Why are there jets of water underneath diving boards?

Question

Why are there jets of water underneath diving boards?

Answer 1

The correct answer is:  The water jets cause a disturbance to the water's surface, thus breaking up the 'surface tension' effect.  This allows for a 'softer entry' for divers in training and lowers dramatically the chance for injury.  Hitting totally still water at a bad angle is very much comparable to landing on concrete.  You can imagine how that might contribute to injury!

Divers' may also use the disturbed water as a visual reference, but that is a secondary effect and not really the original purpose of installing water jets.  They are a safety feature.  

See:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_ten...  for more on the physics of surface tension.

Answer 2

Because swimming is not allowed under there...they have to keep the water circulating though, to keep it sanitary..chlorine, etc...

Answer 3

When you are on the diving board, especially the 3 meter and higher ones, it is difficult to see where the water is if it is still. The jets shoot up air bubbles and disturb the water. At hights, you can see that and judge where the water is. Then u know also while ur dive is how much time u have left. It just helps u plan out ur dive and see how much time u have.

Answer 4

So divers can judge where the top of the water starts. It is difficult to see during the dive.