Diving

Diving Safety

A head-first entry into shallow water is the leading cause of head, neck or back injuries in the water.

The following guidelines are recommended for safe diving:

• Learn how to dive safely from a qualified instructor.
• In a head-first dive, extend the arms with your elbows locked alongside the head. Keep your hands together with thumbs touching (or interlocked) and palms facing toward the water. Keeping the arms, wrists and fingers in line with the head helps control the angle of entry. This reduces the impact of the water on the top of the head and helps protect from injury. A diver’s body should be tensed and straight from the hands to the pointed toes.
• Follow safety rules at all times—never make exceptions.
• Do not wear earplugs; pressure changes make them dangerous.
• Obey “No Diving” signs. They are there for safety.
• Be sure of water depth and ensure that the water is free from obstructions. The first time in the water, ease in or walk in; do not jump or dive.
• Never dive into an above-ground pool, the shallow end of any in-ground pool or at a beach.
• Never dive into cloudy or murky water.
• In open water, always check first for objects under the surface, such as logs, stumps, boulders and pilings.
• Check the shape of the pool bottom to be sure the diving area is large enough and deep enough for the intended dive.
• The presence of a diving board does not necessarily mean it is safe to dive. Pools at homes, motels and hotels might not have a safe diving envelope.
• When diving from a deck, the area of entry should be free of obstructions (such as lane lines and kickboards) for at least 4 feet on both sides. For dives from a 1-meter diving board, you need 10 feet of clearance on both sides.
• Dive only off the end of a diving board. Diving off the side of a diving board might result in striking the side of the pool or entering water that is not deep enough.
• Do not bounce more than once on the end of a diving board to avoid missing the edge or slipping off the diving board.
• Do not run on a diving board or attempt to dive a long way through the air. The water might not be deep enough at the point of entry.
• For springboard diving, use equipment that meets the standards set for competition.
• Do not dive from a height greater than 1 meter unless trained in elevated entry.
• Swim away from the diving board after entering the water. Do not be a hazard for the next diver.
• Never use drugs or alcohol when diving.
• Do not wear swimming goggles when diving.