Better lead than dead! Ditch your weights prior to exiting the water – shout “Clear!” and toss them towards shore. Then remove your fins, walk forward, retrieve the weights and exit the water. According to one study, 92% of divers are found dead still wearing their weights. The majority of those divers died from simple drowning, with many, if not most, at the surface. Ditching your weights is the number one self rescue procedure. So why do so divers in trouble do it? They are not trained to do so. The most effective way to maintain weight ditching skills, muscle memory, and mind set is to ditch your weights before exiting the water and before any other piece of gear is removed. – practice this life saving skill on every dive!