Diving Safety – swimming activities

Depth, space, signage and facility rules for jumps and dives; checking the water is clear; one at a time.

Activities

• Clear Water Check – A routine swimmers perform before every jump or dive: check depth, look left, right and ahead for swimmers, wait for the signal – until it becomes automatic.
• Depth Check Detective – Swimmers find and explain the pool's depth markings, 'No diving' signs and the areas where jumping and diving are allowed – safety knowledge before any entry.
• Diving Cool-Down and Reflect – Finish with an easy swim and back float, then each swimmer names their best entry today and the safety rule they used most.
• Diving Mini-Routine – Swimmers plan and perform three entries in order – e.g. pencil jump, tuck jump, and their current dive progression – with safe surfacing between each.
• Diving Rules Huddle – A quick poolside huddle to agree the session's entry rules: one at a time, check the water is clear, swim away after surfacing, stop on the whistle.
• Jump Sequence Relay – Teams perform a sequence of different feet-first jumps one at a time – pencil, star, tuck, turn – scoring for control and safe exits, not speed.
• Partner Shape Call – A game: one partner secretly chooses a shape, the jumper performs it, and the partner checks it matches – lots of jumps, lots of fun.
• Springboard Approach Walk – Specialist facility only: practise a calm, controlled walk to the end of the board and a balanced stance – first on poolside, then on the board – before any take-off.
• Springboard Feet-First Jump – Specialist facility only: from a still stance at the end of a low springboard, a controlled feet-first pencil jump out from the board.
• Springboard Safety Rules – Specialist facility only: a walk-through of springboard rules – one person on the board, check the water is clear, feet-first unless taught otherwise, swim straight to the side.
• Surface, Turn and Swim Away – After every entry, swimmers steer up, turn to face the side and swim out of the entry area – so the next swimmer has clear water.
• Visualise the Dive – Before trying an entry, swimmers close their eyes on poolside (back from the edge) and picture every step – stance, take-off, shape, entry, surfacing – building calm confidence.