Diving

About Diving

Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, usually while performing acrobatics. It is an Olympic sport that is divided into two disciplines: springboard diving and platform diving.

In springboard diving, athletes perform dives from a flexible board that provides bounce, set at either 1 meter or 3 meters above the water. In platform diving, athletes dive from a solid platform at heights of 5, 7.5, or 10 meters. Divers perform a variety of acrobatic maneuvers during their descent into the water.

Diving Categories

Competitive diving is categorized into several groups:

• Forward Dives: The diver faces the water and rotates forward
• Backward Dives: The diver stands with their back to the water and rotates backward
• Reverse Dives: The diver faces the water but rotates backward
• Inward Dives: The diver stands with their back to the water but rotates forward
• Twisting Dives: The diver incorporates twists into any of the above categories
• Armstand Dives: Performed only from the platform, the diver begins in a handstand position

Judging and Scoring

Diving competitions are judged based on several factors:

• Approach: The diver's steps and hurdle (for springboard) or armstand (for platform)
• Takeoff: The diver's position and control when leaving the board or platform
• Elevation: The height achieved during the dive
• Execution: The form and technique during the acrobatic elements
• Entry: The position and cleanliness of the entry into the water

Judges award points on a scale of 0-10, with half-point increments. The final score is calculated by multiplying the sum of the judges' scores by the degree of difficulty of the dive.