Over the years, we've heard expressions of concern regarding the safety of harness quick release (QR) buckles yet some training agency standards require a QR in the shoulder loop of the harness and for good reason. Many harnesses such as the Dive Rite TransPlate, OMS Comfort III, and Mares XR-Rec already incorporate shoulder quick release by design. However, also over the years we've seen plenty people struggle to don and doff their continuous loop harness because: (1) they are unable perform the required "chicken wing" maneuver due to limited mobility in a shoulder, or (2) they are wearing a heavy dry suit and undergarment, or (3) they simply have a preference for exceptionally snug harness fit.
In these circumstances, it's not just annoying but the absence of a quick release buckle may actually delete safety should there be a need to quickly remove the harness. We've never seen a life threatening accident caused by the failure of a QR shoulder buckle and for that matter we never even seen the in-water failure of a QR buckle at all, but we've seen circumstances where a QR buckle made a significant improvement in assisting the diver. If you would like to add a QR but are concerned about their safety, we invite you to try the following test: In controlled conditions while swimming simply reach up and unsnap it, then continue swimming while trying some in-water maneuvers to see what happens. You'll discover that the unsnapped buckle is annoying, but it's easily manageable.