How do you dive sarely from really high up?

How many seconds does a dive cost you in swimming if you cant dive?

• I am in swimming and I cannot dive. Last year i swam about 30 seconds for the 50 free. I can not dive and I either just basically fall flat in the pool like a couple feet. I can kind of dive off the side but I don't get as far as anyone else just a couple feet like i do when i go off the blocks and the other people they basically get a head start because of that dive but then i catch up to them. But since they had a good dive I end up being beaten. If i learned how to dive what do you think my time would be? Would it only be miliseconds taken off or a second +? Please tell me

• Answer:

  You lose approximately 1.5 seconds by not diving. So ... you gotta learn to dive! Here is what you do: Start from the side edge of the pool where it is deep enough for it to be certain you can't hit the bottom. Use 'streamline' position. From a sitting position on the edge of the pool, simply lean forward and, be certain to not let go of that streamline. As you lean forward in streamline, you will naturally go into the water as long as you do not 'chicken' out and stop. As you extend out over the water, slightly push with your legs. Repeat and push more ... repeat and push more ... Once you feel comfortable doing that, stand (use deeper water) in streamline. Then lean forward putting your hands in the water only a foot out from the wall ... and "keep" the feet on the side of the pool. Imagine a hole in the water into which you will put your hands, elbows, shoulders, chest, hips knees and toes. AFTER you feel comfortable doing that, go "Through another hole" in the water farther out. Once you feel comfortable doing that, stand next to a starting block and repeat what he has learned. Once you feel comfortable doing that, sit on the starting block and start the whole process all over again doing all of the same steps. Finally, stand on the block, one foot with toes curled over the edge. Lift the back foot and lean forward and "go through the hole" as you did before. Good luck!