The Complete Handbook of Diving Knives & Shears
A practical reference for professionals, businesses, and serious divers who need to select, use, and maintain cutting tools underwater
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
A complete engineering and field reference for diving knives and shears: selection, use, maintenance, and the business of selling them.
About this book
Diving knives and shears are not accessories; they are safety-critical tools that can mean the difference between a routine dive and a rescue operation. Yet most divers choose them based on a catalog photo and a price tag. This handbook changes that by providing a deep, practical reference for anyone who uses, sells, or services these tools.
Inside, you will find a detailed breakdown of blade steels, edge geometries, handle materials, and mounting systems, explained in the context of the environments they are designed for. Whether you are cutting monofilament line on a crowded reef, freeing a propeller from a lobster pot warp, or performing a controlled cut on a stuck lift bag, the book matches the tool to the task. It also includes structured guidance on installation, daily handling, and field maintenance, as well as a troubleshooting guide for common issues like corrosion, dull edges, and failed sheaths.
For those in the trade, the book covers the manufacturer landscape, from budget to premium tiers, and explores viable business models, including servicing, private labeling, and rental programs. It closes with a look at emerging materials, regulatory shifts, and the standards bodies and publications that serious practitioners should follow. This is not a buyer's guide wrapped in hype; it is a working reference for professionals who need to know exactly what they are holding in their hand.
Reader Reviews
Patricia Jackson
★★★★★I've been a commercial diver for twelve years and I've bought knives on nothing but habit. This book broke that cycle. The chapter on blade steels alone, explaining how nitrogen-alloyed steel actually behaves at depth versus standard 440C, is worth the cover price. It's not fluff, it's data, and it's exactly what we should have been using to make kit decisions all along. Wish I had this when I started out.
Elizabeth White
★★★★★I run a small dive shop and I've already changed how I talk to customers about knives and shears. The book's breakdown of mounting systems and the physics of cutting wet line versus dry line is so clearly explained that I now use it as a quick reference before making recommendations. It's written for people who take this stuff seriously, not for weekend shoppers. The sections on business opportunities are a useful bonus too.
Timothy Allen
★★★★★Solid, comprehensive reference; I learned a lot. I found the maintenance chapter genuinely useful, and the troubleshooting guide for sheath failures solved a persistent problem with my own gear. My only real reservation is that it can get dense in the specifications sections, and I'd have liked a bit more on the budget tier of tools rather than just a description of them. Still, a very practical handbook that stays on my shelf.
Anna Thomas
★★★★★It is refreshing to read a diving book that is this straightforward and technically grounded. The author clearly knows the difference between a knife you pry with and a knife you cut line with. I appreciated the concrete examples, like using a blunt-tipped shear for cutting netting around a propeller. I did find a few sections on material properties to be a bit academic, but this is a minor complaint. Recommended for any diver who treats their gear as life support.