If you are wondering what the diving knife is for and why it is so important, our HR and Course Director, Victor Cordoba, tells us in this article. Don’t miss it!
We have all seen in old movies the image of a diver with a huge knife attached to the calf, and all those who are not familiar with diving could think it is a weapon to defend against sea monsters and sharks.
I have been diving for more than 35 years and I have only had to use a diving knife once, and I assure you that it was not precisely to defend myself against any shark or sea monster. The real reason for the knife divers use is very different from this conception. In my case it was in a cave passing a restriction at a depth of 102 meters. This certainly isn’t the place one would choose to test if the knife works. Unfortunately, I was entangled on the line and there was zero visibility, but in about 15 seconds I was able to pull out the knife and cut the line to free myself.
The diving knife is just another diving equipment tool, that is mainly used to cut ropes or fishing nets in case of entanglement; We don´t attach it to the calf anymore and its size is much smaller than what we see in the films that I mentioned in the beginning.