Learn to Shallow Dive

My buddy, Zig, mentioned shallow diving on his blog this morning and indicated you may want to ask me about this ultra sport. OK. The first thing we need to review is that we are not talking about this so called sport of shallow diving which is as much a sport as TV wrestling. We are talking about the true sport of shallow diving that requires a combination of skill, courage, and athleticism.

Here are the basic instructions:

1. 1. Step1
      

      Stand at poolside and grip your toes on the edge. Your feet should be about six inches apart.

   2. Step2
      

      Bend at your knees and waist. Reach your arms down to the side of the pool, but keep your gaze on the opposite side of the pool.

   3. Step3
      

      Swing your arms up in back of your body almost to shoulder level; then reverse and swing them forward.

   4. Step4
      

      Thrust forward with your legs and push off with your toes. Spring off and out from the wall.

   5. Step5
      

      Leap forward parallel to the water, stretching your arms far out in front of you and your legs behind you.

   6. Step6

      Drop your arms and head slightly just before you reach the water so that you strike the water at a shallow angle.

   7. Step7

      Glide just below the surface of the water until you feel your speed begin to diminish.

2. Something to think about:

   - If you are standing on a bridge eight feet over the water it is much different that gripping the edge of a swimming pool with your toes.

   -Your dad's demonstration dive may have looked easy because he learned from past experience.

   - If the river bottom is only five or six feet down and loaded with sharp rocks it could be a problem on your first attempt. You could scrape your hands, wrists, arms, chest, and gash your head on the sharp rocks if your dive is not shallow enough.

   -Scraping and cutting yourself as descibed above could send women and children running from the water as well as require stitches. However, later you will have a great story to tell when people ask about the scar on your forehead.

   Things you will need:

   -Swimsuit

   -Swimming Cap (optional)

   -Goggles (optional, but it sure is nice to see sharp rocks as you approach them)

   -Towel

   -Extra Swimsuit