What Are The Six Groups Of Dives?

What Are The Six Groups Of Dives?

Six groups, and each one is defined by two things: which way you're facing, and which way you rotate (or twist).

Let's get into it.

1. Forward

Face the water, rotate forward. The most intuitive of the six and where basically all divers will start.

Forward dives use a forward approach, also known as a hurdle. Here's what it looks like:

Want a detailed breakdown of all forward facing dives check this out: Forward dives explained

2. Back

Stand on the end of the board facing away from the water, rotate backward.

No approach, so every bit of power comes from your rhythm with the board, squat and form as you stand up and jump. It's also the first group you learn where you leave without being able to see where you're going.

Here's what they look like:

Want a detailed breakdown of all backward dives check this out: Back dives explained

3. Reverse

Face the water like a forward dive, do a forward approach down the board, jump forward, but rotate backward toward the board.

Your body travels one way and your rotation goes the other. This is the group people have the most mental blocks with.

Here's what they look like:

Want a detailed breakdown of all reverse dives check this out: Reverse dives explained

4. Inward

Stand at the end facing away from the water like a back dive, then rotate forward, toward the board.

Early on divers push away with their hips too much because every instinct tells you to get away from the board. The biggest issue I see with these is a balance problem.

Here's what they look like:

Want a detailed breakdown of all inward dives check this out: Inward dives explained

Reverse vs inward: the one everybody mixes up

Here's a good way to remember it.

Both of them rotate toward the board. The difference is which way you're facing when you start.

If they walked it's a reverse.

If they were standing still on the end with their back to the water, it's an inward.

5. Twisting

Any dive with a twist in it, regardless of which direction it started in. That's why twisting codes have four digits instead of three.

You can learn about those codes here. 

Twisting is a separate skill from flipping. The mechanics that create a twist have almost nothing to do with how you rotate and some people are naturally better at twisting than others, just like some people can flip faster than others. 

It can definitely be learned, but some of it comes down to innate body awareness that you start out with.

Here's what a twister looks like:

Want a detailed breakdown of all twisting dives check this out: Twisting dives explained

6. Armstand

Start in a handstand on the edge, then dive from there.

These can be in every direction but the most common are forward and backward armstands. 

They can also include twisting if desired.

Platform only. You cannot do these off a springboard, because a springboard moves. You'll only see them on platform events, which is why they're the group most people have never heard of.

Here's what they can look like:

Where the groups show up in the numbers

The first digit of every dive code is the group. A dive starting with 3 is a reverse. A dive starting with 4 is an inward.

So when the graphic on screen says 403B, you already know it's an inward before you know anything else. The full decode is in what do diving numbers mean.

Other things you're probably wondering

- DG

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