless steel blade that covers all the bases from straight up slicing to line cutting. There’s a serrated edge for hacking through fishing nets and larger ropes and, oh yes, that blunt end won’t accidentally puncture inflatables or humans. Essential scuba gear. Love this product? Check out our review of the best tactical knives for our top picks.
Quick release sheath.
Full tang, titanium coated 420 stainless steel blade.
Webbing mounts along the edge of the sheath.
Weight: 5.2 oz.
- BrandGear Aid
- Model62065
- Weight2 pounds
Full tang blade won’t let you down under pressure.
You’ll probably wind up grateful at some point for the blunt tip.
Bottle opener for cracking brewskis after finding treasure.
Won’t win any beauty contests.
5Aqua Lung Argonaut Titanium Diving Knife
The Argonaut is nearly 10 inches in length with a 4.8 inch blade that is full tang. That blade is also coated in black EDP and sharpened to an obsessive degree. To say the handle is different would be an understatement as it’s composed of 5mm paracord that’s double wrapped and seems to grab back when you grasp it. The knife is wonderfully balanced, which doesn’t matter too much underwater but does matter somewhat when you find yourself using it on your next hunting trip instead of your regular hunting knife.
4.8 inch long EDP coated full tang titanium blade.
Double wrapped paracord handle.
Serrated top edge for cutting rope and cord.
Weight: 11.2 oz.
- BrandAqua Lung
- Weight11.2 ounces
You’ll feel energized just holding it.
No underwater challenge too big.
Blunt tip variant available.
Sheath sold separately.
6Cressi Skorpion Dive Knife
The Cressi Skorpion cuts an impressive profile and features a 4.5 inch 420 stainless steel, corrosion resistant blade with a pointed tip. The upper spine features deep, aggressive serrations and a line cutting notch, so pity any rope, net or fishing line that’s in your way. The handle is made of easy to grip rubber compounds and is discretely molded with a tank banging butt end and jimping on the upper spine. The sheath sports an easy-release ‘button’ and the ability to be worn on your belt or leg. And if you need a smaller knife, check out our guide to best keychain knives for out top picks.
4.5 inch 420 stainless steel blade.
Total length of 9.12 inches
Molded non-slip rubber handle.
Weight: 8 oz.
- BrandCressi
- Weight8 ounces
Feels as good in your hand as it looks.
The sheath cradles the knife effectively.
The 420 stainless steel is low maintenance.
Not full tang.
7Zip Diving Tactical Multi Use Dive Knife
The Zip Diving Tactical Multi Use Dive Knife boasts a 440C stainless steel blade, a rubberized form-fitting handle and standard sheath with quick release mechanism. Though the handle is about a half inch longer than the blade the knife nonetheless feels beautifully balanced. Also, while 440C stainless isn’t going to be mistaken for titanium any day soon if you keep the blade oiled you’re going to get plenty of service out of it.
440C stainless steel blade is 3.7 inches long.
Molded handle for superior grip.
Wraps securely around your leg or clips to your belt.
Weight: 14.4 oz.
- BrandZip Diving Knife
- Weight14.4 ounces
An effective tool both in and out of water.
If treated with TLC it should last a long time.
The handle is very comfortable.
No notch to cut fishing line.
8Snake Eye Tactical 1X Dive Knife ll
If you’re into no-frills design you’ll find it in the Snake Eye Tactical 1X Dive Knife II. Fabricated from a single piece of 420 stainless and featuring zero additional components it’s a case study in minimalist engineering. There’s no rubber on the handle, no plastic inserts to provide color and visual texture and no tank banger button tacked onto the butt. Just one piece of stainless from head to toe. As the old adage says “fewer parts, fewer problems” and you’re not going to have any problems with the Snake Eye Tactical 1X. This one should be your EDC knife.
Full tang 420 stainless steel.
Serrated edge for clearing rope and nets.
Total length of 8.5 inches.
Weight: 4 oz.
- BrandSNAKE EYE TACTICAL
- Weight4 ounces
For those on a budget who need a good, dependable knife.
One piece construction won’t ever let you down.
Sheath is efficient and effective.
The rubber straps can be problematic.
