Diving Fundamentals

Diving has undergone a 'deep' change from its original generic meaning. Originally it only meant a headlong plunge into water, and even an athletic competition that involves diving into water. Today, if you jump out of your plane for sport, they call it diving or sky diving.

Diving As a Sport
Diving has been internationally recognized as sport long ago and it is the one of the most coveted part of modern Olympics. The sport involves taking the plunge, from a height or distance, into the water acrobatically.

Diving has 3 disciplines such as 1m, 3m and tower and divers are classified by age and gender. Towers vary in height from 5m to 10m and high level competitions like World Cup and Olympics require diving from 10m only. Spring boards and platforms are terms used in 3 & 5m as well as 10m diving respectively.

Know the Components of Diving?
Your body needs to be every bit a gymnast's, strong, flexible and kinesthetic. To pursue diving, starting very young is advised as your body will be at its flexible best. There are four components of diving defining the diving positions.

1.Layout position- Body straight like an arrow.
2.Pike position- Body folded only at waist and nowhere else.
3.Tuck position- Body curled into a ball, with knees touching chin and heels your hips.
4.Free position- Relaxed position suitable for twisted diving.

Takeoff, flight and entry into water are the key elements that determine the scoring in diving. Each carries equal weightage of 3 points and 1 for the judges' discretion. For example a perfect entry splashes little or no water.

Then there are diving positions like forward, backward, inward and reverse depending on how you start and then rotate.

Although deep sea diving and scuba diving are similar sounding and albeit connected to water sport, they are not as popular as pool diving, as we know it. A tip here to aspiring divers; fitness, training and practice apart, what it takes to be a successful diver is dedication as exemplified by the great Greg Louganis. He is the living example of what level you can raise the game to.

Whether it is scuba diving, cliff diving or sky diving, utmost emphasis needs to be given to the physical requirements of the diver, to avert any sort of physiological or psychological hassles while diving. Individuals with physical ailments like bone disorders, diabetes, and high blood pressure are told not to plunge. Before you decide to take the plunge, it is imperative to check with a physician to elude any health problems.