Knives and Cutting Tools

Cutting tools are standard dive safety equipment, carried so you can deal with entanglement in fishing line, netting or rope. This collection covers line cutters, wrist- and harness-mounted cutters, and compact dive knives and multitools from Aqualung, CutHero, EEYZCUT, Halcyon and MGE. Blade type, materials and mounting vary considerably between models, so check the manufacturer specification and talk to us about what suits the diving you do.

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CutHero Ceramic Harness Mounted Cutter

Halcyon Explorer Knife

Halcyon

from £85.00

Aqualung Small Squeeze, Blunt, SS

EEYZCUT Trilobite Wrist Mount

EEYZCUT

£31.95

Sold Out

Halcyon Titanium Knife/Multitool

Halcyon

£110.00

What a cutting tool is for

Entanglement is the practical reason divers carry one. Monofilament fishing line, discarded netting, shot lines and rope all turn up on UK dive sites, and a cutting tool is what lets a diver deal with that rather than depending on a buddy to do it for them. Using one is a skill taught in dive training. It is introduced on recreational courses and comes up again in wreck and technical training, where lines and nets are more common.

Line cutters, knives and multitools

A line cutter is a small tool with a short cutting edge set inside the tool body, made for slicing line, webbing and netting. Because the edge is enclosed, cutters of this type are compact, and they are usually made to mount on a wrist, a harness or in a pocket. We stock cutters from CutHero, EEYZCUT, Halcyon and MGE.

A dive knife or multitool is a more general-purpose tool with an exposed blade. Tips are made in pointed, blunt and modified shapes, and some models add a serrated section or a line-cutting notch alongside the main edge. Halcyon's Explorer Knife and Titanium Knife and Multitool, and Aqualung's Small Squeeze, sit in this group. Blade geometry, dimensions and whether a sheath or mount is included differ from model to model, so check the manufacturer specification for the one you are considering.

Materials and corrosion

Cutting tools are made in stainless steel, titanium and ceramic. Stainless steel is the most common. Titanium is chosen by some manufacturers for its corrosion resistance, and ceramic appears in some fixed line cutters. Whichever material you end up with, it still needs rinsing in fresh water and drying properly after a dive. Where a blade or cartridge is replaceable, replace it when the cut starts to drag rather than pressing harder.

Choosing one

Which tool suits you depends on the diving you do and on the kit you already own, and that is easier to judge with the tools in front of you than from a product photo. We are a dive centre as well as a shop, so bring your kit in, or call us and we will talk it through. If your question is about technique rather than kit, that is one for your instructor.

Related kit

Cutting tools sit alongside the rest of the line-handling kit: see Reels and Spools and SMB & Lifting Bags.

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Frequently asked questions

A line cutter has a short cutting edge set inside the tool body, so it is made for cutting line, webbing and netting and little else. A dive knife or multitool has an exposed blade and is more general-purpose. Plenty of divers who dive around wrecks or fishing debris end up carrying both. Formats, dimensions and mounting differ considerably between models, so check the manufacturer specification for the one you are looking at.

Mostly stainless steel, with titanium and ceramic also used. Stainless steel is the most common. Titanium is chosen by some manufacturers for its corrosion resistance, and ceramic appears in some fixed line cutters. Materials, blade dimensions and whether any part is replaceable vary between models, so check the manufacturer specification rather than assuming.

Rinse it in fresh water after every dive and dry it fully before storing. Check the sheath, mount or retaining clip for wear while you are checking the rest of your kit. Some tools use replaceable blades or cartridges; swap them when the cut starts to drag rather than pressing harder. Follow the manufacturer's care instructions for your specific tool, as they differ.

It depends on the diving you do and on the kit you already own, so there is no single answer that fits everyone. Using a cutting tool is covered in dive training, and your instructor is the right person to ask about technique. For the kit itself, call us or come into the shop in Rutland and we will go through the options with you.