Knife laws in Aruba?

According to what I have seen of Aruba, you can do anything you want there and get away with it.

My .02 worth.

Steve
 
I would like to know if there are any limitations on blade length etc, and will I have trouble in customs there. I plan on bringing a small folder, for general utility, snorkling and diving (I plan on renting gear so I don't want to just bring a dive knife, and I'm not comfortable diving without one.), fishing, etc.

thanks
 
Hi Pete:

As a former instructor and dive shop owner I took 8 groups a year to caribbean destinations. If you feel you need a dive knife on a simple no challenge dive in a group led by a divemaster/s bring a real one. A folder isn't a dive knife. Put it in your checked in luggage and transport it from the resort to the dive boat in your dive bag with whatever other gear you have.

If you want a little folding pocket knife for some reason, why not use good judgement and take the smallest non threatening one you can find? If you want the biggest knife you can possibly carry in a foreign country for "self defense" avoid that country.

I've explored underwater caves in jungles where I brought all sorts of equipment including machete, kukris and folding knives in my pocket and in a belt pouch. Never had a problem. But I always had a good reason for the knives. Never would I risk arrest in a foreign country over a knife on vacation.

I even took a dive knife to Cuba. Only used it diving. I wouldn't risk anything else there. Just common sense. Besides, Cuba is too much fun.

Aruba seems to be a strange place as far as the law goes. I believe a lot of Arubans are angry at the USA over all the negative Hollaway publicity and talk of boycotting their country. Why take a chance over a knife?

My .03 worth.

Thanks, Steve
 
Steve Poll said:
Aruba seems to be a strange place as far as the law goes. I believe a lot of Arubans are angry at the USA over all the negative Hollaway publicity and talk of boycotting their country. Why take a chance over a knife?
Click to expand...

I have scuba dived in both Bonaire and Aruba on seperate trips. Both are Dutch, which has great influence on their laws. I have never had a problem anywhere with bringing a large dive knife in my scuba gear bag. Everyone brings these if they are going to dive. Its just common sense. I have never tried carrying a folder other than a SAK in Aruba and that was in case I needed a tool to fix something on my dive gear.
 
Whenever I travel somewhere where I'm not sure about the knife laws, I bring SAKs and #8 stainless Opinels in case I want a locking blade.

SAKs are really useful and very sheeple friendly and if for some reason my Opinel is lost (customs or anything) I'm only out a couple of bucks.
 
For my internship I stayed five months in Curacao, a week on Aruba and a few days in Bonaire. Believe me, Aruba is a safe place to stay especially for a holiday in and around the hotels. I’m Dutch and the locals where very friendly to me. I can’t tell you for shore, but I think they don't deal non-Dutch-speaking tourists differed.

Off course there is happened a few things that might make you think it’s a dangerous place, I mean the tragedy of the disappearance of the US girl. Remember it’s still a Latin-American country, some very poor people and drugs problems. But just like any other county go around the problem zones and if someone gives you an advice of not going somewhere, don’t go there!

I cant help you about the knife laws, I know it isn’t really firm aslong as you not go to a bar whit a Ka-Bar. Here’s my advice: As I remember there isn’t a lot of outdoor/nature so you don’t need a fixed knife. So bring a small folder, Swiss-knife or leatherman it will be enough for small outdoor and everyday carry. If you are going for diving bring a midsize dive knife. Just put it in you dive gear if you are traveling to a dive location. NOT as hand luggage in the airplane off course.
 
I don't plan on carrying a knife for self defense, just for the mundane cutting chores that do come up day to day, and I don't plan on bringing ANY dive gear at all, I don't think. So I don't want to just bring a large dive knife.

thanks for all the input though fellows. I'll look through what I have, and probably go with a SAK, and a small locking folder.

Pete
 
the trips coming up in a couple of days, and i've settled on a leatherman wave, and a small scuba dive knife (barely takes or holds an edge, and has a very blunt point, it looks like it could have been a flat tipped dive knife at one time in it's life, but now it has a blunt drop point, 1/2 serrated, with a mono cutting hook. it is very small)

i haven't checked this thread in a while, but thanks to everyone who responded without sarcasm.

leading edge and blammo- :rolleyes: :jerkit: :rolleyes:
 
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