The rules used to judge a diving contest have changed very little since its introduction as a sporting event over a century ago. So it might appear that judging a diving contest is an easy task! The reality however, is that due to the ever-increasing difficulty and international popularity of diving, judging diving is not as easy as it appears.

Should one diving technique be judged differently than another? Should a judge use an absolute or flexible scale? How do you judge divers in the same event with widely varying degrees of talent and style?

These are all good questions to keep in mind when learning to judge diving, but to begin any discussion of judging starts with an understanding of the scoring system and the five basic elements of a dive: The Starting Position, The Approach, The Take-Off, The Flight, and The Entry.

Scoring System

Scores in all diving meets use a range from one to ten, in ½-point increments. The score of each dive is calculated by first adding the total awards of three judges. This is known as the raw score. The raw score is then multiplied by the degree of difficulty of the dive and you have the total diver’s score for the dive.

Diving meets must be scored using a minimum of three judges, but can be scored using as many as nine judges. Collegiate diving contests allow the use of two judges in a dual meets. Using the simplest method of scoring: when more than three judges are used, the highest and the lowest scores awarded are dropped and the raw score is determined by the remaining three awards. This same manner of determining the raw score can be used for a seven or nine member judging panel.

In most international competitions where a judging panel contains more than five judges, the dive score is calculated using the 3/5 method. This process involves multiplying the sum of the middle five awards by the degree of difficulty and then by .06. The result is the equivalent of a three-judge score.

Sample Scoring For a Five Judge Panel

Scores: 6.5, 6, 6.5, 6, 5.5
Low (5.5) and High (6.5) Scores Dropped
Raw Score = 18.5 (6.5 + 6 + 6)
Raw Score (18.5) x Degree of Difficulty (2.0)
Total Score for the Dive = 37.0
Because of the subjectivity involved in judging, it is advisable to have more than three judges involved in a contest. This helps to eliminate any bias that one or more judges might have and give an accurate representation of dive.

Criteria for Judging a Dive

0: Completely Failed
½ – 2: Unsatisfactory
2½ – 4½: Deficient
5 – 6½: Satisfactory
7 – 8: Good
8½ – 9½: Very good
10: Excellent
Note: This is the FINA judging scale. High school and NCAA competitions use a slightly different scale.

Five Basic Elements of a Dive

When judging a dive, five basic elements need to be considered with equal importance before awarding a score.

Starting Position: A dive is to be judged once the diver assumes the starting position on the springboard or platform. This may be standing facing the water for forward approaches, with the diver’s back to the water at the end of the springboard or platform for backward approaches, or in preparation for a forward or backward handstand take-off on the platform. Depending on the dive, the diver should be standing straight with the head erect, and the arms straight and steady in a position of the diver’s choice.

The Approach: The diver shall, on front approaches, move to the end of the springboard in a smooth motion showing good form. Using no less than three steps, the diver shall execute a forward hurdle from the last step. A hurdle is the jump to the end of the board and must be executed from one foot. The back approach is characterized by a series of arm swings used to initiate momentum. At no time during the back approach shall the diver’s feet leave the springboard or platform. If the diver begins the approach from the starting position and stops, the diving referee will declare a balk and two points will be deducted from each judge’s score. If the diver again starts the approach and stops, the dive will be considered failed and no points will be awarded.

The Take-Off: After completing the forward approach and hurdle, the take-off should show proper balance and control, and initiate a safe distance from the board. The diver must leave the springboard from both feet. On a platform take-off, the diver may leave the platform surface from one foot.

The Flight: The flight of the dive should be smooth and graceful and at no time should the dive move to the left or the right of the springboard or platform, or shall any part of the diver touch either the springboard or platform. During the dive, the body shall be carried in one of the four acceptable positions: tuck, pike, straight, or free.

The Entry: The entry into the water, whether it is a head-first or feet-first entry, shall be vertical or as close to vertical as possible. The diver’s body shall be straight, the legs together, and the toes pointed. The arms must be extended over the head and in-line with body on head-first entries. On feet-first entries the arms shall be straight and at the diver’s side.

Judging diving is a subjective endeavor. What that means is that it is essentially personal opinion, so the more informed a judge is of the rules and the more experience they possess, the more consistent the scoring will be.

Credit: About Diving

To win dive meets, divers create a dive list in advance of the meet. To win the meet the diver must accumulate more points than other divers. Often, simple dives with low DDs will look good to spectators but will not win meets. The competitive diver will attempt the highest DD dives possible with which they can achieve consistent, high scores. If divers are scoring 8 or 9 on most dives, it may be a sign of their extreme skill, or it may be a sign that their dive list is not competitive, and they may lose the meet to a diver with higher DDs and lower scores.

