Newbie question, Knife, Shear or Line Cutter

[KingBiscuitBoy]

I'm new and not sure why I need a cutting implement. Is it just a tangle of old fishing line and seaweed down there. I'll be doing weekend diving for lobster and flounder in the Cape Ann, Massachusetts area. I'm thinking a 3.5 " blunt edge knife with a serrated edge will be good. It could measure lobster and pry open shells, as well as cut me out of entanglements. Any thoughts?

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by KingBiscuitBoy

I'm new and not sure why I need a cutting implement. Is it just a tangle of old fishing line and seaweed down there. I'll be doing weekend diving for lobster and flounder in the Cape Ann, Massachusetts area. I'm thinking a 3.5 " blunt edge knife with a serrated edge will be good. It could measure lobster and pry open shells, as well as cut me out of entanglements. Any thoughts?

Any dive knife should be fine. That tangle of old fishing line (and sometimes fishing nets) is exactly why you need a knife. Entanglement is a genuine risk.

[terrillja]

I personally carry 2 small blunt tip BC knives and 1 large leg knife, along with a pair of shears. The small knives are good for fish lines, the shears are good for leadcore or braided steel line. The bigger knife is good for the lobster pot rope, where the small knives can take forever to cut it.

[frogman159]

I'd stay away from the 8" serated blade tied to your calf.

[freeski4ever]

As a prior service Army Medic, I prefer carrying a pair of shears. The are the ultimate tool. Not only can they cut though anything from monofilament to a penny, but they also can double as pliers, flat head screwdriver, wire stripper, and more. Aside from that, if you lose them, they are easily replaceable. Unless you really need it, a big knife is just another thing to cause a potential problem.

[redrover]

I would consider a knife essential equipment. Fishing line is near invisible and almost impossible to break by hand. They are also useful for prying things, banging on your tank to get attn, and looking cool on the surface ;-)

Blunt tips I find are the most usefull, but definitely have some type of cutting tool.

[scubasamurai]

i have to agree with some of you. a good old pair of trauma shears is good, but as a back up i carry a small line cutter on the bcd and in the open water fishing grounds area i carry a sharp knife a line cutter built in.

you really have to ask yourself , how fast do i want to get free and what will i be able to grip in a "panic " state. shears are fast and easy, but some times a knife is called for. remember to get a backup because you never know how you will get tangled and what position you might find yourself in.

[DOWNDEEP73]

Originally Posted by KingBiscuitBoy

I'm new and not sure why I need a cutting implement. Is it just a tangle of old fishing line and seaweed down there. I'll be doing weekend diving for lobster and flounder in the Cape Ann, Massachusetts area. I'm thinking a 3.5 " blunt edge knife with a serrated edge will be good. It could measure lobster and pry open shells, as well as cut me out of entanglements. Any thoughts?

Dive knife will be fine, but why not carry all of them.
I do!

[Geoff_T]

I also will dive the leg knife usually on my inner leg calf though to help cut (no pun intended) the risk of a snag on a swim by. I carry it in part because mine also has a wire cutter forged as part of the knife. I also carry schears and plan to add a line cutter soon.

[oddbod]

Originally Posted by KingBiscuitBoy

I'm new and not sure why I need a cutting implement. Is it just a tangle of old fishing line and seaweed down there. I'll be doing weekend diving for lobster and flounder in the Cape Ann, Massachusetts area. I'm thinking a 3.5 " blunt edge knife with a serrated edge will be good. It could measure lobster and pry open shells, as well as cut me out of entanglements. Any thoughts?

Get one of each, but make the knife bigger, easier to stab your buddy when the sharks appear, actually more useful for prying eg:abalones, feeding sea urchins to groper etc. Shears are the easiest for cutting IMHO, with a small line cutter as backup.