A buoyancy control system includes an apparel unit worn by a user and including a front panel, a pocket along the front panel having an interior, a weight pouch configured to hold at least one weight and removably received within the interior of the pocket, a first connector portion coupled to the weight pouch and a second connector portion released the couple to the first connector portion. The first and second connector portions form a mechanical lock actuatable between a connected state in which the lock connects a weight pouch to the apparel unit and a disconnected state in which a weight pouch may be removed from the weight pocket by a single manipulation step of the hand of the diver. In one exemplary embodiment, the device further includes an elastic band coupled between the apparel unit and the second connector. The band biases the second connector portion away from the first connector portion such that the band pulls the second connector portion away from the first connector portion upon release of the first and second connector portions. In one exemplary embodiment, the first connector portion and second connector portion comprise a side release connector such that the male prongs of the side release connector, upon being depressed inwardly, eject the second connector portion from the first connector. In one exemplary embodiment, a buckle and a strap couple the first connector portion to the weight pouch. Adjustment of the length of the strap between the buckle and the weight pouch moves the weight pouch within the weight pocket while the first and second connector portions are in the connected state.