In competition, divers must submit their lists beforehand, and once past a deadline (usually when the event is announced or shortly before it begins) they cannot change their dives. If they fail to perform the dive announced, even if they physically cannot execute the dive announced or if they perform a more difficult dive, they will receive a score of zero. Under exceptional circumstances, a redive may be granted, but these are exceedingly rare (usually for very young divers just learning how to compete, or if some event outside the diver’s control has caused them to be unable to perform).

In the Olympics or other highly competitive meets, many divers will have nearly the same list of dives as their competitors. The importance for divers competing at this level is not so much the DD, but how they arrange their list. Once the more difficult rounds of dives begin it is important to lead off with a confident dive to build momentum. They also tend to put a very confident dive in front of a very difficult dive to ensure that they will have a good mentality for the difficult dive. Most divers have pre-dive and post-dive rituals that help them either maintain or regain focus. Coaches also play a role in this aspect of the sport. Many divers rely on their coaches to help keep their composure during the meet. In a large meet coaches are rarely allowed on the deck to talk to their athlete so it is common to see coaches using hand gestures to communicate.

There are some American meets which will allow changes of the position of the dive even after the dive has been announced immediately before execution, but these are an exception to the rules generally observed internationally.

Generally, NCAA rules allow for dives to be changed while the diver is on the board, but the diver must request the change directly after the dive is announced. This applies especially in cases where the wrong dive is announced. If the diver pauses during his or her hurdle to ask for a change of dive, it will be declared a balk and the change of dive will not be permitted.

Under FINA law, no dive may be changed after the deadline for the dive-sheet to be submitted (generally a period ranging from one hour to 24 hours, depending on the rulings made by the event organiser).

It is the diver’s responsibility to ensure that the dive-sheet is filled in correctly, and also to correct the referee or announcer before the dive if they describe it incorrectly. If a dive is performed which is as submitted but not as (incorrectly) announced, it is declared failed and scores zero according to a strict reading of the FINA law. But in practice, a re-dive would usually be granted in these circumstances.

Credit: Wikipedia

Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.
Diving is one of the most popular Olympic sports with spectators. Competitors possess many of the same characteristics as gymnasts and dancers, including strength, flexibility, kinaesthetic judgment and air awareness.
The success of Greg Louganis has led to American strength in diving internationally. China came to prominence several decades ago when the sport was revolutionized by national coach Liang Boxi and after intense study of the dominant Louganis. China has lost few world titles since. Other noted countries in the sport include the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia and Canada.

Most diving competitions consist of three disciplines: 1m and 3m springboards, and the platform. Competitive athletes are divided by gender, and often by age group. In platform events, competitors are allowed to perform their dives on either the five, seven and a half (generally just called seven) or ten meter towers. In major diving meets, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships, platform diving is from the 10 meter height.

Divers have to perform a set number of dives according to established requirements, including somersaults and twists. Divers are judged on whether and how well they completed all aspects of the dive, the conformance of their body to the requirements of the dive, and the amount of splash created by their entry to the water. A possible score out of ten is broken down into three points for the takeoff, three for the flight, and three for the entry, with one more available to give the judges flexibility.

The raw score is multiplied by a difficulty factor, derived from the number and combination of movements attempted. The diver with the highest total score after a sequence of dives is declared the winner.

Credit: Wikipedia

Distance: about 1km from Polaris Dive resort
Dive Type: Wall
Visibility: 15-20m
Depth: 8-25m
Current: 0-2

This dive site has some very nice hard corals. Some big table corals have been noticed. Typical marine live you can expect to see here are Blue finned triggerfish, barracuda, rainbow snappers, mackerel, and checkered snapper.

If you’ve dived this site, pls share us your experience in the comments area. Photos are most welcome.

Now this is something revolutionary in snorkeling technology. Utilizing groundbreaking bone conduction technology this set of 7 snorkels, headset, & battery operated transmitter allows effective surface-to-swimmer communication. Through the use of a wireless transmitter constructed of a splash resistant housing, a user can talk to or transmit music and other recordings to swimmers and snorkelers. iPod Ready!

Just imagine the multitude of applications for this

Water Trainers / Snorkeling instructors: You can now give instructions to your students while snorkeling.

