Month: September 2021

Diving is a great recreational activity that can be practiced by people of all ages. It also allows you to discover and explore the rich world of marine life. Although it’s considered to be a low-impact activity, there are some common mistakes and even ways to get hurt. It’s therefore best to try it out in a safe environment.

Your safest bet would be an indoor pool in San Diego where you can exercise and improve your skills, or where your toddler can have his or her first swim lessons. Keep on reading to learn more about all aspects of diving in indoor pools. 

How deep should a pool be for diving?

A swimming pool should be at least 9 – 10 feet deep in order to be considered safe for diving. Some professional divers use specialized tanks that are considerably deeper: 30 feet or more. 

If the pool has multiple depths, the diving area should be visibly marked. Also, you will notice that diving areas have a diving board or a slide. The higher the board, the deeper the pool should be. Avoid jumping from the board if it isn’t explicitly permitted for guests. 

Is diving harder than swimming?

This question isn’t easy to answer, as there’s a heated debate among professional swimmers and divers. Although both activities overlap in terms of environment and physical prowess, they require different sets of skills.

Swimming focuses on speed, stamina and endurance, so many experts agree that the sheer intensity of it makes it harder than diving. Swimming develops major muscle groups such as:

• Core abdominal muscles, as they keep the body in the streamlined position
• Forearm muscles, that enable better propulsion in water
• Shoulder and deltoid muscles, that help expand the arm reach in the water,
• Gluteal muscles, as they balance the body and help with propulsion.

However, competitive diving has its own challenges and requires acrobatic skill and mental focus. Professional diving therefore develops the following competences: 

• Kinesthetic awareness
• Breathing skills
• Core muscle strength
• Flexibility
• Precise timing skills

You shouldn’t confuse competitive diving with the following diving disciplines:

• scuba diving, which involves much more equipment, mainly a container of compressed air and professional gear, 
• freediving, which focuses on conquering depths without a  breathing aid. 
• other underwater sports like underwater football, hockey, snorkeling etc. 

Namely, all of the above mentioned activities rely on a similar set of skills to some extent and it’s impossible to say which is the most demanding. As an amateur, pick the one that gives you most pleasure and is best suited for your physical condition and ability.   

How do you practice diving in a pool?

You can definitely practice some diving skills in an indoor or outdoor pool. Regardless of the environment, put safety first and make sure that you’re supervised if you’re a novice. If you’re a parent teaching your own children to swim or dive, put special emphasis on treading water and proper body positioning. 

Besides learning how to dive into a pool, it’s vital to practice buoyancy, which means keeping the body stable underwater. Firstly, you’ll try to fully submerge and kneel in the pool while you’re breathing out. This will require some patience as you’d have to keep your legs and arms steady. Over time, you’ll develop skills that will enable advanced hovering positions and underwater movement. 

Knowing the right diving techniques will help you avoid some of the common mistakes that could lead to minor injuries or chronic conditions. It’s therefore key to receive guidance from a professional instructor.  

Where in San Diego, CA can I find toddler swim lessons?

Finding versatile and well-equipped pools adjusted to your preschool children that follow high safety standards can be hard. However, residents of San Diego and the neighboring areas don’t have to look far to find the ideal place. 

Our facility is located near the Vacation Isle in the Mission Bay area. The Plunge has been in the industry for the better part of the Twentieth century, offering a luxurious pool and gym on our premises. Here’s where you can relax, work out and throw parties for your family and friends. You’ll also have an opportunity to book one of our many swimming courses with experienced instructors. 

Call us today and try out some of our attractive amenities. 

 If you wish to truly master the art of swimming, you shouldn’t skip diving. While it might seem easy when you take a look at professional athletes, it can pose a challenge until it’s properly learned. Practice makes perfect, so the only thing you need is expert guidance to safely adopt this skill. 

If you reside in San Diego, and are looking for infant swim lessons, you shouldn’t rely solely on your own resources. Read on to learn more about opportunities to learn how to dive in a pool. 

Can you dive in a pool?

First off, check if the pool is the proper depth. Keep in mind that it’s not possible to safely dive in pools that are too shallow or that have an irregular bottom contour. Otherwise, if you jump into the pool head first, you risk hitting the bottom of the pool and injuring your head.

Jumping into a pool head-first can be a bit counterintuitive, so kids usually tend to jump on their legs or abdomen. However, this can be dangerous as well, as they can hit their head on the edges, smack the  or lose their swimming goggles. 

Parents should pay special attention to pool safety and this is why public pools demand that all children younger than 10 be supervised by adults. Make sure that you enter the pool by following the official guidelines of your pool.

Practice correct techniques

When you learn how to dive in water correctly you’ll remain protected when entering water and remain protected from injuries. There’s a number of techniques that you can utilize:

• Streamline position. This is the key technique for proper swimming and diving. Once you’re in the water, put one arm on top of the other, fold your top thumb over your bottom one, and squeeze your ears with your upper arms. Take a breath, let yourself sink underneath the surface and push your legs against the wall. 
• Sitting on the edge. Keep your legs in the water and stretch your arms above your head to make an arrow shape. Lean very slightly to the water and slide in, pushing your feet against the wall. Straighten your legs as your upper body descends in the water.
• Kneeling position. With your arms in streamline position, kneel with one leg forward and lean into the water. Push a bit harder as you practice, to achieve increased velocity.
• Standing position. Standing with both knees slightly bent and arms in streamline position you’ll push through your feet and dive into the water. 

Avoid common mistakes

To keep you safe in the pool, avoid the following diving mistakes that could lead to accidents or that could hurt other swimmers: 

• Diving in a shallow pool. Always check the depth first.
• Jumping into a full pool suddenly and without previous warning
• Diving in a pool that has an irregular bottom or side contour.
• Changing your lane. As with swimming, be vigilant and make sure that you stay in the same lane to avoid collision.
• Holding your breath for too long. Although some athletes practice holding breath for extensive amounts of time, in order to increase lung capacity and stamina, most people can’t hold their breath underwater for more than 2 minutes. Don’t try turning this into a competition and leave it up to professional free divers.
• Ignoring the pool etiquette: many public pools prohibit all head-first diving, to prevent potential injuries, so make sure that you follow the official guidelines..

Is there a pool in San Diego, CA and the vicinity that offers infant swim lessons?

Diving and swimming are considered essential and healthy skills that are beneficial for people of all ages. If you’re a parent looking for a well-equipped and secure pool facility in San Diego and the vicinity where you can safely teach your toddler how to swim, an ideal place might be just around the corner.  

The Plunge is located just a couple of blocks away from Mariner’s Point, so you’ll find us easily. We are well known for rendering a number of convenient features and amenities. Apart from swimming courses for various ages, spa treatment and daycare options, our staff can also help you organize birthday events. 

Visit us today to start a new adventure.