WHat if the divers dont use there hands first when they dive in a pool?

Question

in the olympics when they do high dives, the divers put there arms and hands out, would i really hurt if they just went head first into the pool? whats the worst that can happen?

Answer 1

Those divers hit the water at about ~32 miles per hour. If they don't use their hands to break the water, the worst that can happen would be spinal compression or sub-C-4 spinal severing which would result in paralysis from the neck down with a fully-functional brain. Dead body, living mind. If you're lucky it would kill you because you would probaly not want to live like that. Broken bones are also likely it the diver hits the water at an unexpected angle.  

Answer 2

Its all about performing the dive as it should be performed, which is most every dive has a hands first entry. There are a few feet first entries, but they have very low DD (degree of difficulty) so they don't do them.

It is possible to go head first but that means breaking the surface with your head, which is going to hurt. It could cause all sorts of neck injuries. You have to realize the water does not give like you might think it would when you're falling at a fast speed. Breaking the surface with your hands is the best way to do it because there is less surface area.

I know someone that has lost his hearing of his right (i think its the right) ear from diving. He was doing a twist and messed it up, ended up landing on his ear. The force of the water ruptured his ear drums. That is reason enough to enter hands first for me.

Answer 3

the worst is you can belly flop and hit the water really hard, it's not fun, when they put their arms out it makes the dive more graceful when their bodies hit the water.