Divemasters: You can now communicate with snorkelers around the dive boat. Or you can have a pipe in (or should is say pipe out?) music to the snorkelers. You can connect it to your ipod for broadcasting music!

Mares Vector Origin 1000 – The ideal Mares BCD solution for schools and diving centers.

This is an exceptionally great BCD. Its easy to clean and quick drying. The size is imprinted on the shoulder to assist diving families in recognizing their own mares bcd. This is also great for students to easily get their own BCD size during lessons.

• Ergo Inflator
• Two rear quick dump/over-expansion relief valves
• QAS
• One pocket with zip
• One pocket with fly front closing
• Padded backpack
• This Mares BCD has a clearly visible label indicating size on the right shoulder;

Ideal for use in dive centers

Materials:
• Cordura® 1000 exterior/420 nylon interior
• AISI 304 Stainless steel rings with bend.

Mares Vector Origin 1000 FEATURES:

Ergo inflator

Buoyancy bag: 1000 denier fabric – Classic Aircell

Valves: 1 front, 1 rear

Waist strap: adjustable, with quick release 50 mm-buckle.The buckle adjustment straps are finished with pull-rings, which are easy to grip even when wearing heavy neoprene gloves

Padded Overmoulded Backpack Pad for comfort usually not seen in a BC of this price

Mares BCD body: 1000 Denier nylon

Pockets: a roomy side pocket with high impact YKK zip and zipper-pull, and another with flap closure, both self-draining

Shoulder straps: padded, with anatomical cut

Rings: on the shoulder straps, two 40 mm stainless steel rings; on the BC body: two 20 mm technopolymer rings and two non-twisting 25 mm technopolymer rings

Swivel hose retainers: one retainer, guarantees safe and optimal positioning of the console

Your basic scuba masks consist of a silicon seal that acts as a suction on your face preventing water from entering.

What are the MOST IMPORTANT things look for in buying a scuba mask or snorkeling mask?

The mask is a long term investment. With the right maintenance and care, it can last a long time.

Quality We are not talking about cheap mask that you buy for $10.00 that will continually leak on you. A good quality mask will run anywhere from $40.00 to $150.00 depending if there are any special features or not. We will talk more about the special features later in this article.

However, your basic mask MUST cover the following.

When you buy a mask there are several extremely important features to look at. The first feature is the seal to you face. Most masks have a good quality silicon rubber seal. The mask should fit snuggly on your face. A good test to test fit is to hold the mask up to your face and suck in the air through your nose. This will remove the air in the mask creating suction to your face. Hold your breath and do not let any air back into the mask through your nose. While holding you breathe, try to pull the mask off of your face. The mask should pop off sounding off a popping noise. This tells you that there is a good seal. If the mask falls off very easily, the mask is probably slightly to large for you. The last thing you want while diving or snorkeling is a leaky mask.

The second feature that you should look at is the accessibility to your nose. While the mask is on, try to pinch your nose. By pinching your nose we mean that both your nostrils can be closed. This is essential if you are scuba diving as you need to pinch your nose to equalize the air pressure as you are descending deep into the waters.

If you have difficulties pinching your nose or can not even reach your nose at all, that mask will not work for you.

Another thing to look for but may not be as important is the visibility. You should have adequate peripheral vision and not tunnel vision with the mask. A good method of checking your peripheral vision is the following:

With your mask on, point your arm straight out in front of you with the palm of your hands together as if you’re about to diving into a swimming pool. At this point you should see your hands.

Next, while looking straight ahead, slowly open your hands and arms apart moving them away from each other. Keep going until you no longer see the hands and arms. That angle in which you can no longer see your arms is the angle of peripheral vision.

A good range is between 100 degrees and up. Normally your peripheral vision without the mask is close to 180 degrees.

OCEANIC DELTA 4 /FDX-10 REGULATOR WITH DRY VALVE TECHNOLOGY

“Scuba Lab Testers Choice! June 2005″

• Nitrox compatible to 40% (the recreational limits of nitrox)
• Designed for extreme depths and cold water
• DVT(Dry Valve Technology) eliminates moisture and contaminants from entering your regulator
• Environmentally sealed first stage provides greater reliability, less maintenance and higher performance
• Balanced 2nd stage with built-in swivel to reduces jaw fatigue
• Orthodontic mouthpiece to alleviate jaw fatigue by easing bite needed to hold regulator
• “Diver Adjustable” Air flow
• “Diver Adjustable” venturi to prevent unwanted free-flow
• Exceptional Dependability
• User Changeable 2nd Stage Surge Protectors Included: Black (as pictured