What makes a good entry into the water?
B · Beginner · The dive · 5 of 5The entry must be vertical and not twisted, with the body straight, the feet together and the toes pointed. Going in head first, the arms are stretched beyond the head with the hands close together. Going in feet first, the arms are close to the body. The dive is over when the whole body is under water.
How it works
- The rule: "The entry into the water shall in all cases be vertical, not twisted, with the body straight, the feet together, and the toes pointed."
- Short or over: an entry that is short of vertical or past it is marked down by each judge.
- Head first: "the arms shall be stretched beyond the head and in line with the body, with the hands close together".
- Feet first: "the arms shall be close to the body with no bending at the elbows".
- Arms the wrong way: one or both arms below the head in a head-first entry, or above the head in a feet-first entry, limits the award to 4½ points.
- Arms a little out: other faults in the arms cost ½ to 2 points from each judge.
- Wrong end first: in a head-first dive, feet entering before the head or hands is a failed dive. In a feet-first dive, head or hands entering before the feet is a failed dive.
- Twist out by 90 degrees: if the twist at the entry is 90 degrees or more greater or less than announced, it is a failed dive.
- The end: "The dive is considered to have been completed when the whole of the body is completely under the surface of the water."
The glossary has entry and, for the near-silent one, rip entry.
Tricky cases
Is the size of the splash judged?
No, not by name. The rules describe the body: vertical, straight, feet together, arms in position. A body like that makes little splash.
A diver lands flat on their back from a head-first dive. What is the score?
It depends on what entered first. If the feet went in before the head or hands, it is a failed dive. If not, each judge marks down heavily for an entry far from vertical.
A diver enters head first with the arms by their sides. What is the most they can score?
4½ points from each judge.
A diver announces one and a half twists and finishes facing sideways. Is that a failed dive?
Yes, if the twist at the entry is 90 degrees or more out from what was announced.
Why the rule exists
A vertical entry shows that the diver finished exactly the rotation they announced, neither short nor over. The splash is not mentioned in the rules. It follows from the line: a straight, vertical body with the arms in place goes through a small hole in the water.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | DV 8.6; DV 6.5.7 to 6.5.10 |
| Synchronised diving | The angles, distance from the board and timing of the two entries are also judged | DV 9.5 |
| Under the water | Nothing that happens beneath the surface is judged | DV 8.1.2 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Four: Diving Rules (in force as from 1 January 2025), Articles 6.5.7 to 6.5.10, 8.1.2 and 8.6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).