Dimensions for Diving

Diving is an individual sport, with separate events for men and women. Most diving competitions consist of three disciplines – 1m, 3m and tower, or platform.

Related topics: diving

The information in this guide is general in nature and cannot be relied upon as professional advice concerning the design of, or marking out for, sporting facilities and playing areas. No assurance is given as to the accuracy of any information contained in this guide and readers should not rely on its accuracy. Readers should obtain their own independent and professional advice in relation to their proposed sporting activity.

In tower events, competitors are allowed to perform their dives on either the 5m, 7.5m (generally just called 7m) or 10m towers, although high level meets, including the Olympic Games and World Championships, usually require all dives to be executed from the 10m.

Divers perform a set number of dives according to various established requirements, including somersaults and twists in various directions and from different starting positions.

Synchronised diving was adopted as an Olympic sport in 2000. The synchronised diving competition involves two competitors diving simultaneously from the springboards or platform. The competition is judged on how they individually perform their dives and how the team synchronises their performance.

Diving facility

A diving facility is 18.29m long by 22.89m wide and equipped with two 1m and two 3m springboards and a diving tower with take-off platforms at 5m, 7.5m and 10m. Platforms also exist at 1m and 3m heights as training tools. The diving facility can be separate from or incorporated with the swimming pool. The overall dimensions can be increased to suit other activities such as synchronised swimming and water polo.

The basic measuring point used is the plummet line. This is a vertical line extending through the centre point of the front edge of the diving springboard.

The water temperature is a minimum of 26° celsius. The colour of the walls are white or pale blue. A dark blue floor, in conjunction with agitation of the water surface by water sprays, assists divers in seeing the water surface and reduces the risk of an accident.

The pool edge is level with the water with raised ends to assist in diving teaching and coaching. Rest ledges, if provided, are recessed at a minimum water depth of 1.2m.

Surface agitators are a FINA requirement to help divers in their visual perception of the water surface. Normally the agitation is made via a sprinkler directed on to the surface of the water.

A bubbler is installed on the pool floor to provide a compressed air cushion of bubbles to protect divers from injury.

Diving pools provide sufficient depth of water to safely break the fall of a diver. The facility allows divers to reduce their velocity in a safe manner, to prevent injuries created by excessive deceleration forces. In the diving pool the water depth is a minimum of 1.8m at any point. Water depths at the plummet must conform to the minimum standards specified in the table of pool dimensions and equipment as specified in the FINA ‘Dimensions for Diving Facilities’. This table and other information is available on their website at www.fina.org/rules/english/facilities.php.

Diving boards, diving platforms and diving pools are to be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of sections FR 5.1–5.3 inclusive in the FINA Rules and Regulations Handbook 2005-2009, also available on their website.

Ladders and steps are recessed and positioned for divers to follow a safe exit route after completing their dives, away from the diving boards. Access stairways and ladders must be designed and constructed in accordance with Appendix 5 of the Code Of Practice for the Design, Operation, Management and Maintenance of Aquatic Facilities, March 2006, Department of Health Western Australia.

Springboard diving

The springboards are placed on either one or both sides of the platform. For synchronised diving, it is preferable that at least two springboards at the same height are placed side by side. No objects are to obstruct the visibility in any part between the divers.

The boards are at least 4.8m long and 0.5m wide and covered in a non-slip surface. The springboards are fitted with movable fulcrums adjustable by the diver. The springboards are installed dead level at the leading edge when the moveable fulcrum is in all positions.

The vertical distance from the level of the platform, which supports the fulcrum assembly, to the level of the top of the springboard is 0.365m. The distance from the front edge of the fulcrum assembly (which is 0.676m long) to the front edge of the supporting platform is a maximum of 0.68m. If the front edge of the platform projects past this point, then the top surface past this point is sloped at a rate of one vertical to three horizontal.

Platform diving

Each platform is rigid and horizontal. The minimum dimensions of the platform are:

Platform	Width	Length
0.6m-1m	0.6m	5m
2.6m-3m	0.6m (pref. 1.5m)	6m
5m	1.5m	6m
7.5m	1.5m	6m
10m	3m	6m

The thickness of the front edge of the platform is 0.2m−0.3m and is either vertical or inclined at an angle not greater than 10° to the vertical inside the plummet line. The surface and front edge of the platform is covered separately with a resilient non-slip surface.

The front of the 10m and 7.5m platforms must project at least 1.5m beyond the edge of the pool. For 2.6m, 3m and 5m platforms, a projection of 1.25m is acceptable and for 0.6m−1m platforms a projection of 0.75m is acceptable.

It is preferable that a platform is not constructed directly under any other platform. If it is unavoidable, the platform above must project a minimum of 0.75m (preferred 1.25m) beyond the platform below. The end of a 5m platform must not project beyond the ends of the 3m springboards. Platforms are accessible by stairs, not ladders.

Tank layouts

The above diagrams are examples of diving tank layouts. FINA standards recommend that platforms are not stacked against each other, but if this is unavoidable, clearances and set-back of plummet lines need to be provided. This is a requirement if the pool size does not allow springboards to be located opposite platforms.

Lighting

In competitive diving it is important that judges and spectators are able to clearly see the take-off and aerial movements of the divers. It is essential that divers are able to see the water surface. Attention needs to be given to the illuminance in vertical planes within the space where dives are performed, up to the height of the highest dive. Floodlights may be used and aimed obliquely to increase the illuminance on vertical planes in the diving zone. The minimum illumination at 1m above the water for recreation and training is 120 lux, club, inter-club or district competition is 240 lux, national or state competition is 600 lux and Olympic Games and World Championships is 1500 lux.