How to Dive
A messy cannonball is a fun way to get into the water, but if you want to pretend to be one of those Olympic finalists, you can execute a graceful dive. It seems easy, but if you’ve never done it before, it can be challenging. Here’s how to dive properly.
What You’ll Need:
Swimming pool
Diving board
Swimwear (they’re flexible, allowing you to move more comfortably)
Spotter (optional)
Procedure:
Climb up the diving board ladder and stand at the edge of the board. Before you dive, make sure no one is swimming close, otherwise, you might injure yourself or that other person.
Stand in the same way that a person with good posture does. Keep your back and your legs straight. Your legs should be close together, and not wide apart.
Move your arms and hands over your head, until your palms touch each other. Start pointing them at the water.
Your arms should be tight around your head, while your neck stays straight, still maintaining that “good posture” stance.
Bend your knees, getting a little bounce from the diving board. Lean forward, then kick off, in a position where your hands enter the water first.
While you’re still in the air, swiftly unbend your knees, resuming the good posture pose. You must hit the water hands first, and your feet last. For a smoother entrance in the water, point your toes.
Complete the dive, and swim to the edge of the pool. Climb out and repeat several times, until you get the hang of it.
A Few Tips
If it’s your first time and you’re hesitant to try this stance, you can try a kneeling dive first. Put one foot in a kneeling position and the other on the ground. Put your hands one on top of the other, pointing across the water’s top. Push off neatly, using the foot on the ground. It should feel as if you’re being pushed in the water.
The pool where you’re diving in must be deep enough, at least eight feet, to avoid injuries.
Don’t dive unless you know how to swim well.
Ask a friend to be a spotter.
When diving from a smooth surface, make sure it isn’t wet, or you might slip.
Remember these steps when executing a dive properly. You may not be as good as an Olympic contestant when you do it, but you’ll surely wow your friends with how graceful you look.