9BOffer Scuba Diving Knife
The BOffer Scuba Diving Knife has a 3.85 inch corrosion resistant 420C stainless steel full tang blade and a handle comprised of tightly wound paracord. The knife comes standard with both a deluxe ABS sheath and a more subdued nylon holster. This is a long knife, checking in at just about 9 inches, so some will find it a bit much. As long as you rinse the 420C blade off and oil it after every trip under the waves it will be yours truly for many years.
3.85 inch 420C full tang stainless steel blade.
Double wound paracord handle.
Unibody construction.
Weight: 5 oz.
- BrandBOffer
- Model55077
- Weight5 ounces
The paracord handle actually provides a nice firm grip.
Quick release button on the ABS sheath.
The 420C blade sharpens easily.
The ABS sheath is maybe a bit too eager to engage in quick release.
10MahiMahi Group Spearfishing Diving Knife
The MahiMahi Group Spearfishing Diving Knife features a unique tapered profile that’s great for spearfishing. But it’s not by any means a one trick pony. It also does a boffo job helping you extricate yourself or another member of your group from a tight spot. It slices through fishing line, cord, rope and discarded nets with a flick of the wrist and then slips back into the leg holster, which grabs hold of it with an authoritative click.
3 inch 420 stainless steel blade.
Serrated edge for cutting through rope and nets.
Straps easily to your leg.
Weight: 5.6 oz.
- BrandMahiMahi Group
- Weight5.6 ounces
A nifty little combo knife for your well-rounded expedition.
Secures itself firmly in the ABS sheath.
Well balanced and lightweight.
Smaller than you think it is.
Diving Knife Buyer’s Guide
There are a number of criteria you should keep in mind before laying down your hard earned money on a diving knife. They include:
- Size - An enormous knife is going to be unwieldy underwater and largely unnecessary. If you are a large guy or gal you’ll want a blade that’s no more than 4 or 5 inches. Any bigger is simply overkill. If you’re average sized or a bit less stick to a blade that’s 3 or 4 inches max. A bigger blade is going to scare the fish and your fellow divers. You may also want to consider a folding knife like our favorite, the Spyderco Pacific Salt.
- Cutting edge - You’re presented with some basic options when it comes to the type of edge on your knife. Basically a straight edge is good for slicing through plastic and smaller diameter ropes while a serrated edge is going to come in handy on larger diameter ropes or for cutting your way through kelp. Ideally you’ll get a knife with both.
- Blade material - Most diving tools, use stainless steel for their blades. 420 stainless is a good blade material because it sharpens easily, holds an edge pretty well and, if properly cared for and regularly oiled, won’t corrode. 420C will do an even better job. But if you really want a blade that’s going to stand up to constant exposure to salt water you’ll want titanium. It’s lighter than stainless, really holds and edge and is (almost) impervious to corrosion.
- Blade design - When it comes to diving knives you’ll want a straight edge, a serrated edge (or section of the edge) and a notch for cutting fishing line and small cord. You may also want to go with a blunt end blade since they greatly reduce the chance of painful accidents and they won’t puncture your inflatable.
- Handle design - The type of handle you choose will be entirely up to you. Diving knives are made with different handle designs and materials because different people have different sized hands that respond to different materials and shapes differently. The most important thing is that you feel absolutely comfortable working with the knife under water.
- Cutting Ability - You bring a knife into the water with you for one primary reason; to cut things. As such you’ll want a blade that holds an edge well and won’t need to be resharpened every time you free a turtle from an abandoned fishing net.
- Ease of use - What’s easy for one is not so easy for another. Still the best knives are those you don’t have to ever fumble with. They sit in their sheath securely, slide out of their sheath easily and provide a firm, sure grip. If you have a folding knife it should open without fighting back and the blade should lock open so you don’t lose a finger while you’re trying to cut fishing line or old ropes.
- Corrosion resistance - You bring a knife with you into the water to cut things. But you are bringing it into the salt water. So beyond being able to hold an edge it also needs to resist the corrosive effects of immersion. 420 stainless does a good job of that. 420C does a better job. H1 stainless does an even better job and at the top of the dive knife food chain is titanium, which has more natural resistance to corrosion than stainless.
