Olympics question - Diving

[McCarthy]

Just a quick question. Watching diving right now, each of the competitors keeps swimming underwater to the edge of the pool. Not a long way to swim or anything, but is there a reason they all are staying under?

Thought maybe something to do with pressure on their ears equalizing slower. Thought maybe they're just checking to make sure their suits didn't come off. Thought maybe it's about presentation, leaving the surface undisturbed being their goal during the dive so as presentation it looks better not to surface and splash to the side...but they're not being judged at that point.

Anyone know the real reason? I'm just guessing here

 

[Allio]

They're already at the bottom... it's less effort to go sideways than up?

 

[McCarthy]

Originally posted by: Allio
They're already at the bottom... it's less effort to go sideways than up?

Well...yeah, that's true. I didn't notice though until one dive where the competitor was almost to the surface and then swam back down a few feet instead of surfacing.

 

[spidey07]

because its more fun that way and requires less effort. just a few kicks and you're gliding to the ladder.

<---used to dive.

 

[Looney]

Like others have said, it's much less effort.

 

[vi edit]

To make more use of those fun underwater cams?

 

[McCarthy]

Seems "less effort" is the real answer. Surprises me, I thought swimming underwater is harder, but then I never was much of a swimmer. My diving experience is limited to Red Cross Swimming lessons and a couple daring moments on my own off the 5 meter highdive at the public pool "Lean, fall, hope I don't bellyflop"

That's what I love about the Olympics, I see sports I otherwise rarely or ever see and find out stuff I didn't know about them. Think the best trivia pursuit tidbit yet though is that the feathers on a badminton shuttlecock are all from the left wing of a goose - as the right wing feathers have a different curve.

spidey or other divers, got another question if you check back in. Commentator during the event said the divers use visual references during the dives - two places on one dive in particular which was a triple spin I think. At one point to look back at the platform - while upside down - and the second to see the water to judge when to come out of the tuck. Hard to imagine jumping, tucking, spinning and picking out visual references all at once, wow. I always just assumed it was all done on timing....how effectively can you see and judge (and do anything about it) during a dive like that?

 

[booger711]

Originally posted by: Hardcore
Like others have said, it's much less effort.