From my experience having more steps in the water is a good thing, especially when conditions on the surface are choppy. I have mine setup so that a diver can easily step onto the bottom step and stand, remove fins then climb out.
Also, if you can find a break-away type mount for your removable ladder get it! I can’t count the time we have hammered the throttles to head home with the ladder still in the water. Before the break-away mount that was an expensive error. And it is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when you will forget it in the water ;-)
I don’t like over the gunnel ladders for diving, the angle of the ladder creates issues for divers with gear on and they shift around too much.