Back Dives: The Complete Guide

Backs are the first group where you leave the board without being able to see where you're going.

This page collects everything I've made on back dives to hopefully give you an advantage as you progress through the sport.

The Voluntaries

These are your foundation. Everything you build here shows up magnified later, so give them attention and pay attention to the details.

• Back Dive Tuck (201C)
  Arms behind the ears, showing the tuck, and all about kick placement.
• Back Dive Pike (201B)
  Staying balanced over your toes, what your shoulders are really doing, and being out of the pike at the peak.
• Back Dive Straight (201A)
  Why sitting on the start decides where the dive goes, and how to pop your toes without breaking your line.
• Your First Backflip
  Four steps: sit, swing, look, and come out.

The Optionals

Now the fun part. These take years, so hopefully these give you a head start.

• Back 1½ Tuck (203C)
  Your first blind entry off a back takeoff. Head position, the arm swing, and the knee-first kickout.
• Back 1½ Pike (203B)
  The shoulder relaxation secret, extending through the C position, and learning how to extend while also engaging your core properly. 
• Back Double Tuck (204C)
• Back 2½  Tuck (205C)
  How to know you're ready for it on 3m, why an early arm circle makes you fall back, and spotting.
  
• Back 2 ½  Pike (205B)

Back Twisting

• Back Flip Half Twist (5221D)
  Where back twisting starts. Oscillations, the one-arm drop, and going wide before going tight.
• Back 1½ Half Twist (5231D)
  

Entries

• Back and Reverse Entries (Knee Save Guide)
  The airtight setup above the water, the lateral swim with locked elbows, and why the chin leads the knee save.

Three Things That Are True of Every Back

Swing hard, then let go. Engage the shoulders from 12 to 6 o'clock, then relax completely at the bottom and let momentum carry the arms back up. This allows you to control your upper body on the take off and get a lot of momentum from the arm swing. Staying engaged the whole way is what makes divers fall away from the board.

Keep your eyes forward as long as possible. Chin neutral/tucked, eyes locked on the fulcrum or the tip. When you're looking at the board it's physically harder for your body to fall away from it. 

Finish the jump before the legs come up. Break at the knees early and the board stops pushing force through your whole body. Straight legs, hips sliding in over the ankles, then the legs come.

Good luck and I'll see you on the next dive! - DG