Descriptive Analysis of the Rip Entry in Competitive Diving

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify the factors which enable certain highly skilled divers to enter the water without apparent splash. Twelve national and international caliber competitive platform divers each performed four fall-ins from a 7.5-m platform. Two kinds of rip entries (non-seething and seething), as well as non-rip entries, were filmed above water and underwater.

Anthropometric measures of each subject were taken to determine body streamlining. No significant anthropometric differences were found between divers in the rip and non-rip groups; however, divers producing seething rips were less streamlined than non-seething rippers. Rip and non-rip entries did not differ significantly in kinematic parameters such as entry angle, position, or velocity. All rippers moved their arms ventrally just prior to impact, whereas non-rippers were found to move their arms dorsally. Underwater, non-rippers and non-seething rippers maintained the entry position (arms overhead), while seething rippers thrust their arms ventrally following entry, performing a “swim” stroke. While the non-seething rippers appeared to rip because of their body shape and alignment, most rippers employ entry techniques which increase underpressure, facilitating early surface closure, to minimize the subsequent upjet.

Key Words:

• diving techniques
• diving entries
• competitive diving