How to transport diving knives / shears?
If I am required to transport my diving equipment (in the UK and Abroad) what are the best practices of transporting my diving knife / shears?
If on a plane this can just go in the hold luggage same as transporting any knife, but the UK seems to allow knives and other weapons which are part of sport equipment to be transported so long as it is with the equipment however, it can still be taken off you if you're under the influence, acting aggressively etc. I'd assume this is not the same everywhere and I'd have to take some precautions / research other countries. So some idea of how other people transport their knives would be good to know, or even if they don't and hire them instead as part of equipment hire?
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very simple answer:
- On a plane, always check them into the hold;
- Everywhere else, keep them in your dive bag until you need to strap it on before diving, after the dive take it off and place back in your dive bag.
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It really depends on locations so if you are traveling make a point to check. Your local club should be able to give you all the info for your area and abroad if they organize group dives in other countries, otherwise just contact the destination dive club (and keep in mind that in some places the situation might change from one year to the other).
As a general rule most countries tend to have a maximum length for a blade above which you could face charges if carrying it on the person in any circumstance, or in the car. If your gear is packed up in your car and the knife is in there with the kit generally it is not a problem since very often, carrying a blade longer than what is allowed can pass if there is a valid (and legal) reason for it. For example in Canada or parts of Europe a cop stopping me won't give much trouble if he sees the axe, camp knife etc all packed up with camping gear and a canoe/kayak on the roof of the car, or if the dive knife is in the trunk with all my diving equipment. I can see somebody having a problem if it's just a pool session, debatable if you are up to it.
It always helps, if stopped, to tell right away things like "I'm a diver, all my diving gear is in the trunk". It goes a long way in reducing the chances of the person stopping you, or if you are passing a border with the car, becoming picky and giving trouble (this goes even if you are on foot and the knife is in the bag with all the gear). The fact that the knife is in a bag way out of your reach helps too; don't keep it in your glovebox or under the seat. It also helps if the knife is one of those with the blunted tip and not the ones looking like they just came off a gladiator of ancient Rome. A line cutter/emergency tool is even more discreet as it's so different looking and less menacing than a knife that it is often not even given a second look.
Cruises or airplanes can make the situation a PITA; personally I find that in that case getting one at the destination is easier.
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Knives come in all shapes and sizes. Knives are also not optimal for cutting your way out of a net or fishing line: use a line cutter such as the Trilobite Line Cutter (others are available). These contain blades which are shielded and won't be considered a "weapon" except for hand luggage.
If you need a knife to cut a rope, a shorter and stout blade is best without a pointed tip. It's difficult the point of a giant 'sword' strapped to one's calf that represents a snag risk -- unless you're after stabbing something underwater! Short, stout blades such as the Underwater Kinetics Remora are easy to keep on one's person and will easily cut through 20mm rope.
Using these smaller cutters means that you don't have issues with officialdom nervous of people carrying large 'weapon' like blades. As usual, when flying all 'sharps' have to go in the hold.
I carry three at all times: two Trilobites, one on my wrist-mounted compass bungee, one on my waist belt, and a Remora in my pocket. I use the Trilobite quite frequently to cut away netting and fishing line. The Remora's been used to prove that I can cut thick rope underwater, such as freeing a shot line, etc.
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