How to Dive into a Pool Safely
One of the most adored activities in the summer months and in hot climates is heading to the pool to swim. Diving is a fun pool activity that allows you to perform movements you would not be able to perform on land without sustaining serious injury. While diving is enjoyable, it is also an unnatural sensation and can be scary to attempt. It is important to follow proper procedure and ensure a safe environment while diving to prevent injury to yourself or others.
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Instructions
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Ensure the water level is significantly deeper than your height if you are diving from the side of the pool or at least 10 feet deep if using a diving board. Diving into shallow water may cause you to hit your head on the bottom, resulting in serious injury or death.
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Stand with your feet close together and your toes even with the edge of the pool or the end of the diving board.
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Keep your back straight and your chin toward your chest to ensure you enter the water at a proper angle. Arching your back or tilting your head back may result in landing on your face or chest.
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Bend your legs and raise your arms straight over your head, placing one hand on top of the other. This will ensure you break the water's surface smoothly and do not impact the top of your head, which can be painful.
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Lean toward the water, pushing away from the edge once you begin to fall forward. Continue to keep your back straight, arms above your head and chin down until you enter the water.
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Lean your head back toward the surface of the water as soon as you are fully in the pool and swim to the top. Generally the direction the top of your head is facing is the direction your body will move.
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Tips & Warnings
You will need to make adjustments depending on the specific type of dive you're performing. For example, a high dive will require you to lift your head and straighten your body to keep from spinning too far and landing on your back.
Check to be sure no people or objects are in your dive path and ensure the edge of the pool is not too slippery to avoid losing your footing before you are ready to dive.
Never bounce on a diving board. Diving boards are designed to push your body forward and attempting to bounce puts extra strain on you and the board and does not increase height. Take steps toward the end of the board, bounce one time at the edge and allow the board to push you forward.
References
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
