Following Rules

Diving Dos & Don'ts

  DOs

• Do know the shape of the pool bottom andthe water depth before you dive. Follow theequipment manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Do plan your dive path to avoid submergedobstacles, surface objects, or other swimmers.
• Do hold your head up, arms up, and steer upwith your hands.
• Do keep arms extended and head and handsup during the dive.
• Do practice carefully before you dive in.
• Do swim and dive with a “buddy.”
• Do test the diving board for its springbefore using.
• Do remember that when you dive down,you must steer up.
• Do keep your dives simple.

  DON'Ts

• Don’t dive into an aboveground pool or into the shallow end of a pool. Nine out of ten diving injuries occur in six feet of water or less.
• Don’t dive into a pool not meeting a “diving pool” standard.
• Don’t dive off the side of a diving board— dive straight ahead.
• Don’t dive from the edge across the narrow part of a pool.
• Don’t run and dive. That can give you the same impact as a dive from a board.
• Don’t do a back dive; backyard pools are not built for this dangerous dive.
• Don’t try fancy dives or dives with a straight vertical entry.
• Don’t dive at or through objects such as inner tubes.
• Don’t put diving equipment on a pool that wasn’t designed for it.
• Don’t dive from retaining walls, ladders, slides or other pool equipment.
• Don’t dive from rooftops, balconies, ledges, fences or any place that is not specifically designed for diving.
• Don’t dive from racing starting blocks without direct supervision and the training of a qualified coach.
• Don’t dive into unfamiliar bodies of water. Remember, 3 out of 4 diving accidents happen in natural bodies of water like lakes and rivers.
• Don’t swim or dive alone.
• Don’t drink and dive. The slowing effects of alcohol or drugs on reaction times can be extremely dangerous in diving.