Well, regarding ditchable weight . . .
In a single tank, in warm water, it is highly unlikely that you would ever be in a situation where even a total wing failure would prevent you from swimming to the surface as a result of buoyancy loss. Most people can swim up ten pounds negative, and with a thin suit and normal sized tanks, you won't be more negative than that, even at depth at the beginning of the dive. So even in the event of a total wing failure (which is very rare, and pretty much requires that the inflator hose come off the wing) you should be able to reach the surface without jettisoning any weight. However, should you jettison weight at depth, you will likely not be able to control your ascent in the shallows, which to me is more of an issue.
On the surface, it's a different story. This is where ditchable weight is most useful, but it's also where you are most buoyant. If, with a full tank and the wing empty, you have difficulty keeping your face out of the water, then you may elect to have either ditchable weight or a redundant source of buoyancy, like an SMB (which is something I think anybody diving off a boat should have, anyway). Again, this is based on a total wing failure. With most punctures or rips, you can trap air in the wing in some position. But inflator hoses have been known to come off.
My own risk assessment is that, with well-maintained and inspected equipment, that particular risk is extremely low -- and were it to happen, I have a buddy or buddies close at hand to assist. (But I also dive a ton of ditchable weight in very cold water, mostly because I carry so much weight some of it HAD to end up ditchable!)
If you have a body that makes carrying a weight belt difficult, and you don't want your weights to use up any of your harness real estate, and you want the weights easily ditched, I'd highly recommend a weight harness like the DUI Weight & Trim. They aren't cheap, but they give you everything you are asking for. This is what my husband uses.
In a single tank, in warm water, it is highly unlikely that you would ever be in a situation where even a total wing failure would prevent you from swimming to the surface as a result of buoyancy loss. Most people can swim up ten pounds negative, and with a thin suit and normal sized tanks, you won't be more negative than that, even at depth at the beginning of the dive. So even in the event of a total wing failure (which is very rare, and pretty much requires that the inflator hose come off the wing) you should be able to reach the surface without jettisoning any weight. However, should you jettison weight at depth, you will likely not be able to control your ascent in the shallows, which to me is more of an issue.
On the surface, it's a different story. This is where ditchable weight is most useful, but it's also where you are most buoyant. If, with a full tank and the wing empty, you have difficulty keeping your face out of the water, then you may elect to have either ditchable weight or a redundant source of buoyancy, like an SMB (which is something I think anybody diving off a boat should have, anyway). Again, this is based on a total wing failure. With most punctures or rips, you can trap air in the wing in some position. But inflator hoses have been known to come off.
My own risk assessment is that, with well-maintained and inspected equipment, that particular risk is extremely low -- and were it to happen, I have a buddy or buddies close at hand to assist. (But I also dive a ton of ditchable weight in very cold water, mostly because I carry so much weight some of it HAD to end up ditchable!)
If you have a body that makes carrying a weight belt difficult, and you don't want your weights to use up any of your harness real estate, and you want the weights easily ditched, I'd highly recommend a weight harness like the DUI Weight & Trim. They aren't cheap, but they give you everything you are asking for. This is what my husband uses.
