Cressi Chaku Dive Knife

The Cressi Chaku is a compact, well-built dive knife with dual-edge versatility that punches above its modest $68 price tag.

Cressi has been making dive gear in Italy since the 1940s, and their knives reflect decades of understanding what divers actually need underwater. The Chaku is a small-to-medium fixed-blade knife with a serrated edge on one side and a smooth cutting edge on the other, giving you the flexibility to saw through rope or make a clean slice through fishing line depending on what the situation demands. At $68, it sits comfortably in the budget-to-mid range, yet the build quality, blade steel, and included sheath all feel like they belong on a more expensive tool.

## Overview

The Cressi Chaku features a stainless steel blade with a serrated edge along one side and a smooth edge along the other. The handle is a moulded polymer with a textured grip, and the knife ships with a hard plastic sheath that includes straps for mounting on your calf, forearm, or BCD. The blade length is moderate — long enough to be useful, short enough to comply with most dive site regulations. The overall design prioritises practicality over flash.

## Key Features

- Dual-edge stainless steel blade: serrated and smooth - Italian-designed moulded polymer handle with textured grip - Includes hard plastic sheath with adjustable mounting straps - Compact size suitable for BCD, arm, or leg mounting - Blunt tip option reduces risk of accidental punctures - Corrosion-resistant stainless steel construction

## The Good

- The dual-edge blade is genuinely useful. The serrated side makes short work of rope, thick fishing line, and kelp, while the smooth edge handles cleaner cuts on monofilament and thinner materials. Having both on a single blade saves carrying two tools. - Build quality is impressive for the price. The blade sits firmly in the handle with no wobble, the steel has a decent finish, and the overall feel is solid. It does not feel like a $68 knife — it feels like it should cost more. - The handle grip works well even with wet 3mm gloves. The textured pattern and finger grooves give you enough purchase to maintain control during use. On a shore dive at Bare Island where we needed to clear tangled line from a reel, the grip stayed secure. - The sheath is well-designed and versatile. The adjustable straps fit comfortably on a calf, and the knife clicks in with a positive retention that keeps it secure during entries and exits. You will not lose this knife on a giant stride. - Cressi's stainless steel holds up reasonably well to saltwater. It is not ceramic or titanium, so it will eventually show wear, but with a rinse after each dive it resists corrosion better than many competitors in this price range. - At $68, it offers strong value. You are getting a usable, well-finished dive knife with a decent sheath for less than what many brands charge for a basic single-edge model.

## The Bad

- It is stainless steel, not ceramic or titanium, so it will rust if you neglect rinsing and drying after saltwater use. Regular maintenance is not optional with this knife. - The blade will need sharpening over time. The serrated edge holds up well, but the smooth edge loses its keen edge after heavy use. A small diamond sharpener should be part of your kit if you rely on this knife regularly. - The sheath straps, while functional, are a slightly stiff rubber that can be fiddly to adjust the first few times. Once set to your preferred mounting point, they stay put, but initial setup takes a bit of patience. - Blade length may be too short for some tasks. If you are diving in heavy kelp around southern Australia and need to hack through thick stalks, a longer blade would be more efficient. - The knife is compact, which is great for streamlining, but it does mean less leverage for tough cutting jobs. For heavy-duty work, you will want something larger.

## Verdict

The Cressi Chaku is an excellent budget dive knife that delivers dual-edge versatility, solid build quality, and Italian design smarts at a price that will not sting. It handles the most common cutting tasks an Australian diver will encounter — fishing line, rope, light kelp — with confidence, and the included sheath mounts securely in multiple positions. Just keep on top of your rinse routine to avoid rust, and sharpen the smooth edge when it starts to dull. For a first dive knife or a reliable backup, the Chaku is hard to fault at $68.

**Rating: 4.0 / 5 stars**