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Competitive Diving

Scores

In competitions, divers are awarded points up to 10 by a panel of judges. In international competition, there are seven judges, although this can be reduced to five, or even three, in smaller competitions. Each member of the panel scores a dive based on elements such as approach, take-off, execution and entry into the water.

Nine judges assess synchronised diving. Four judge the execution of individual dives, and five assess synchronisation - how the pairs mirror timing, height, distance, speed of rotation and entry into the water.

The highest and lowest marks awarded are disregarded, and the remaining scores are added together. This score is then multiplied by the degree of difficulty (or tariff) of the dive, which is based on the number and types of manoeuvres attempted, such as somersaults, pikes, tucks and twists.

FINA stipulates the following scores for a dive:

Completely failed 0 Points

Unsatisfactory ½ to 2 points

Deficient 2½ to 4½ points

Satisfactory 5 to 6 points

Good 6½ to 8 points

Very good 8½ to 10 points

For the degree of difficulty for all dives please click here.

Dive Numbers
Each dive is given a code number, as described below:

4 Character Dive Numbers, starting with 1-4, e.g. 103C   

    First character is the direction of rotation   

• 1 (e.g. 101B) - Forward dive. The diver moves down the board using a hurdle step and performing the dive in a forward direction.
• 2 (e.g. 201B) - Back dive. The diver stands at the end of the board with their back toward the water and diving backward, away from the board.
• 3 (e.g. 301B) - Reverse dive. The diver moves down the board using a hurdle step. The dive is performed rotating backward, with the head moving back toward the board.
• 4 (e.g. 401B) - Inward dive. The diver stands at the end of the board with their back toward the water and diving inward, toward the board.

    Second character is the initial position of flight

• 0 (e.g. 103B) Unspecified position. This is most common.
• 1 (e.g. 113B) Flying dive, where the first portion of the dive is in a straight, or flying, position.

    Third character is for the number of half somersaults

• (E.g. 103C) - 1½ somersaults (i.e. 3 half somersaults)

    Last character is the dive position

• A (e.g. 103A) - Straight position.
• B (e.g. 103B) - Pike position, knees straight, bending at the hip.
• C (e.g. 103C) - Tuck position, bending at both the knees and the hip.

5 Character Dive Numbers, starting with 5 (e.g. 5132D)

    First character

• 5 (e.g. 5132D) - Twisting dive.

    Second character is the direction of rotation (e.g. 5132D) - as above

    Third character is for the number of half somersaults (e.g. 5132D)- as above

    Fourth character is for the number of half twists

• (E.g. 5132D) - 1 twist (i.e. 2 half twists)

    Last character is the position

• D (e.g. 5132D) - Free position using a combination of shapes, is used for twisting single somersaults and 1½ somersaults.
• Other positions (A, B, or C), as above, must be designated for all other dives.

Dive Numbers starting with 6 (e.g. 612B)   

    First character   

• 6 (e.g. 612B) - Armstand dive

    Second character is for the direction of rotation

• 0 (e.g. 600A) - No rotation (i.e. armstand dive)
• 1 (e.g. 612B) - Forward
• 2 (e.g. 622B) - Backward
• 3 (e.g. 632B) - Reverse

    Third character is for somersaults

• (e.g. 612B) - The number of half somersaults

 

    Fourth character is for twists (where shown, is the only indication of twisting)

• (e.g. 6122D) - The number of half twists

 

    Last character is the position

• A (e.g. 611A) - Straight position.
• B (e.g. 611B) - Pike position.
• C (e.g. 611C) - Tuck position.
• D (e.g. 6122D) - Free position, used only with twisting dives