Why Diving?
Diving is a fun sport. It combines grace, beauty and technique with feats of strength and agility. Diving is more than just entering the water without a big splash! All phases of the performance are judged - the approach, take-off, technique, grace during flight and entry into the water. Diving is a sport that requires desire, determination and dedication. So what's stopping you? Dive in and try it!
About the Sport
ABOUT DIVING
“In China , diving ranks as the most practised sport next to riding bicycles, and it draws more spectators than any other sport.”
In competitions, dives are performed from springboards or from rigid platforms. There are four defined positions in competitive diving - the tuck, pike, layout (straight) and free (twist) - and every dive is performed in one of these positions. There are subtle variances in the pike position and free position. The dive description and the height at which it is being attempted define the degree of difficulty on which competitors are judged.
“Early springboards were made of planks of wood covered in coconut matting to prevent divers from slipping. They were not very springy! And there were no standards for springboards either, meaning visiting divers were always at a disadvantage because they had to use unfamiliar boards.”
Divers in competitions perform a list of dives which can include easier dives called compulsories, or more difficult dives called optionals. Groups of compulsory dives cover all six directions: forward, backward, hand stand (in platform events only), twist, reverse and inward. Optional dive groups must also cover all directions.
“In early competitions, only plain dives or what we now call a forward straight dive were featured. Later competitions featured diving perfected by Swiss and German gymnasts called 'fancy diving' that featured feats like somersaults and twists. In 1912, 'fancy diving' was added to the Stockholm Olympics.”
Forward Dives - range from a simple front dive and a front 4 1/2 somersault, to a special type of forward dive called a flying dive.
Backward Dives - range from a simple back dive to a back 3 1/2 somersault.
Handstand Dives - the one group of dives that can only be performed from the tower; can include forward and backward stands, twisting handstand dives, and forward cut-through handstand dives.
Twisting Dives - forward, backward, reverse, inward, and handstand twists ranging from a simple half twist to 4 1/2 twists.
Reverse Dives - also called 'gainers' and range from a simple reverse dive to a reverse 3 1/2 somersault.
Inward Dives - range from a simple inward dive to an inward 3 1/2 somersault and flying dive.
Synchronized Diving is an event in which two divers execute identical or opposite moves during diving. Synchronized diving made its debut at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
“Canadians Emilie Heymans and Blythe Hartley won a bronze medal in the 10-metre synchronized platform diving event at the 2004 Athens Olympics. At the 2000 Games in Sydney, Heymans and then-partner, Anne Montminy, won a silver medal.”
History
WHEN DID IT ALL START?
The sport of diving likely originated with people who amused themselves by diving from rocks and cliffs. Early travellers reported amazing feats performed by natives diving from the cliffs in Acapulco and Hawaii. Competitive diving, as we know it today, is only about a hundred years old. It was developed by gymnasts, rather than swimmers, who preferred practising with landings in water, rather than on hard floors. The first modern diving competition was held in England around 1880. Men's diving has been an Olympic event since 1904 and for women since 1912. Today, diving is one of the world's most popular spectator sports and there are hundreds of pools across Canada where people dive everyday.
“Fast Factoid: Did you know a natatorium is a building constructed for the purpose of housing a swimming pool and related equipment?”
Contact Info
Find Out More About Diving
Dive Ontario
1185 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 207
North York, ON
M3C 3C6
416-426-7040
http://www.diveontario.com
