Competitive Diving Tips

By: Courtney Ferry

Break Studios Contributing Writer

If you are in search of competitive diving tips, you have come to the right place. Competitive diving is an intense and dynamic sport that takes devotion, skill, grace and endurance. Much like gymnastics, competitive diving involves a lot of twisting and turning in the air in graceful motions. Think you really have what it takes to be an excellent competitive diver? If so, continue reading to learn the best competitive diving tips. 

  1. Point your toes. This is one of the most important tips a competitive diver can have. Pointing the toes is an essential part of a diver's form and finesse, and judges look at this when scoring a diver. It also makes a dive look naturally more graceful and fluid, and helps the body enter the water in a straight up and down motion. Work on pointing the toes every time you dive and try to improve your toe point everyday. 
  2. Dive with others. The reason it is important for divers to dive with other people is that it can be dangerous to dive alone. Realistically, diving is a sport that has the potential for many kinds of accidents such as hitting your head, hitting the diving board or slipping. It is always best to be in the presence of others in case an emergency arises and you need assistance or medical care. 
  3. Condition and flex your body. Competitive diving is a sport that will require you to be flexible and in the best shape possible. You should always work out before heading into the water to prepare your body for the strain it will undergo. Doing body stretching is a great idea, as all competitive divers should be resilient and fit. You can also pull a muscle or hurt yourself if you dive without the proper conditioning and workouts. 
  4. Work on tucks and pikes. A good competitive diver will have his pikes and tucks mastered and will look fluid while performing them. But just like gymnastics, tumbling in the water takes practice and skill. You must practice tucks and pikes to get good at them and you shouldn't be afraid to branch out. Once you have mastered the basics of diving, it is time to get into the hard stuff. 
  5. Be safe. All divers should use common sense when regarding safety issues. Never dive in shallow water and know the rules of your pool before getting into it. Do not perform moves or techniques that you are not seasoned to do, as you can seriously injure yourself in the process. Running when there is water on the ground can also pose a safety hazard. Use your best judgment to avoid injury and you should be good to go. 
  6. Dive head first. You will never see an elite diver enter the water with his feet first, as a good diver will enter the water hands first and toes pointed. Head first dives are easier to control, look better and will give you a much more fluid and attractive entrance into the water. 
Posted on: Mar. 03, 2011