Sitting Dive
The first head-first entry: from sitting on the edge, arms over the head, swimmers overbalance forward into a shallow glide.
- Stages
- Stage 5, Stage 6
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Safe Entry, Streamlining, Starts
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 7–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Only in water deep enough for diving under your pool's operating procedures, with a clear area in front.
- One swimmer at a time; arms always extended over the head on entry. Never dive into shallow water.
What it develops
- Controlled entries, including an introduction to diving
- Streamlined starts from the side
How to run it
- Sit on the edge, feet on the gutter or wall, arms squeezed over the head in a streamline.
- Chin tucked, look at the water in front.
- Lean forward and push gently with the feet, fingertips entering first.
- Glide to the surface and swim away.
Teaching cues
- Arms over your head.
- Chin in.
- Fingers first.
- Glide up.
Make it easier
- Roll in from sitting with a helper in the water.
- Push and glide under a noodle first.
Make it harder
- Kneeling Dive.
- Aim through a floating hoop.
Common faults
- Lifting the head and landing flat.
- Arms separating.
Corrections
- 'Look at your target, then tuck your chin.'
- Lock the streamline before leaning.
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand in the water at a safe distance to the side of the landing area and reassure hesitant swimmers.