Why do the Olympic divers dive with flat hands when they hit the water?

Question

Why do the Olympic divers dive with flat hands when they hit the water?

Answer 1

I think it's to break surface tension; otherwise, it would be a pretty hard impact on your head.

Answer 2

It creates a cylinder of air in the water which they can then fall into, minimizing splash.

Answer 3

its because its makes it easier and makes you dive smoothly. like if u have a flat sharp (the divers hands point) knife it will be easier to cut something but if you have a bumpy/unflat knife it will be harder.( I think of it as if divers cut into the water with the tips of their hands)

Answer 4

i think its because if they dove normally it could hurt their hands or head. by diving with their hands flat, i think it takes some of the shock, and also keeps them balanced so they land vertical.

Answer 5

maybe it causes their body to generate less splash-out

Answer 6

It breaks surface tension so they don't break anything diving from a high height.  

Answer 7

it blunts the impact, by making a vacuum that absorbs the impact of the rest of the body.

Answer 8

because the tips of their fingers is a much smaller amount of surface area and will produce less splash, when they break the water.

Answer 9

I'm surprised someone noticed.

Many of the observed injuries to the upper extremities associated with entries are related to the flat hand entry technique that has been popularized during the past 25 years. Just before entry, the hands are brought together, the wrists are dorsiflexed, one hand is clasped over the other and the thumbs are interlocked with the palms facing the water. As the hands make contact with the water, the head is moved into line with the trunk, the arms squeeze the ears, and the hands push through the water, in effect "punching a hole in the surface". Upon breaking the surface of the water, the diver pulls the arms forward or to the side in the scapular plane in a swimming motion (the swim-out) to propel him through the water more rapidly. The flat hand entry creates a low pressure area immediately behind the hands, and the water that is pushed aside flows easily into this void instead of shooting to the surface. When executed perfectly, on the surface one observes a boiling effect but no splash, which sounds like a piece of paper being torn (a "rip" entry).

So it's to minimize the splash and possible shoulder injury.

Excellent question!

Enjoy!