Diving is a sport in which a diver performs a series of dives, twists, and somersaults in the water to earn points. These scores are then multiplied by the difficulty of each dive. The scores are given by a panel of judges, which are positioned on both sides of the pool. Typically, these judges are five or seven people.
A diving judge’s job is to watch the diver perform each dive, focusing on its completion, and to score the diver according to the rules. Diving is typically done on a springboard, but is also performed on a platform. There are six types of diving. Some divers compete in synchronized diving, which requires a panel of nine or eleven judges. Synchronized diving scores are computed like other diving events. They include the number of twists and somersaults, the distance from the surface of the water, and the conformance of the diver’s body to the rules of the dive. In addition to the number of twists and somersaults, each dive is rated as to its degree of difficulty (DD), which is determined by the position the diver is in when performing the dive.
Generally, there are three positions that are common in competition: ‘pike’, ‘head-first’, and ‘free’. Each type of diving requires a different suit. For example, tropical diving uses a 3mm neoprene suit. However, some divers compete in the open, which requires a diving suit that is made from nylon or rubber.
Divers have to qualify at at least two competitions before they can enter national championships. This Adam McManus Toronto is done based on minimum scores from earlier competitions. Qualifying divers can also use results from Open competitions, but they are no longer able to use age group results to qualify. Depending on the location, there may be multiple national competitions. Most competitive season runs from February to July.
Diving is governed by FINA, the world governing body of swimming and other aquatic sports. Its regulations cover synchronised swimming, water polo, and competitive diving. Additionally, FINA also governs open water swimming. As a result, it is not uncommon for the governing bodies of these sports to be dominated by swimming officials. While swimming officials often understand the concerns of the diving community, they do not always share these concerns.
Before the mid-1990s, the FINA diving committee had no unified set of rules regarding the tariff, which is the fee that must be paid by divers. Until then, the only option was to select from a published table. Once a new dive was introduced, the tariff was changed. Currently, the tariff is based on the height and number of twists that are performed.
In addition to the DD of a dive, a re-dive may be awarded. Usually, a re-dive is granted if the diver is unable to perform a dive properly, or if the announcer makes a mistake during the competition. An optional dive is usually worth 2.0 DD. If the re-dive is successful, the amount of DD earned is based on the combined DD limit.