The 6 Types of Springboard and Platform Dives

6 Competitive Dives and How They Are Identified

Diver standing at the end of a diving board getting ready to jump in the water.

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Six basic types of dives are used in springboard and platform diving. Four of these involve somersaulting, either toward or away from the diving board or platform, and include using a forward approach and hurdle, or a backward press. A fifth type of dive adds twists to any of the other types. The sixth type is the armstand, which combines somersaults and twists. This type of dive is used exclusively in platform diving.

Each dive is identified by a three- or four-digit dive number, which can be interpreted through an understanding of the coding. For example, a dive might be labeled 203C, which a knowledgeable fan will recognize as a backward dive with one and a half somersaults performed in the tuck position. 

Basic Dive Group, the First Digit in the Dive Number

The first digit indicates the basic dive type, specified by a number from 1 to 6. These basic dive types are: 

  • Forward (1)
  • Back (2)
  • Reverse (3)
  • Inward (4)
  • Twisting (5)
  • Armstand (6)

The first four dive groups all use three-digit numbers, which have specific meanings.

Somersault or Flying, the Second Digit

The second digit of the dive number will always be 0 or 1. This indicates that the dive is either a normal somersault (0), or is a "flying dive" (1), which is almost never seen in competition.

Half Somersaults, the Third Digit

The third digit in the dive number is of more interest, as it indicates how many half-revolutions the diver is making. A dive labeled a 204, in other words, is a back dive with two full somersaults. 

Dive Position, the Final Letter

Finally, dive number will end in the letter A, B, C, or D, which refers to the dive position — straight, pike, tuck, or free. 

  • A: Straight position dive with no bend at the knees or hips (considered the hardest of the four).
  • B: Pike position dive with knees straight but a tight bend at the hips (considered to be of medium difficulty).
  • C: Tuck position dive, where the body is folded up in a ball (considered to be the easiest position).
  • D: A "free" dive, which is a twisting dive where the position changes during the dive. 

Group 5 Dives

Twisting dives all are identified with four-digit numbers. The first digit, 5, identifies the dive as one from the twisting dive group. The second digit indicates the group (1–4) of the underlying movement. In other words, this number shows whether the dive is from the forward, back, reverse, or inward position. The third digit indicates the number of half-somersaults, and the fourth indicates the number of half-twists in the dive.

For example, in a dive identified as 5337D, the first number (5) identifies it as a twisting dive. The second digit (3) indicates that the dive is from the reverse position. The third digit (3) indicates one and a half somersaults. The last digit (7) indicates that the dive has three and a half twists. The final letter (D) identifies the dive as being a free dive. 

Group 6 Dives

Armstand dives all begin with the digit 6, but may have either three or four total digits. Three-digit dives are those without twists; four-digit dives include twisting. 

In non-twisting armstand dives, the second digit indicates the direction of rotation (0 = no rotation, 1 = forward, 2 = backward, 3 = reverse, 4 = inward) and the third digit indicates the number of half-somersaults. 

For twisting armstand dives, the dive number again has four digits. The second digit indicates the direction of rotation (0 = no rotation, 1 = forward, 2 = backward, 3 = reverse, 4 = inward). The third is the number of half-somersaults, and the fourth is the number of half-twists.

For example: 624C is an armstand (6), back (2), double somersault (4), from the tuck position (C). 

A  6243D is armstand (6), back (2), double somersault (4), with one and a half twists (3), in the free position (D). 

Degree of Difficulty

All of these dives are assigned a D.D. (degree of difficulty) to indicate the difficulty, or complexity, of the dive. The total score the dive receives from the judges is multiplied by the D.D. (also known as a tariff) to give the dive a final score. Before a diver competes, they must decide on a "list" — a number of optional dives and compulsory dives. The optionals come with a D.D. limit. This means that a diver must select X number of dives and that the combined D.D. limit must be no more than the limit set by the competition/organization.

Until the mid-1990s, the tariff was decided by the FINA diving committee and divers could only select from the range of dives in the published tariff table. Since then, the tariff is calculated by a formula based on various factors, such as the number of twist and somersaults, the height, the group, and so on. Divers are also free to submit new combinations. This change was implemented because new dives were being invented too frequently for an annual meeting to accommodate the progress of the sport.

Forward Dives

Diver in mid-air against a blue sky.

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Divers face the end of the board and the water and approach the end using a forward approach and hurdle. Once the diver reaches the end and leaves the springboard, he or she will rotate away from the diving board for as little as half of a somersault or as many as four and a half somersaults. Examples of dives from the forward group:

  • forward dive in the pike position (100B)
  • forward one and a half somersaults in the tuck position (103C)
  • forward two and a half somersaults in the pike position (105B)
  • forward four and a half somersaults in the tuck position (109C)

Back Dives

Diver in the middle of performing a reverse dive.

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Dives from the backward group are executed with the diver standing on the end of the board with their back to the water. After executing a backward press and takeoff, the diver rotates away from the springboard for as little as half of a somersault or as many as three and a half somersaults. Examples of dives from the backward group:

  • back dive in the straight position (200A)
  • back one and a half somersaults in the straight position (203A)
  • back two and a half somersaults in the pike position (205B)
  • back three and a half somersaults in the tuck position (207C)

Reverse Dives

Synchronized divers prepare to perform a reverse dive.

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Also known as a "gainer," the diver faces the end of the board and the water. After a forward approach and hurdle, the diver rotates back toward the diving board while moving forward and away from the diving board for as many as three and a half somersaults. Examples of dives from the reverse group include:

  • reverse dive in the tuck position (300C)
  • reverse one and a half somersaults in the pike position (303B)
  • reverse two and a half somersaults in the pike position (305B)
  • reverse three and a half somersaults in the tuck position (307C)

Inward Dives

Synchronized divers performing somersaults.

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Inward dives begin with the diver on the end of the springboard with their back to the water. The diver executes a backward press and takeoff, then rotates toward the diving board while moving away from the board for as many as three and a half somersaults. Examples of dives from the inward group include:

  • inward dive in the "open" pike position (400B)
  • inward one and a half somersaults in the tuck position (403C)
  • inward two and a half somersaults in the pike position (405B)
  • inward three and a half somersaults in the tuck position (407C)

Twisting Dives

Diver performing a twisting dive.

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Any dive that uses a twist can be considered a twisting dive. Twisting dives can be executed from the forward, back, reverse, and inward position, and can also be performed from an armstand. While many armstand dives include twists, they are not listed in the degree of difficulty table with "twisters," but grouped rather with the "armstand" category. Examples of dives from the twisting group include:

  • forward one somersault, one twist in the free position (5122D)
  • back one and a half somersaults, one and a half twists in the free position (5233D)
  • reverse one and a half somersaults, two and a half twists in the free position (5335D)
  • forward two and a half somersaults, one twist in the pike position (5152B)

Armstand Dives

Man poised to take a handstand dive for the Red Bull cliff diving challenge.

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All armstand dives are performed from the platform at five meters, seven and a half meters, or ten meters. The diver executes a handstand from the edge of the platform facing either forward (their back facing the water) or backward (their front facing the water), and performs the dive from this starting position. The start of this type of dive begins when both diver's feet leave the platform surface. Examples of dives from the armstand group include:

  • armstand forward two somersaults in the pike position (614B)
  • armstand reverse two somersaults in the tuck position (634C)
  • armstand back two somersaults, half-twist in the pike position (6241B)
  • armstand back two somersaults, one and a half twists in the free position (6243D)