- Durability - When it comes to diving equipment durability is crucial. You don’t want your knife failing you when you’ve become entangled in lines while diving a wreck. A full tang blade is preferable as it’s not ever going to snap on you. You also want your blade to be made of the best possible type of corrosion resistant metal (see above). A durable sheath is equally important as your knife won’t do you much good if the sheath pops open and you lose the knife.
- Grip - There are as many types of grips as there are diving knives. Which one you choose will depend on how you react to the different shapes and textures. Whether genuine rubber, artificial rubber compounds, plastic, paracord, bare metal or whatever and whether it’s bare bones or elaborately molded to fit your physiology, the most important thing is that it feels right when you hold it.
Types of Diving Knives:
- Blunt tip - We talked briefly about the blunt tip above. Basically the blunt tip blade helps prevent you from hurting yourself or someone else or accidentally puncturing your inflatable. These are often recommended for those less experienced with using a knife underwater. Although truth be told people with all levels of experience use them. The blunt tip also helps you pry things open or apart and is good for hacking or otherwise chiseling.
- Pointed tip - The sharp tip often facilitates easy cutting but it’s also popular among those who enjoy spearfishing. If you have a decent amount of experience using knives underwater a sharp point should present no problem.
Diving Knife FAQs
Q: What is a diving knife?
A: A diving knife is a piece of scuba gear divers use to cut through obstructions such as fishing lines, abandoned nets, rope and more. They are not intended to be a self-defense tool or otherwise used for aggressive purposes, other than spearfishing. The majority of casual divers will never use a diving knife. But those who dive on a regular basis consider them indispensable.
Q: How to use a diving knife?
As we said a diving knife is not a weapon, it’s a tool used to facilitate scuba diving. If divers encounter abandoned fishing lines or nets they often need to cut through them to proceed into wrecks and the like. They are also commonly used to help free divers trapped by vegetation such as large forests of kelp. In addition divers are increasingly finding it necessary to rescue marine life that has been trapped by or otherwise entangled in the detritus of human activity like old nets, plastic 6 pack holders and fishing lines.
Q: How to sharpen the best diving knife?
A: At some point you’ll need to sharpen your diving knife and thankfully sharpening the straight edge is pretty easy while sharpening a serrated edge is not. Sharpening a serrated edge is probably best left to professionals as there is special equipment involved and it’s time intensive as well. Sharpening a straight edge is a two-step process that involves both grinding and honing. Most knives benefit from regular honing and don’t need to be ground nearly as often as people think. Many sharpening stones come with both a grinding and a honing side. Check out our guide to best knife sharpeners on the market.
Q: Where to attach a diving knife?
A: A diving knife is typically attached to either the belt or the leg. All it takes to attach the knife to a belt is a simple clip. Some knives come with this clip built in. Others have a clip built into the sheath. Still others have a removable clip on the sheath. Many divers prefer to have the knife strapped to their leg. As the arms are typically relaxed and trailing while diving they are in a perfect position to simply reach to the leg and remove the knife from the holster.
Q: How to clean a diving knife?
A: Keeping your diving knife in prime condition is easier than you think. While blades made of titanium or H1 stainless won’t in theory need as much maintenance as, say, 420 stainless blades you should nonetheless get in the habit of cleaning your knife with fresh water after every dive. This will remove any salt that is clinging to the metal. Once the blade is completely dry it’s also a good idea to rub a little mineral oil into it and then remove any excess before you put the knife away.
Q: How to clean rust off your best diving knife?
A: In most cases light rust can be removed either with steel wool, a scotchbrite pad or even naval jelly. To help ensure the corrosion stays at bay make sure you start to clean and oil the blade as described above.
A: What is better: stainless steel or titanium?
A: Most diving knives are made from stainless steel. 420 and 420C are popular types of stainless used in diving tools. Either will provide decent resistance to corrosion but you will need to engage in regular maintenance of the blade. H1 stainless was developed in Japan and exhibits superior corrosion resistance when compared to 420 stainless or other, lesser stainless steel grades. However, none of the commonly used stainless steel alloys can compete with titanium. Titanium will cost you more for sure. But your knife should provide years of corrosion free service as long as you show it minimal TLC.
