A forced water landing will always be catastrophic except for some cases (like overrun of runway). And this is not talking: I know the people handling the ditching requirements at Airbus and if you ask them how high they rate the chances of an aircraft ditching: minimal if on open waters.

What are the chances of a seaplane ditching on open waters?

Seaplanes are built to ditch, and take off from water. They normally take off from sheltered waters near shore – but this might be because the destinations are often on land.

Can seaplanes deliberately take off from open waters? Especially important would be search and rescue missions on high seas – can a plane land in the middle of ocean in foul weather, pick up passengers, take off and fly away?

Also, what is harder to do in a seaplane – ditch or take off? Can a seaplane find that they can ditch safely but are unable to take off and have to wait for better weather?