ABOUT
Manchester Aquatics Centre
Dive Team

Diving consists of a diver jumping from a springboard or platform and performing acrobatic manoeuvres before entering into water. The depth of the water in modern diving pools varies between 3 and 6 metres.

 

Board Types

Springboards are at heights of 1m or 3m. They are 5m long and are usually made from aluminium. There is an adjustable fulcrum which allows the diver to control the amount of spring in the board.

Platforms can be at heights of 3m, 5m, 7.5m or 10m. They can be made of concrete or steel, covered with a non-slip surface, and are at least 6 metres long and 2 metres wide.

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Dive Groups

Dives are sorted into 6 groups:

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• Forward 
  The diver faces forwards and rotates forwards​

• Backward 
  The diver faces backwards and rotates backwards

• ​Reverse 
  The diver faces forwards and rotates backwards

• ​Inward
  The diver faces backwards and rotates forwards

• ​Twisting 
  A twisting dive can be performed forwards, backwards, reverse or inwards, and involves a sideways twist

• ​Armstand
  These dives are performed only from platforms and begin from a handstand. They can be performed forwards, backwards, or reverse, and may include twists.

 

Rotation

Rotation is the forward or backward movement of the dive. A simple dive is half-somersault. Competition divers can perform upto four and a half somersaults from the 10 metre platform.

 

Positions

Dives may be performed in three different body positions:

Tuck - The diver bends at the hip and knee, curling the body into a ball

Pike - The diver bends at the hip, keeping the legs straight

Straight - The diver keeps the whole body straight.

In twisting dives, a combination of these shapes may be shown. This is described as the 'free' position.