Where to Put Your Dive Knife
Where to Put Your Dive Knife
Every diver needs to carry a dive knife for safety purposes. The challenge is where to put the knife to keep it from becoming a hazard itself. We go over some of the best knives and where they are best placed on a diver for the best access, while keeping streamline on a diver.
Belt
Most freedivers like to wear their dive knife on their weight belts. Because freediving tends to be minimalistic in the amount of equipment a diver can carry most gear ends up on the weight belt. Many knives, like the Salvimar Atlantis Knife, have sheaths that allow a diver to keep their knife securely on the weight belt. Keeping your knife on your weight belt has the benefit of being accessible in an emergency. The challenge of having your dive knife on your weight belt is that it is an entanglement hazard itself. Knowing your equipment and being prepared for issues reduces these risks, but it still remains a risk.
Leg/Arm
Some divers prefer the classic style of keeping their knife on their forearm or on the calves of their leg. The benefits of doing this really just come down to muscle memory. If this is how you have always carried your knife, and it works for you keep doing it. There are some big disadvantages to keeping your knife on your arm or calves. The problem with keeping your knife on your arm is you can only reach it with one hand. This is a big issue if your other hand is the hand that is tangled up and can’t move. The problem with keeping your dive knife on your calves is that it always falls down onto your ankle, unless you have super well defined calves.
Dive Knife Pocket
The best place to keep your knife is in a designated pocket on your wetsuit. The Neptonics Quantum Stealth Wetsuit is a perfect example. The benefits to this is you keep your dive knife in an accessible location, while keeping the knife from becoming an entanglement hazard. The biggest challenge is remembering to clean it after your dive trip.
- Published in Product Reviews, Spearfishing 101, Spearfishing Techniques
Fillet Knives – The Pros and Cons of Different Fillet Knives
Fillet Knives – The Pros and Cons of Different Filet Knives
If you enjoy spearfishing you know the joy of cleaning your fish at the end of the day. Filleting can be a real challenge depending on the knives you have available. As you develop as a diver you tend to accumulate several fillet knives to meet the needs of different styles of filleting or skinning your catch. Over the past few years there have bee big improvements in fillet knives on the market. In the past you would find the cheapest knife in the tackle store that would do what you needed. In the past few years that changed, and divers and fishermen are starting to realize that a quality knife holds an edge for longer and makes processing your catch easier at the end of the day.
The Quiet Carry Pilot Fillet Knife
This knife is on the expensive side of fillet knives. With that being said, it is unmatched in quality. It is made with N690 stainless steel to help keep the blade’s edge and prevent the knife from rusting. This is the type of knife that you can cut up a half dozen wahoo with before considering sharpening the blade. With an 8.5” blade length it has the length necessary to cut through large fish, but the flexibility to handle the fine cuts on smaller fish. The textured grip is comfortable in your hand, and gives your the grip needed to handle the knife accurately. The only bad thing about the Quiet Carry Pilot Fillet Knife is being scared to lose such an amazing knife.
JBL Saber Knife
This is the ultimate breaker knife. It is one of the sharpest knives we have ever seen. It is made of 420 Stainless Steel. The JBL Saber is so sharp that you should never test the blade with your finger. That is an easy way to need a bandage very quickly. It has a sturdy, thick blade that allows you to cut easily though meat, and even smaller bones. This is the knife you need if you are breaking down a fish frame to take the head to make fish head soup.
Bubba Blade Electric Fillet Knife
The Bubba Blade Electric Fillet Knife is the modern solution to cutting up a large quantity of fish. You might not get every little ounce of your filet, but it makes quick work of large grouper, jacks and snapper. Once you gain some proficiency, it can even be very effective at skinning your filets. This electric fillet knife is a game changer when it comes to processing your fish after a long day of diving.
- Published in Product Reviews
