Patent ID: 7458751

Claim:
An active control releasable ballast system for dive equipment, comprising: a ballast receiving pocket; a ballast member stored within said receiving pocket prior to release of said ballast member; a first strap attached at least proximate to said receiving pocket; a second strap attached at least proximate to said receiving pocket, said second strap associated with said ballast member; a side releasable buckle, excluding hook and loop fasteners, said side releasable buckle having a first section and a second section, said first section of said side releasable buckle attached to said first strap, said second section of said side releasable buckle attached to said second strap, wherein prior to release of said ballast member said first section and said second section are connected to each other; wherein release of the ballast member from within the receiving pocket is achieved through disconnection of the first section of the side releasable buckle from the second section of the side releasable buckle; a pouch for holding said ballast member, said pouch stored within said receiving pocket prior to release of said ballast member and said pouch; and a handle attached to said pouch.