Breaststroke kick and Diving problem

Question
Hi,

My Questions are---
1. Does inhaling through the mouth causes cheeks to become dented or is it just a myth? If yes, how to prevent it while swimming? I already have a narrow cheeks or jaws/triangular face (since I am thin)  I dont want to make it more dented/narrower.

2. Being streamlined and by only kicking Breaststroke Leg kick I can go a maximum distance of 2 metres. I tried changing the kick to see  which gives the most propulsion, but the maximum I can go with a kick alone is 2 metres. And it takes 11 strokes to go 25 metres(full breaststroke)
So my question is: Is my breaststroke,and kick ok? Or do I need to change it? If yes, how?

3. Diving: I just started shallow angle diving off deck from the sitting and kneeling positions. The problems are---
1. I make a lot of splash.
2. My nose, and arms aches after a dive.
3. Water goes into my nose and I start getting disoriented.
4. There is too little time for me to become streamlined in the air to get a good landing. I cannot move fast enough in air to become absolutely streamlined and land at 45 degrees.

Answer
Hello Rim, I'm sorry for the very very late reply as this question request entirely dodged my inbox. I had just found it this morning. Anyhow, in response to your inquiries, inhaling through the mouth should not cause your cheeks to become dented. It is most likely a myth. However, if your cheeks do become indented during long workouts of swimming, it is actually probably the cause of burning off more calories than you are consuming: basically, losing weight. Since swimming burns off a huge amount of energy, it is required to consume an equal or more excessive amount. As a result, if you burn off way too much and do not regain the energy in ATP and foods, then you will probably lose weight, thus resulting in dented in cheeks.

Breast stroke is mostly about leg work. I can't judge whether or not two meters is ideal or not in your kicks, until I see your form and technique. To increase breaststroke kicks, its a good idea to work out your leg strength, either doing sprint sets or via weight lifting (not too much weight lifting). But overall, your breaststroke will get better the more you swim it and the longer sets you decide to take with it. The more sore your legs feel after workout will directly reflect how much more they will develop (if you replenish your body with food).

Diving is also something that comes with practice. It would seem from what you described, you probably hit the water at an angle not around 45 degrees which results in your nose and arms aching after a dive. When it comes to diving, its something you just have to practice to get better at. A drill you could do to improve diving correctly at a 45 degree angle, is directly diving from the edge of a pool with your arms in streamline position before your arms hit the water. Basically hold your arms in stream line position and stand at the edge of the deep end, then tilt your arms at a 45 degree angle and plummet into the water. This works out the way enter the water, and with enough practice, it will help you a lot when you dive off of diving boards.

I hope this has helped.