I'm new at competing and just went to my second meet where the entire pool was only 4ft deep. I didn't know how to dive properly. I came within inches of the bottom each time, and then when I tried to sdk for power and momentum I kicked the bottom with my feet and lost efficiency trying to get up and out on top. Plus, when trying to do the kick out, on breaststroke, at turns, I didn't have the room to use my strength and power to do it properly, I felt constrained.
What do the rest of you do?
Former Member
Practice some running starts and see how far out you can land. This will teach you to dive flater. Go off the block and see how far you can glide in a streamline.
I thought this theory changed a while back, when they started recommending to "go through the hole" because even though you went deeper you had less resistance and could maintain a faster speed and go farther...?
It is surprising what you can do when it is neccessary.
When we swam in Hamilton the shallow end was 3 feet deep. We swam our continuous 25 yard relays in this pool. We learned how to dive in and swim from the shallow end (many a scrapped nose and arms). The pool was shallow for 15 yards went from 3' to 4' then a step up to a 3 ft shelf all the way across the pool for the whole width, then went to 9' deep for 9 yards. It was a slow pool but we had several Olympians come out of that pool.
The three foot ledge is no longer there it was removed in 1975. I used that ledge to tell me only 10 yards to the finish.
It was great for leverage when playing waterpolo. You could really shoot that ball with a foot on the ledge (not legal, I cheated).
We can still dive through the hole but just don't go too deep in a shallow pool. I was never a flat diver. I entered short and streamlined out of my dives and was always first coming out of dives. Those flat divers sure hit the water hard.
You must learn how to dive appropriately and competently under the circumstances.
I have seen a swimmer hit the bottom and fracture vertebra in his neck. He was fortunate and survived with no paralysis, but he had surgery (fused part of his neck) and gave up at least year of swimming when he was ready for a college scholarship instead. Very ruinous for him.
At the time the kid was in 3'6" water and the water was exactly at 3'6" legal limit. Since then, the depth minimum has increased.
If you do not feel comfortable, in Masters you can do a deck start (not off the blocks) or an in-water start. But please, learn how in deeper water...
