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Well if you are mounting it someplace on the BC and you can’t see the sheath with a mask on you probably don’t want a pointy one :) The trouble with knives is they are a two handed operation, one holds the knife and the other holds the line to be cut. I prefer shears, garden shears will work but stainless steel ones from IST, ScubaPro and others will last longer. The cheap EMT shears won’t cut fishing line leader and the pivot pin apparently isn’t stainless and soon fails.
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I agree with LA. Scissors are a good idea. I carry a set of EMT shears. But I also carry a knife. I wear italic. On my left shoulder strap. I prefer a tonto blade for above water knives. I use a blunt tip for prying items underwater. I dont recommend a folding knife. That would just be another thing to worry about when you nee the blade.
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I use a 2 sided (one side half surrated, one side sharp), drop pointed, titanium BC knife mounted on my low pressure inflator with velcro straps and a set of EMT shears in a pocket. Many people are leary of pointed knives but my feeling is you should always be using care when handling any sharp tool so a blunt tip just limits the usefulness of a tool you’ll still need to handle with care so why go there. Just use the proper care and be deliberate in handling it.
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Greg - 6/01/2012 5:09 AM 
Here is a survey that may help. Read some of the comments.
Dive knife or scissors:
http://www.divebuddy.com/forum_topic.aspx?ForumID=19435
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The type of knife or cutting tool you buy really depends on what you’re going to use it for. I have several that I use on different occasions. My first knife was a gift from my brother. He chose it for me because it has a serrated edge, a smooth edge, a flat tip for prying and a nitch for line cutting. It’s titanium and is holding up nicely after a couple hundred saltwater dives. It’s big so I have to wear it on my leg but I recommend looking for a variety of edges if you want something that’s all purpose. I also have a line cutting tool that I got from Cave Adventurers. (They have a photo on their website.) If your main concern is entanglements, you may want to check it out. I like it because it’s really small - kind of like a razor blade built into a guard. I clip it to my compass or dive watch and wear it on the inside of my wrist.
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Shears or an EZ Cut are a good option for your BC, if you prefer a knife I would recomend a blunt tip, just for a safety factor. I also always have a 7" SS serrated blade on my leg. Titanium is the way to go for salt water diving if you don’t want to put in the extra care after a day of diving. If you don’t want to spent the money then go stainless, and oil you blade after diving and dry it or you will have a rusted blade.
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In Texas it is illegal to have with you (other than at home) a double edged knife. I looked through all dive knives and they are all pretty much double edged. Anyone knows how do divers in Texas go about carrying a double edged diving knife without getting in trouble with the law?
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It’s illegal to have large knives in Texas too like our famous Bowie Knives, unless you are engaged in an activity, in this case diving, a sporting activity, where such a knife would be considered appropriate. But, yeah to just walk down the street with a double edged dive knife would be a no-no. Used while going to and from a dive site or at a dive site, totally legal in Texas. See below...... Texas - Health, Safety & Morals - 46.02. Unlawful carrying
weapons. (a) A person commits an offense if intentionally,
knowingly , or recklessly carries on or about his person a
handgun, illegal knife, or club. [Exceptions: official;
actor was own premises; was traveling; engaged in lawful
hunting, fishing, or other sporting activity; security
guard].
- 46.01. Definitions. (1) "Club"... includes... (D)
Tomahawk...
(6) "Illegal knife" means a:
(A) knife with a blade over five and one-half inches;
(B) hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by
being thrown;
(C) dagger, including but not limited to a dirk, stiletto,
and poniard;
(D) sword; or
(E) spear.
(7) "Knife" means any bladed hand instrument that is capable
of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or
stabbing a person with the instrument.
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I got a titanium knife BUT keep it on my leg !! It’ out of the way of my outher gear ..
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Thank you to everyone for your input. For now, Ive mounted a titanium folding knife inside a velcroed balistic nylon sheath onto my BC. I think I need more dive experience to tell what exactly I want/need in a knife. In the meantime I am actually quite satisfied with this setup.
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