Useful ideas and props to teach younger children to dive

Inflatable or foam noodle

We used an inflatable noodle to teach our youngest daughter to dive, by holding the noodle approximately 50cm’s parallel from the pool edge and slowly moving it further out, 10cm’s at a time until she was diving at the correct angle and depth.

Inflatable ring

After our daughter had mastered diving over the noodle we then took the diving practice to the next stage, using an inflatable ring to teach her to not bend her legs as she enters the water. We achieved this by holding the inflatable ring, up-right like a hoop that a dolphin would dive through, you can lift the hoop up out of the water or half submerge, to practice different dive techniques. By the end of the two week holiday, our mission was completed and she was diving perfect and we always remember that holiday fondly, the holiday Olivia learned how to dive.

Diving Toys

Once your child has learnt how to dive why not encourage further practice and enjoyment with the use of dive toys?

Great fun for all the family with these over sized soft silicone dive coins that light-up, as you throw the coins in to the water they sink to the bottom of the swimming pool and stand on their edge. Randomly throw the four dive coins in different sections on the pool and dive in, in fact you will be having so much fun you won’t realize that you are practicing your diving.  The Coinglows dive toys comes with a handy diving bag to collect and store your mystical treasure.

Diving from the pool edge not using diving blocks (known as a pool edge start)

1. Stand at the pool edge, with your toes slightly curled over the edge of the pool then bend slightly at the waist, making sure you have good balance.

2. Bring forward both arms from behind your body and with your head looking towards the end of the swimming pool.

3. As you swing both arms forward, push off the edge of the pool, tucking in your head just before entering the water while squeezing the arms close to your head to achieve a good streamline body position.

Remember when swinging your arms forward, reach out as far as possible, drop your head before entering the water.

However if you are a nerves swimmer or a beginner diver, perhaps you would like to try the following Sit Down dive first:

 1. Sit on the edge of the pool with your arms extended vertically and both hands overlapping, stretch your arms above your head so you can feel your ears pressing against your arms.

2. Bend from the waist then at the same time slowly lower your arms towards the water but still keeping your head firmly sandwiched between your arms. You will feel the weight of your body slowly transfer forward, to preform a sitting dive.

To feel more confidence whilst preforming the dive, ask a family member to help with your balance as you lean forwards in to the dive.

Types of competitive dives

Track Start

1. Grab the starting block, your hands can be placed either inside or outside of your feet.

2. Curl your toes over the starting block (feet should be together or slightly apart).

3. Head down, your knees should be slightly flexed (soft knees).

4. Now lift your head, throwing your arms forwards whilst pushing off the diving block.

5. Diving from the block and ensuring you drive power through your legs.

5. Don’t forget to drop your head just before entering the water.

6. Once you are in the water, assume the streamline position before starting your stroke.

To ensure you don’t slip off the block, wipe the block so it does not have any excess water, a good balance with your toes curled over the block

Grab Start

1. Curl your toes over the starting block (feet should be together or slightly apart).

2. Head down, your knees should be slightly flexed.

3. Lift your head and swing both arms forward, push off the edge of the pool

4. Ensuring you drive power and energy through your legs from the block.

5. Drop your head just before entering the water.

6. Once you are in the water, assume the streamline position before starting your stroke.

Throw and Go dive for Relays

Throw and go is the simplest type of relay dive. The Throw & Go dive is recommended if you are new to relays.

1. Bend your knees and lean forward.

2. Lean your chest over your thighs.

3. Place both feet forward with your toes on the edge of the starting block

4. Stretch your arms out from your shoulders.

5. When the swimmer in your relay team is at the middle of the pool on their last lap, point your fingertips toward them.

6. When the swimmer is one stroke away from the wall, swing your arms down past your hips and forward into a streamline. As they swing forward, push off the block for the dive.

Top-tip: As you bring your arms back, keep your knees bent and your chest low.

Wind-up Dive

1. Start in the same position you did for the Throw & Go dive with your knees bent, chest low, and arms out.

2. As the relay swimmer gets to the T, start to bring your arms back.

3. Instead of bringing your arms down past your hips, move them upward.

4. Reach your hands up toward the sky like a double-arm backstroke motion.

5. Swing your arms all the way behind you, and continue past your hips.

6. Bring your arms to a full circle, and join your hands together for a dive.